Monroe Plant Explosion Injury Attorney

Louisiana’s economy is under-girded by heavy industries like chemical processing, petroleum refining, and others. These businesses and their hardworking employees provide millions of dollars for our economy and provide the fuel and other chemicals powering modern life. What’s more, industrial jobs are generally stable, high-paying careers for Monroe-area workers and their families.

However, the companies running these plants often put their own profits and interests over their workers’ safety. When plant owners fail to properly inspect or maintain their plants, their negligence can lead to catastrophic accidents, like plant fires and plant explosions.

If you or a loved one has been hurt in a catastrophic plant explosion or other industrial accident, you need a passionate advocate to protect your interests and help you recover the compensation you need to heal. Call our Monroe personal injury law firm at 318.716.3888 for a free consultation today or fill out our easy-to-use online form below.

Recent Plant Accidents in Louisiana

Despite safety regulations being vital for worker safety and community health, some Louisiana industrial plants and factories neglect basic safety protocols, resulting in catastrophic events such as fires, explosions, and even death. Some of the more recent catastrophes that have impacted Louisiana towns include:

• The Packaging Corporation of America in Deridder exploded in 2017, killing three workers and injuring seven more.
• Westlake Chemical exploded twice within six months in late 2021 and early 2022, injuring at least 23 workers and potentially exposing the community to thousands of pounds of toxic gas.
• The Honeywell Geismar plant experienced a gas leak in October 2021, killing one worker and injuring others.

Every plant explosion in Louisiana has the capability to send dozens, if not hundreds, of people to the hospital or morgue. Long term, they can also create devastating effects in the surrounding towns and cities, leading to increased asthma rates, a higher risk of cancer, and other problems.

Causes of Monroe Plant Explosions

The vast majority of Louisiana plant explosions are preventable—over 90% are caused by some form of negligence. As long as plant machinery and buildings are properly maintained, serviced, and repaired, and the proper safety precautions are followed, plants are actually fairly safe places to work.

However, when plant owners or management neglect their duty of care to their employees, they put their safety, and ultimately the company’s bottom line, at risk.

Industrial work is inherently more dangerous than other jobs, due to the materials, heavy machinery, and other aspects of the work. That’s why safety laws and procedures are in place to ensure a safe workplace for every industrial worker. When these are neglected, the risk for a plant explosion only increases.

Safety violations that can lead to a destructive explosion include the following:

• Faulty electrical wiring
• Faulty equipment
• A lack of training
• An inexperienced workforce
• Failure to follow basic safety protocols
• Improperly-contained flammable materials
• Missing personal protective equipment
• Human error

Common Injuries of Plant Explosions in Monroe

Industrial accidents can lead to dozens of injuries or even death, not to mention the financial toll. Many victims of Louisiana plant explosions experience catastrophic injuries, which can include

• Internal organ damage from blast forces
• Exposure to toxic chemicals released during the explosion
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Spinal cord injuries leading to permanent paralysis
• Burn injuries that can cause disfigurement and scarring
• Wrongful death

Damages Suffered Due to Plant Explosion Injuries

Plant explosions often cause catastrophic damages costing millions of dollars. If you’re hurt in one, you could be facing mounting medical bills and an unsure future.

Your damages can fall into one of two categories: economic damages and non-economic damages. While economic damages are fairly easy to quantify, non-economic damages are harder to tabulate. Your damages could include one or more of the following:

• Costs of medication, physical therapy, ongoing care, and medical assistive devices
• Lost wages from missing work
• Diminished future earning capacity due to disability
• Pain and suffering
• Mental anguish
• Diminished quality of life

In extreme cases, victims may be awarded punitive damages, which exist to punish the defendant and dissuade them from repeating their negligent behavior in the future. Punitive damages are generally rare in personal injury cases, but in plant explosion cases, the number of people injured and the amount of damages incurred can affect the judge and jury’s opinions.

It can be complicated to prove your damages, which is why you need an experienced plant explosion attorney after an industrial accident. You can be sure that the company that owns the plant will do all they can to avoid paying the full cost of their negligence. A lawyer from Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys is a trusted advocate for you who will fight for your rights. We’ve helped victims of accidents in Monroe and all of Louisiana recover over $3 Billion in compensation, and we can help you too.

What to Do If You’ve Been Hurt in a Monroe Industrial Explosion

After being injured in a Monroe plant explosion, immediately seek medical attention even if you don’t think you’re injured. Some injury symptoms won’t present until hours or days after you’re hurt, so getting an early diagnosis can help you recover from your injuries and your just compensation.

Attend every followup doctor’s appointment and physical therapy session. Failing to attend these can be seen as evidence proving you’re not as injured as you claim.

You should also keep a daily journal of your pain level, mental state, and other details. A written record will help your case in the coming proceedings.

Finally, call Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys at 318.716.3888 for a free legal consultation as to your rights. We have over 679+ years of combined legal experience helping our clients recover the compensation they need to heal from their injuries.

Call our Monroe law firm today to hold those responsible for your injuries accountable for their negligence. You won’t pay a dime unless we win your case—that’s the G Guarantee!