Missouri or Illinois residents who have been injured in natural gas explosions know just how devastating they can be. The deadly explosion that killed eight people in another state last March destroyed two buildings and led to hundreds of residents being displaced from their homes. Now, in the wake of this deadly explosion, the city where the fiery accident occurred could be facing at least $1 billion in personal injury, wrongful death, and property damage claims. Reports indicate that at least 205 notifications have been filed with the city Comptroller’s Office advising of various parties’ intentions to sue.
The catastrophic explosion occurred on March 12, the purported result of natural gas leak in the century-old pipelines located beneath the surface of the building which first exploded. Many victims of the explosion have expressed that the incident forever altered their lives, resulting in medical expenses, the need for counseling for anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorders, and the loss of loved ones who can never be replaced. One woman said that she and her husband had been in the process of moving to be near his relatives in anticipation of starting a family of their own after 14 years together.
Many people were affected on that fateful day, ranging from victims in the immediate vicinity to first responders and passing bystanders who attempted to rescue people who had been hurt in the blast. One man actually fought through his temporary blindness in the wake of the explosion to help lead people away from the area. He says that he has developed post traumatic stress disorder as a result of witnessing so much devastation that day, including people who were crushed by vehicles in the blast area.
Some have expressed they are waiting for the results of the final National Transportation Safety Board’s report, which is set to be replaced sometime in the future. A spokesperson for the NTSB has revealed that the agency has finished its testing of the explosion site and will release its report at some future date. Those who await the final report believe that it will help establish liability for this deadly explosion.
Few can imagine the devastation that this type of massive explosion can cause. It seems particularly tragic if a natural gas leak does prove to be the cause of this blast, because this is something that could have likely been avoided with proper installation and maintenance of the gas pipelines. Personal injury and wrongful death laws do provide certain rights to victims who are injured or killed in incidents like this one.
If you or a loved one has been injured in this type of deadly explosion in Missouri or Illinois, please call my St. Louis fire and explosion law firm at no charge by dialing 1-888-586-7041. We can set up a free initial meeting to discuss the fact of your case, and whether we believe we can help you gain the financial restitution to which you may be entitled. We take pride in representing our clients against the parties whose negligence is believed to have caused their injuries. No one should have to suffer economic pain at the same time they are recovering from physical and emotional injuries through no fault of their own.
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