Refinery explosions and fires can be devastating. If you have been hurt of lost a loved one in a refinery explosion or fire, you likely want to know about how much you may recover. The following section discusses compensation to which you and your family may be entitled from companies who may have been negligent other than your employer or the employer of your loved one. (Learn more about workers’ compensation for burn injuries, including injuries resulting from refinery explosions and fires.)
Compensation for Physical Injuries
Compensation for physical injuries sustained in refinery explosions and fires can include:
- Pain and suffering for burn injuries, including physical pain and emotional duress,
- The cost of all medical treatment,
- Lost wages,
- Future decreases in the ability to earn a living because of the injuries,
- The cost of medical devices, home health care, and rehabilitation, and
- Any other costs and damages that you suffered directly relating to the refinery explosion or fire.
For more information on these items, please see “Types of Compensation Available for Burn Injuries.”
Pain and Suffering from Burn Injuries Sustained in Refinery Explosions and Fires
Often pain and suffering will be the largest component of a personal injury lawsuit. In the case where severe burns have been sustained, pain and suffering can be excruciating, not only from the initial burns, but also from the painful rehabilitation, skin grafts, pressure bandages, and surgeries.
For more information about the factors that jurors often consider in calculating pain and suffering, please see “Pain and Suffering for Burn Injuries”
In order for juries to be in the position to award full compensation, it is important that they understand the full damages that our clients have suffered. As a burn injury attorney, it is my and this firm’s role to present the full extent of your pain and suffering to a jury so that they can make a complete and fair award to you for your damages.
Future Pain, Suffering, and Other Damages
Unfortunately, pain, suffering, surgeries, rehabilitation, mental and emotional pain, medical costs, and other expenses and damages do not end just because a trial is taking place. Those injured through burn injuries are likely to face ongoing treatment and pain and suffering for months and years. Future pain and suffering and other costs and expenses likely to be incurred must be included in a claim for damages at trial as injury victims may not bring a subsequent case for additional damages.
For more information, see “Calculating Future Pain and Suffering and Other Damages”.
Compensation for Property Damage
Refinery explosions and fires often cause significant property loss, particularly to those living near the refinery who may have lost their home, vehicles, and all household possessions. Those who have sustained such property damage are generally entitled to:
- The fair market value of all such possessions. Fair market value is determined by a jury based upon the evidence that is presented at trial.
- Costs for expenses incurred directly as a result of the loss of possessions. This can include temporary hotel and lodging costs, the reasonable costs for renting an apartment or home while a home is being repaired or a new home is constructed, and the cost of a rental car and a replacement vehicle for any vehicles destroyed.
- Other related costs and expenses. As each case is unique, so to with the other related costs and expenses that may be compensable.
How We Help
When refinery explosions and fires occur, we are available to help the injured recover full compensation for all of their injuries and damages. We offer a free consultation and accept cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning that we are not owed any fee unless we are successful in obtaining a settlement or jury award. Call us to schedule a free consultation and find out what options are available in your case to recover compensation from those liable for your injuries and damages.
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