Were you injured in a tank explosion in Texas?
At Greenberg Streich Injury Lawyers, we help injured clients in Texas pursue full recovery in tank explosion matters.
If a tank explosion in Texas left you with burns or other serious injuries, the cause of the blast and the identity of every company responsible for it are the first questions our Texas tank explosion lawyer will answer. Greenberg Streich Injury Lawyers was founded by two trial lawyers whose practices center on oilfield, refinery, and plant explosions. Request a free consultation to discuss the explosion and your options.
Tank Explosion Lawyer Texas
A tank explosion claim is a negligence claim arising from the ignition or rupture of a storage tank, pressure vessel, or transport tank. Flammable vapor, overpressure, and ignition sources such as welding or static discharge cause most of these events, and the injured person may be a worker, a contractor, or someone nearby when the tank failed.
The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) found that the 2019 tank farm fire at a Deer Park terminal destroyed fifteen 80,000-barrel tanks and caused more than $150 million in property damage. Smaller tank failures at well sites and plants seldom draw federal investigators, but they can cause injuries just as severe.
Types of Tank Explosion Cases We Handle in Texas
The cause of a tank explosion, and the companies responsible for it, depend on the type of tank and the work under way when it failed. Claims may be brought against operators, carriers, maintenance contractors, and manufacturers, and our firm represents the workers, contractors, and nearby residents injured in these events.
- Oilfield tank battery explosions. Production tanks at well sites accumulate flammable vapor, and an open thief hatch, a lightning strike, or unprotected equipment can ignite it. We examine venting, vapor recovery, and the operator’s site procedures.
- Refinery and chemical plant tank fires. Storage tanks inside a facility often hold hydrocarbons and process chemicals under demanding conditions, and refinery and plant explosions frequently involve the owner, maintenance contractors, and equipment manufacturers together.
- Hot work explosions. Welding, cutting, and grinding on or near a tank that has not been cleaned and tested can ignite residual vapor. Hot work permits and gas testing records usually show whether the work should have begun.
- Pressure vessel and propane tank ruptures. A vessel that exceeds its design pressure or has a failed relief valve can rupture violently. Inspection history and relief valve maintenance are central to these claims.
- Tanker truck and rail car explosions. Loading, unloading, and transport create ignition risks for the carrier, the shipper, and the terminal. Each may bear responsibility depending on who controlled the transfer.
- Terminal and tank farm fires. Bulk storage terminals hold dozens of large tanks in shared containment areas, and a single failure can spread. Pump maintenance, gas detection, and isolation valves are common points of investigation.
- Tank cleaning and confined space explosions. Workers cleaning or entering tanks face vapor ignition when atmospheric testing and ventilation are inadequate. These claims often involve a specialty cleaning contractor.
- Toxic releases following a tank failure. A ruptured tank can release hazardous vapor that injures workers and nearby residents, and chemical releases can produce respiratory and other injuries in addition to burns.
Why Choose Greenberg Streich Injury Lawyers as My Tank Explosion Lawyer in Texas?
Practices Centered on Energy and Industrial Explosions
Matt Greenberg represents individuals and families in cases involving oilfield explosions, plant and refinery accidents, and chemical releases, and he has been lead trial counsel in record-setting Texas cases. Super Lawyers has included him on its Rising Stars list.
Mike Streich focuses on oilfield and refinery disasters, including explosions and fires. Before representing injured people, he defended companies and insurance syndicates in catastrophic injury cases arising from oilfield, pipeline, and refinery incidents. Mr. Streich earned his degree in Government from the University of Texas at Austin and has been selected as a Super Lawyers Texas Rising Star.
Results for Burned and Injured Workers
Our attorneys have recovered more than $348 million for clients, including:
- $20 million settlement for an oilfield worker burned after contractors failed to close a blowout preventer valve
- $7.75 million mid-trial workplace injury settlement
- $7.37 million plant and refinery accident settlement
- $6.75 million workplace injury settlement
Representation is on a contingency fee, so there is no attorney fee without a recovery.
What Is Important to Understand About a Tank Explosion Case?
After an explosion, the facility operator usually controls the site, the damaged tank, and the records, which makes early action on the evidence a priority in these claims.
Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Tank Explosion Cases
Burn injuries from a tank explosion often require years of treatment, and the damages in these cases reflect that. An injured person may recover for:
- Past and future medical care, including surgery, skin grafts, and rehabilitation for burn injuries
- Lost wages and reduced capacity to earn a living
- Physical pain, mental anguish, disfigurement, and physical impairment
- Exemplary damages, where the explosion resulted from gross negligence proven by clear and convincing evidence
Liability extends to each company whose negligence contributed to the explosion, and Texas law allocates fault among them by percentage. When an explosion is fatal, the surviving spouse, children, and parents may bring wrongful death claims under Texas wrongful death law.
What Is the Tank Explosion Case Timeline?
The limitations period in Texas is generally two years from the date of injury, or from the date of death in a fatal explosion.
The first weeks focus on evidence. We send preservation demands to the operator and every contractor on site and request access for our engineers to inspect the tank and its components.
Over the following months, the investigation turns to cause and responsibility. Engineers analyze the ignition source and the failure, and we obtain permits, maintenance records, and any regulatory investigation file.
Once the responsible companies are identified, we present the claims to their insurers. Cases that do not resolve proceed to suit, discovery, and mediation, and those that remain unresolved are tried to a jury.
What Are Important Aspects of a Tank Explosion Case?
Five issues recur in tank explosion investigations:
- Cause and origin. Engineers must identify the ignition source and the reason flammable vapor was present, which often traces back to venting, gas testing, or maintenance decisions.
- Site control. The operator, the contractors, and any equipment owner each controlled part of the work, and those roles determine who owed which duties.
- Regulatory records. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) inspection histories can show prior safety problems at the same facility or with the same contractor.
- Evidence at the scene. Damaged equipment is frequently removed or repaired soon after an incident, so preserving the scene and the failed components is an early priority.
- Settlements with some defendants. When one company resolves its share first, Texas settlement credits reduce the amount recoverable from the others, so each offer is weighed against the whole case.
What Should You Bring to Your Tank Explosion Consultation?
Records gathered since the explosion help us assess the claim at the first meeting. Please bring any of the following:
- Hospital and burn unit records, along with medical bills
- Pay stubs or tax returns showing your income before the explosion
- Photographs of your injuries, the site, and any equipment involved
- Incident reports, witness names, and letters from your employer or an insurer
In that meeting, a Texas tank explosion attorney will go over the incident, your injuries, and the filing deadlines with you. Our assessment will be direct, including our view of any weaknesses in the claim.
Reach Out to Greenberg Streich Injury Lawyers to Schedule a Consultation
Greenberg Streich Injury Lawyers represents burned and injured workers and families after tank explosions across Texas. Representation is on a contingency fee, and the consultation carries no charge. Our Texas tank explosion lawyer can begin with the documents you already have and identify what else the investigation will need. Contact us to arrange a free consultation.
