Explosions and Burns
Simon Passanante has handled a number of burn and explosion cases, including cases involving a gas leak which resulted in a house explosion, defective firefighter equipment, fireworks, battery explosions, electrical fires, defective gas canisters, defective gasoline cans, defective vehicle fuel systems, uncontrolled static electricity fires, explosions at service stations, and defective medical equipment. Here are two examples:
In Brown v. Laclede Gas Co., Inc., a gas utility company paid $8 Million to settle this wrongful death case filed on behalf of the family of Louis Brown, who was killed in a natural gas explosion at his home. [Missouri Lawyers Weekly provides more information here]
The firm is currently handling that involves the failure of a manufacturer of an oxygen dispensing machine to warn users to not use petroleum-based products (such as Vaseline). In this particular case, a baby was killed by the failure of the manufacturer of the oxygen machine to warn of the danger of fire.
A burn injury can require months, sometimes years of hospitalization, medical appointments, and physical therapy. Burn injuries are the second leading cause of accidental death behind automobile accidents. Burns are frequently the direct result of the negligence of another person or company and can result from on the job injuries, industrial accidents or construction accidents, defective products (product liability), or electrocution and a variety of other tragic circumstances.
Many incidents resulting in explosions and burns come about as a result of a defective product and, therefore, constitute Products Liability cases.
Types of Explosion and Burn Cases:
Compressed gas / gas canisters
Gas leaks / gas line explosions
Tanker trucks
Pipeline explosions
Uncontrolled static electricity fires and explosions at service stations
Chemical explosions
Fireworks
Battery explosions
Electrical arc blasts
Explosions due to automotive defects, such as improperly mounted gas tanks
Electrical burns / electrocutions
Furnaces
Stoves / ovens
Water heaters
Portable heaters
Electric blankets
Defective candles
Flammable clothing
Chemical spills
Fires from vapors (e.g., floor strippers or sealants)
Household chemicals (like adhesives and floor strippers)
Fires as a result of defective devices, including oxygen tanks and gasoline cans
Fires as a result of automotive defects, such as defective fuel systems
Fires due to automobile or other collisions
Fires due to inadequate fire-proofing
