Explosion & Fire Injury Lawyers — Burn Injuries & Wrongful Death
Explosions and fires cause devastating injuries—severe burns, smoke inhalation, thermal injuries to lungs and airways, loss of limbs, and death. Trial Lawyers United represents survivors and families of victims in apartment fires, industrial explosions, natural gas incidents, and vehicle fires. We pursue claims against property owners, gas utilities, equipment manufacturers, contractors, and building code violators.
Types of Explosion and Fire Incidents
- Natural gas explosions: leaking service lines, improper connections, corroded pipes, inadequate pressure regulation
- Industrial explosions: chemical reaction, flammable vapor accumulation, ignition sources, inadequate ventilation
- Apartment and building fires: electrical defects, inadequate fire suppression, blocked exits, arson, owner negligence
- Vehicle fires: fuel system defects, electrical faults, collision-induced fuel leak, design defects
- Chemical explosions: reactive material mishandling, inadequate containment, improper storage
Notable Explosion and Fire Cases
The lawyers at Trial Lawyers United have represented victims in major incidents:
- San Marcos apartment fire: five residents deceased; pursued negligent maintenance, failure to install sprinklers, and building code violations
- Atmos Energy natural gas odor fade litigation: class action against gas utility for failure to maintain adequate odorant in natural gas, increasing explosion risk for thousands of customers
- Oilfield explosion: worker with 87% body surface area burns; pursued operator and equipment manufacturer claims
Who Is Liable in Explosions and Fires
- Property owners: for failure to maintain electrical systems, plumbing, gas lines; failure to install smoke detectors, sprinklers, fire suppression
- Gas utilities: for failure to maintain service lines, inadequate odorant, failure to respond to odor reports, failure to mark underground lines
- Equipment manufacturers: for design defects in appliances, heating systems, electrical components, fuel system defects
- Contractors and installers: for faulty installation, improper connections, failure to follow code
- Maintenance providers: for failure to identify and repair hazards
Burn Injury Treatment and Recovery
Severe burns are among the most devastating injuries. Treatment and recovery costs are extraordinary:
- Immediate care: ICU admission, pain management, infection control, fluid resuscitation
- Skin grafting: often multiple surgeries, using cadaver, allograft, or patient’s own tissue from unburned areas
- Reconstructive surgery: extensive cosmetic and functional reconstruction, sometimes 20+ procedures over years
- Rehabilitation: physical therapy, occupational therapy, psychological counseling, burn camp programs
- Long-term care: scar management, contracture release, adaptive equipment, assistive devices
- Psychological impact: PTSD, depression, body image issues, social isolation
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is responsible for a natural gas explosion in my home?
The gas utility is responsible for maintaining safe service lines and odorant levels. Your landlord or home seller is responsible for providing safe premises and disclosing known hazards. If an appliance manufacturer’s defect caused ignition, the manufacturer shares liability. Multiple parties are often responsible.
Can I recover for a building fire even if it was caused by arson?
Yes. The property owner is still liable if they failed to maintain fire safety systems (sprinklers, alarms, extinguishers), failed to enforce fire codes, or negligently stored flammable materials. Arson does not eliminate the owner’s duty to maintain safe conditions.
What are burn degrees, and how do they affect my case?
First-degree burns affect only the outer skin layer. Second-degree burns extend to the dermis (painful, blister-forming). Third-degree burns destroy all skin layers (may be painless but permanently scarring). Fourth-degree burns extend to muscle and bone. Degree determines treatment, scarring, and long-term disability—all affecting damages.
How much is a severe burn injury worth?
Severe burns (second- and third-degree affecting large body surface area) typically result in $1–$10 million+ in damages. Calculation includes medical costs (often $500,000–$2 million), lost earning capacity, pain and suffering, disfigurement, and long-term care needs. Each case is unique.
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In the Relentless Pursuit of Justice | Results Without Risk
Trial Lawyers United LLC handles personal injury and mass tort cases on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay no attorney fees unless and until we obtain a recovery on your behalf. If there is no recovery, there is no attorney fee. Contingency fees are calculated as a percentage of the gross recovery. In most cases, the client is also responsible for litigation costs and expenses, which may include court filing fees, expert witness fees, deposition costs, medical record retrieval, investigation expenses, travel, and other costs necessarily incurred in the prosecution of the case. These costs may be advanced by the firm during the pendency of the case and are typically deducted from the gross recovery in addition to the attorney fee. The specific percentage and the method by which expenses are calculated (whether deducted before or after the contingency fee is computed) will be set forth in the written fee agreement between the client and the firm, which must be signed before representation begins.
"No Fee Unless We Win" Qualifier
When we say "no fee unless we win," we mean that you will not be charged attorney fees if we do not recover compensation on your behalf. Litigation costs and expenses are separate from attorney fees and are addressed in the written fee agreement.