Explosion injury

Q: Who is responsible for damages in a school explosion?

The Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy forced the nation to face the unsettling fact that our children are susceptible to unthinkable threats from the outside while attending school. Unfortunately, they are also susceptible to unthinkable, though less sinister, dangers from within.

Explosion injury is not something you expect to happen at school, especially to preschool age children. But that’s exactly what happened in a Houston school when a teacher’s science fire experiment went terribly awry.

The children were outside attentively watching their teacher execute a rainbow fire experiment– one which chemically changes the color of fire into various colors of the rainbow– when the experiment hit a snag. Reportedly, when the boric acid and methanol combination failed to initially ignite as expected, the teacher added additional methanol or a similar fluid, which caused an explosion, showering unprotected children nearby.

Fallout from the chemical explosion reportedly burned about a dozen preschool children half of whom were transported to the hospital in ambulances. Others may have been taken for medical treatment by their parents as well. The extent of any burn injuries or other injuries received in the likely traumatizing incident was not released.

While some explosions are not preventable, others could have been prevented. And the failure to do so may deem a person or organization to be directly or indirectly responsible for the explosion– and consequently liable for the resulting injuries.

Post-explosion investigations would determine liability for the accident by asking questions such as whether the actions or inactions by some person or organization were negligent or reckless, were they properly trained to conduct the experiment, was proper protocol followed and safety precautions (like protective gear) adhered to, and more.

In general, victims of explosion injuries often suffer not only burn injuries to their skin but also lung, hearing, limb, and brain damage. They may require extensive reconstruction surgery, skin-grafting, amputations, and extensive and costly rehabilitation. Their injuries may also impact their ability to ever work or to return to work. Compensatory damages may include actual and anticipated medical costs, lost income, pain and suffering, and more, depending on the circumstances of each particular case. Because insurance companies are in the business of settling claims as fast as–and for as little as–possible, it is never in a victim’s best interest to accept an insurance company’s settlement offer without first consulting with a skilled personal injury lawyer.

If, you or a loved one has suffered an injury in an explosion, the personal injury attorneys at Chandler, Mathis, and Zivley have extensive experience in explosion injury cases and can help you receive the highest compensation possible. From our offices in Houston and Lufkin, we have been representing Texans for over 40 years. Call us at 800-657-2230 for a free consultation.