On Thursday, November 23, 2023, in Dallas, Texas, a man was rushed to the hospital with second-degree burns covering over 80% of his body. The man, Francisco Gorostieta, lived in a guesthouse and worked in flooring with some of the homeowner’s family members.
Homeowner Vanessa Escobar told reporters that she and her eight family members were cooking inside the main home when the explosion occurred. Both the kitchen and the living room were heavily damaged by the blast, meaning not only did Gorostieta not have a place to return to after recovering in the hospital, but the Escobar family was also displaced.
The blast was so strong that even the neighbors heard and felt it. Their neighbor, Michael Polk, stated, “A lot of stuff fell off the walls; my TV fell off the wall.”
Initial investigations of the explosion by Atmos Energy reported no evidence of issues with the gas lines on the property. The cause of the blast is still being investigated.
Unfortunately, this isn’t the only home explosion the DFW metroplex has seen over the last few months. On Monday, January 22, 2024, a home in Carrollton, Texas, suffered damage after a natural gas explosion. The blast sent one man to the hospital and significantly damaged the front of the home. The situation is still being investigated.
House explosions cause massive damage and can lead to significant injuries and loss of life. The home explosion attorneys at the Hernandez Law Group, P.C. have extensive experience in helping injured parties seek compensation from the parties responsible for these horrific events. Whether it is a faulty water heater that explodes or an undetected gas leak, the causes of home explosions are often complicated. This is why it requires a dedicated and experienced personal injury attorney to ensure that victims can seek compensation to cover medical expenses and damages.
Here is more information on home explosions and how our attorneys can help.
The Role of a Home Explosion Lawyer: Advocacy and Expertise
Home explosions are one of the most challenging personal injury cases to navigate due to their complex nature. Due to the heavy damage, it can often be difficult to determine the cause of the explosion. Without knowing the direct cause, trying to show negligence on behalf of a product’s manufacturer, the homeowner, or the gas or electrical company can be nearly impossible. It takes an experienced attorney to ensure that all angles of the case are thoroughly investigated in order to find and report the direct cause so the victim can seek compensation.
What Are the Possible Causes of a Home Explosion Accident?
Here are the possible causes of a home explosion that could point to negligence:
- Defective products. Whether it is a water tank, space heater, or faulty air conditioner, these appliances have to meet specific code requirements before being sold on the market. Sometimes, product defects could be overlooked due to improper testing or a push to get a product out. If the home explosion was caused by a faulty appliance, careless maintenance, or improper installation, the manufacturer, installer, or repair company may be at fault.
- Damage to a gas pipeline. Gas pipelines are susceptible to damage through the careless actions of contractors, excavators, or even homeowners attempting a DIY project. It is crucial for all companies or individuals looking to dig deeper than 16 inches in the ground to call 811 and find out where the underground pipelines and utility lines are. This call should occur at least two days before any party attempts to dig.
- Undetected gas leaks. Old pipes, poor maintenance, or failure of the gas company to follow proper safety standards during repairs can lead to gas leaking into a home. Failure to inspect, properly fix, or respond to a report of a gas leak can have serious consequences. Even if the house doesn’t explode, natural gas leaks can lead to serious health complications, such as severe respiratory illnesses or death, if not handled quickly and properly. In these cases, the gas company may be responsible for the damages of a home explosion or illness caused by an undetected or unaddressed gas leak.
- Faulty electrical equipment and wiring. Damage to plugs or faulty, loose cables are among the most common causes of home explosions or fires. An expert electrician should routinely check a home’s electrical system to ensure that everything is working correctly.
- Overloaded electrical sockets. Overloading an electrical socket with tons of electronics, such as computers, game systems, TVs, and other appliances, can cause the socket to overheat. This can lead to a fire or even an explosion if the fire spreads to the connected appliances. Basic safety regulations state that no more than 3000 watts of 13 amps should be plugged into a single socket at a time.
The Hernandez Law Group, P.C. is your best chance to get to the bottom of what caused the electrical explosion and determine which party to go after to seek compensation. Our attorneys accomplish this by looking into police reports, speaking with the gas or electrical companies, using expert witnesses or previous reports of faulty products, and showing how the accident could have been avoided. We know that the injuries that come from an explosion can be catastrophic. These injuries include but are not limited to the following:
- Spinal cord injury
- Blunt force trauma
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Severe burn injuries
- Amputation
- Eye injuries
- Lacerations
- Crushing injuries
All of these injuries result in years of intense medical treatment and rehabilitation for the individual to get back to some sort of normalcy of life. In some cases, such as with spinal cord injuries, the damage can be so severe that the victim is left in a permanent state of paralysis or may not be able to perform the same physical activities as before. These life-long effects can lead to emotional distress, loss of income, and financial strain on them and their family.
