Propane gas is a popular fuel source because it meets many home and business needs. While it is generally safe to use, it is flammable, and accidents can happen because of someone’s negligence, a manufacturing defect, or another reason. If you or a loved one is recovering from injuries from a propane tank explosion accident in Florida, you can explore your legal options for recovery.
A Florida propane tank explosion lawyer with GED Lawyers can review your accident and determine liable parties and what damages you could collect that can restore compensation and peace of mind. You can start with a free consultation today with our Florida property damage lawyers team. We can work on your case on contingency, meaning you owe us no money up front. We get paid only if we recover compensation for you.
GED Lawyers Helps People Recover from Gas Explosion Accidents
Our Florida-based law firm believes in holding negligent parties responsible for the accidents they cause and getting just recovery for our clients. Since 1995, we have helped hundreds of clients with cases involving personal injury, wrongful death, product liability, and natural disasters.
We are not afraid to pursue any legal challenge, and we will take on insurance companies for our clients’ financial recoveries. We have recovered millions for our clients, including $6,500,000 in a gas explosion case. It may seem daunting to think about filing an insurance claim or lawsuit, especially after an accident of this magnitude. We can take care of your legal matters for you, protecting your right to seek damages as you heal from your gas explosion injuries.
Recoverable Damages in a Florida Propane Tank Explosion
The damages you could recover for injuries and losses after a propane tank explosion in Florida depends on various factors that change depending on the case. These include the kind of injuries suffered, the severity of those injuries, and how much time is expected for physical recovery.
Our Florida propane tank explosion attorney will assess all your damages, which generally fall into two categories: economic and non-economic damages.
Economic Damages
We will identify the financial losses you suffered in a propane tank explosion. Generally, these are the losses that cost you money and have a fixed dollar amount that we can prove with a receipt, invoice, or another type of documentation. These include:
- Medical expenses and other healthcare-related bills
- Anticipated future medical costs
- Rehabilitation costs and therapies
- Lost income if you missed time at work
- Reduced earning ability if your injuries mean you can’t work or forces you to take lower-paying work
- Property damage
- Various accident-related costs
Non-Economic Damages
You likely also have damages that do not come with a fixed dollar amount, which count as your non-economic damages. Our attorney can assess these losses, too, and assign a value to them. These losses typically include:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Emotional distress
- Permanent disability
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Reduced quality of life
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of companionship
- Other intangible accident-related injuries
Wrongful Death Damages in a Florida Propane Tank Explosion
If you have lost a loved one in a propane tank explosion that someone else’s negligence caused, you might be able to recover damages by filing a wrongful death action against the liable party. Florida law allows certain family members to receive compensation in injury accidents that can help them:
- Pay their late loved one’s accident-related medical expenses
- Cover the funeral, burial, or cremation expenses
- Replaces the decedent’s lost household income
Our firm’s propane tank explosion attorney can explain how wrongful death actions work in Florida and if you could recover your losses under this action.
How Our Florida Propane Tank Explosion Lawyer Help With Your Case
Ged Lawyers is a full-service personal injury law firm based in Boca Raton, Florida. We handle injury cases throughout the state, seeking full recovery for our clients. If you hire us to represent you, we will lead your case and take care of everything for you. You will get your time back to focus solely on recovering from your accident. Our firm will:
- Investigate the propane tank explosion to determine its cause
- Identify the parties responsible for the explosion and prove how their negligence caused it.
- Collect evidence to prove negligence, liability, and the extent of your injuries, such as photos of your injuries, accident site, video footage, witness statements, police reports, and medical records
- Aim to negotiate with the liable party’s insurance company for a case settlement
- Represent you in talks with all involved parties
- File a lawsuit if we cannot settle your case outside of court by Florida’s statute of limitations deadline
- Update you regularly about your case’s status and answer all your questions and concerns
We will do what it takes to prove your case and seek maximum compensation for you. We understand what recovery means to you and your family and will work diligently to ensure you present your strongest case for compensation from those responsible for your accident.
We Must File a Florida Propane Explosion Lawsuit by Florida’s Deadline
Our Florida propane tank explosion lawyer has a set time to file your injury or wrongful death lawsuit in Florida. Under Florida Statutes § 95.11(3)(a), injured parties generally have four years from the accident date to take legal action against the liable party. If they are filing a wrongful death lawsuit, they have two years from their loved one’s death date to file (Florida Statutes § 95.11(4)(d)).
Failing to meet the deadline will likely result in losing your right to sue for damages in your case. Our legal team will file your case on time, protecting your right to hold the liable party accountable for your damages.
What Is Propane, and Why Do Some Florida Businesses and Homeowners Use It?
Propane is a colorless, odorless, flammable gas made of refined petroleum and natural gas. It turns into a liquid when stored in a pressurized tank. Because the gas is odorless, the chemical ethyl mercaptan is added to give it an odor that smells like “rotten eggs.” This is so users can detect leaks before they become a problem.
Propane is widely regarded as a safe, affordable, and convenient energy source, and some prefer to use it instead of electricity, oil, and natural gas. People use it for various purposes, including heating their homes and businesses. They also use it to power their barbecue grills, portable stoves, swimming pools, fireplaces, clothes dryers, generators, and more.
Tanks come in various sizes, and the size needed depends on what they plan to use them for. Anyone who uses a propane take should take care to learn safety measures, including how to monitor tank levels and read a tank’s gauge.
Reasons Florida Propane Tanks Explode
Despite its uses, propane use has its risks. The gas can become flammable when it mixes with oxygen and can explode upon encountering high temperatures or a flame. Gas leaks are a common source of explosions. It doesn’t matter how small the leak is; an explosion is possible because the gas sits under pressure in a tank. Tanks should never be filled all the way; leaving some space allows the propane to expand while it is in the container. They should also never be placed near a heat source.
Propane tanks can explode when exposed to high temperatures, such as those from a fire. This is known as BLEVE, or a “boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion.” When the heat raises the tank’s temperature, the liquid expands as it heats. The tank can break if the pressure builds faster than it’s released through a safety relief valve.
Improper Propane Installation and Maintenance
Other reasons propane tanks explode in Florida include improper installation and maintenance. This includes not replacing faulty or broken parts or failure to keep up with inspections. The tank should be handled responsibly.
Faulty Propane Tanks Can Also Cause Injuries
The propane tank that caused your injuries may have had a manufacturing defect. One common reason gas leaks go undetected is the odorant can fade, leaving it hard to tell if a tank is leaking. If this causes an explosion, the tank’s manufacturer or other parties could be held liable for the explosion. We can also investigate if the propane cylinder was under a product recall. If so, this could also be a reason to seek damages with a product liability lawsuit in Boca Raton.
Propane Tank Explosions Cause Serious, Life-Threatening Injuries
Victims can suffer serious injuries in a propane explosion. People can suffer:
- Severe burns of varying degrees
- Various skin injuries
- Internal organ damage
- Lung damage from smoke inhalation
- Shrapnel injuries from flying debris from the tank as well as other items in the explosion area
- Limb loss
- Eye damage
Suffering injuries from a propane explosion can lead to high medical bills and extensive recovery time. A gas explosion attorney with GED Lawyers can help you recover these damages.
Call GED Lawyers for Help With a Florida Propane Tank Explosion
If you were hurt in a propane gas explosion, GED Lawyers can help you pursue damages against those responsible for your pain and suffering. Start exploring your legal options today during a free, no-obligation consultation.
