Explosions occur when the volume of a substance exceeds capacity, resulting in the rapid release of energy from a confined space. These events may have catastrophic consequences both for Florida residents at the scene and those dealing with the aftermath of an explosion.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, explosions killed seven Floridians in 2017, the most recent year on record. Many more individuals are injured each year as the result of these dangerous events, and some individuals may develop chronic conditions even months after initial exposure.
At Morgan & Morgan, our explosion accident lawyers have years of collective experience in handling claims related to explosion injury. We can help clients and their loved ones recover compensation for their losses as the result of an explosion, including medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
FAQs
What Are the Primary Causes of an Explosion?
Frequent causes of an explosion in an industrial or plant setting are:
- Malfunctioning machinery
- Fire and lightning
- The corrosion of parts
- Smoking around flammable or unstable substances
- The use of impure or dirty chemicals
- Faulty labeling of chemicals
- The failure of plant supervisors to follow safety regulations
Recent events, such as the
nitrous oxide explosion at the Airgas manufacturing facility in Cantonment, Florida, that killed one employee and caused heavy damage to the plant, illustrate the role of corporate negligence in industrial explosions. A CBS news investigation found that the explosion stemmed from the plant's failure to have an effective safety process management system in place. They reported that the plant failed to evaluate safer designs for heat management and had installed ineffective safeguards to prevent and contain the buildup of heat in the pump that caused the explosion.
What Kind of Injuries Does an Explosion Cause?
Explosives are categorized as either high order or low order, depending on the volume of the event. A low order explosive, like gun powder, produces a subsonic explosion that is contained to a loud sound and focused reaction.
High order explosives, such as those caused by the interaction of volatile chemicals with heat, cause damage in several different ways. In addition to the blast itself, they produce a strong supersonic pressure wave. There may also be a blast wind of superheated air. Explosions cause the following devastating injuries:
- Blast ear, which can lead to permanent hearing loss
- Blast lung, which may present months after the explosion
- Blast brain, which may present even without an apparent head injury
- Blast belly, or hemorrhage and/or damage to the internal organs
- Blast eye, or rupture of the eye globe
If you suspect that you or a loved one has been injured as the result of an explosion, the explosion attorneys at Morgan & Morgan are ready to help. These catastrophic events are one of the
practice areas in which our attorneys have specific experience, and we are standing by to help you. If you have been injured in an explosion, please fill out our
no cost, no obligation case review form today.
