Pipeline explosions don’t just happen. There’s always a reason, and usually it’s something that could’ve been prevented. Equipment wears out from carrying crude oil and natural gas under massive pressure day after day. Corrosion eats away at metal. Pressure builds up inside the line until something catastrophic happens. Blowouts occur when drilling crews lose control of the well. The sudden release of highly pressurized gas or oil can ignite the second it hits a spark or any heat source. Workers nearby don’t stand much of a chance.
Common Warning Signs Before An Explosion
A lot of pipeline explosions don’t come completely out of the blue. There are usually warning signs:
- Pressure readings that don’t look right on the monitoring equipment
- Visible leaks or that unmistakable smell of gas in the work area
- Hissing or whistling sounds coming from the pipes
- The equipment is vibrating differently than it normally does
- Corrosion or rust that you can actually see on pipeline surfaces
Workers report these things. They should be taken seriously. When companies dismiss safety concerns or tell employees not to worry about it, they’re gambling with people’s lives.
Who Can Be Held Liable For Pipeline Explosion Injuries
The oil company that owns the pipeline? They’ve got a legal duty to maintain safe working conditions. If they didn’t inspect equipment on schedule, ignored defects they knew about, or failed to train workers properly, that’s on them. At Davie & Valdez P.C., we’ve handled cases where companies were aware of serious problems months before an explosion happened. They just chose not to fix them.
Third-party contractors are often in the mix, too. Maybe they performed the maintenance work. Maybe they installed the pipeline originally. If their negligence played any role in causing the explosion, they can be held liable. Welders, pipeline inspectors, and repair crews doing substandard work all create hazards that put workers at risk.
Equipment manufacturers aren’t off the hook either. Defective products cause explosions. Faulty pressure relief valves, pipeline materials that weren’t strong enough for the job, improperly designed safety systems. If the equipment itself was the problem, the company that made it can be sued.
Workers Compensation Vs. Third-Party Claims
Workers’ compensation is the first one. It covers your medical bills and replaces part of your wages while you recover. Doesn’t matter who was at fault. Even if the accident was partially your fault, you’re still eligible. The downside is that workers’ comp won’t pay you for pain and suffering. It doesn’t cover the emotional trauma or what it’s like to look in the mirror and see burns covering half your body. A third-party liability claim is different. If someone other than your direct employer caused the explosion through negligence, you can file a personal injury lawsuit against them. A Las Cruces Oil Field Accident Lawyer can tell you whether you’ve got grounds for both types of claims. Third-party claims let you recover damages that workers’ comp won’t touch. Pain. Emotional trauma. Disfigurement. The fact that your quality of life will never be what it was before. These cases often result in settlements that are substantially higher than what you’d get from workers’ compensation alone.
Investigating Pipeline Explosions Takes Time
We bring in engineers who understand how these systems work. Safety consultants who can reconstruct the sequence of events. Industry professionals who know what should’ve been done differently. All of them help identify every party that bears responsibility for what happened. Evidence needs to be locked down fast. Maintenance records. Inspection reports. Safety logs. Equipment specifications. All of it becomes part of the case file. Witness statements from coworkers who saw what went down are just as important as the technical documentation.
Getting Legal Help After A Pipeline Explosion
If you’ve been hurt in a pipeline explosion, or someone you care about was, don’t go it alone. Insurance companies will do everything they can to pay out as little as possible. They’ll deny claims. They’ll argue you were at fault. They’ll offer settlements that don’t come close to covering what you’re actually facing. Having someone who knows how to fight back makes all the difference. Reach out to a Las Cruces Oil Field Accident Lawyer who handles both workers’ compensation and personal injury law. They can walk you through what happened, explain what recovery options you might have, and help you figure out the best way forward for your specific situation.