The Hernandez Law Group, P.C. is a strong advocate for our clients, and we won’t rest until we are sure that our client’s road to recovery can be made easier.
Why Choose the Hernandez Law Group for Your Home Explosion Case?
From gas leaks to electrical fires that lead to home explosions, our attorneys have seen lives disrupted due to severe injuries, loss of life, and significant property loss. We have handled home explosion cases caused by gas leaks, recalled propane tanks, defective grills, and poorly installed electrical systems or gas lines. Regardless of the cause of these horrific disasters, all of the clients we have advocated for found success when our attorneys walked them through the legal process. Our Dallas personal injury attorneys:
- Have honor, integrity, and drive. The Hernandez Law Group, P.C. is a veteran-owned business. Juan Hernandez, our founder and managing attorney, served in the United States Army from 1986-1994. He uses the skill, leadership, and experience he learned from his time in the military to lead the Hernandez Law Group team, ensuring that our clients receive the best possible care and direction in their cases.
- Have multiple awards and certifications to recognize our experience. From the Super Lawyers award to the National Top 100 Trial Lawyers award, the Hernandez Law Group has been highly recognized for its success in the courtroom and the superior service given to our clients.
- Care about your case. When we take you on as a client, you are our family. We understand and empathize with the financial and emotional turmoil that follows a life-changing accident or injury. This is why our attorneys offer a free, no-obligation consultation to review the facts of your case. We also operate under a contingency fee arrangement, meaning that if we cannot recover compensation for you, we will not ask you for payment. We understand that the legal process can be long and strenuous for the victim and their family, so we ensure they fully understand everything about their case. Our attorneys will help in any way we can, whether finding expert witnesses to call for your case, driving out to meet you where you are most comfortable, or talking to the insurance or medical bill collectors on your behalf.
Personal Injury Claims: Seeking Compensation After a Home Explosion
The first step in pursuing compensation for a home explosion is seeking legal counsel. Hiring an experienced personal injury attorney will ensure that your case is handled appropriately. A home explosion attorney can help you do the following:
- File your lawsuit
- Deal with the insurance companies
- Understand what your damages are worth, including:
- Medical bills
- Income loss
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Funeral expenses
- Ensure that you have all the proper paperwork, such as medical records, proof of loss of income, and proof of damaged property
- Negotiate with the defendant’s attorney to see if a settlement can be reached out of court
- Lead you through the discovery process, which is where both parties meet to go over key evidence in the case
- Pretrial motions
- Second settlement attempt
- Being your representative in the personal injury trial
The Hernandez Law Group Difference: Offices in Dallas, Amarillo, and Abilene
The Hernandez Law Group, P.C. has extensive experience handling home explosion cases in the Dallas, Amarillo, and Abilene areas. Our team, led by Texas-Board Certified personal injury attorney Juan Hernandez, will be your strongest advocate. We can help you file your case, gather evidence to prove the liable party’s negligence, and conclude your case successfully. Don’t try to fight your legal battle alone–reach out for the help you need by calling our home explosion injury attorneys. Our family fights for yours.
FAQs: Common Questions About Home Explosion Cases
Here are the steps you should take after a home explosion:
1. If you able, get yourself to a safe location.
2. Call 911 to report the explosion and any injuries or individuals trapped inside the home.
3. Ensure that any individuals, including yourself, who are seriously injured or burned get transported and seen by a medical specialist immediately. This will ensure that your injuries are properly treated and documented.
4. If you can, take pictures of the home, but do not entire it until authorities tell you it is safe.
5. Contact a home explosion attorney for help.
A Texas home explosion lawyer can help you seek compensation by helping you file a claim against the liable party and presenting evidence proving their negligence. Home explosion accidents are more complicated than traditional personal injury cases due to their destructive nature. It can be hard to pinpoint a direct cause of the explosion, leading to the need for investigative skills to track down the liable party. For these reasons, having an experienced attorney on your side is important.
You can seek compensation for the following damages:
1. Medical expenses
2. Future medical expenses
3. Loss of income
4. Property damages
5. Loss of consortium in cases of wrongful death
6. Mental anguish