Fifteen people were injured in a gas explosion and fire that led to a building collapse in Wappingers Falls, New York the afternoon of Nov. 2. According to a report in the Times-Union, multiple agencies were dispatched to an apartment building at 2 Brick Row after, officials said, a Central Hudson contractor struck a gas line. This, they said, caused a fire or possible explosion. Responders set up a triage area and quickly determined that several people were in critical condition. A number of victims were also treated at the scene.
Serious Injuries Reported
In all, 10 victims suffered blast and burn injuries. The Times-Union reported that the victims included nine males ranging in age from 8 to 59 as well as one 35-year-old woman. Additionally, five first responders were treated and released from area hospitals. One firefighter sustained a hand injury, one police officer suffered burn and smoke inhalation injuries, two officers suffered smoke inhalation and one responder suffered a dog bite while rescuing the dog.
Of the 15 victims, seven were treated and released the following morning. Eight others remained at the hospital. Two of the victims’ families have created crowdsourcing campaigns to help pay for their loved ones’ medical expenses. According to the news article, four children in one of the families were airlifted to an area hospital with second and third-degree burn injuries.
Another campaign is raising funds for families of two teenagers who “lost everything” in the fire. Police said the incident was contained to one dwelling and all others were deemed structurally safe. Those displaced have been housed in area hotels. Police are investigating the cause of this explosion. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by this explosion and fire.
Types of Injuries Sustained in Explosions
Injuries suffered in explosions can be catastrophic and devastating, leaving victims with a wide range of physical, emotional, and psychological trauma. The severity of injuries can vary significantly depending on the type of explosion and the proximity of the victims.
One of the most common types of injuries in explosions is blast injuries, which result from the shockwaves generated by the detonation. These injuries can cause severe trauma to the body, including damage to internal organs, fractures, and traumatic brain injuries. Flying debris, shrapnel, and heat can also cause burns, lacerations, and penetrating injuries. These physical injuries often require immediate medical attention, surgery, and long-term rehabilitation. Because explosions tend to result in fires, victims may also sustain burns and smoke inhalation injuries.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Gas Explosion?
Liability for a gas explosion can vary depending on the specific circumstances and the parties involved. Several parties may potentially be held liable for a gas explosion:
Property owners/manager: If a gas explosion occurs due to a gas leak on a property, the property owner and property manager may be held liable if they failed to maintain or repair the gas system, which led to the explosion. Property owners/managers have a duty to ensure the safety of their premises and address any potential hazards promptly.
Gas utility companies: Gas utility companies can be held liable if the explosion is the result of a gas leak originating from their infrastructure. They have a duty to maintain their gas pipelines, promptly respond to reports of gas leaks, and ensure the safety of their distribution systems.
Contractors or maintenance companies: If a gas explosion results from substandard installation or poor maintenance work by contractors or maintenance companies hired by the property owner/manager or a gas utility, these entities may be held responsible for their negligence (carelessness).
Manufacturers: Gas-related equipment, such as gas meters, regulators, or appliances, may have defects that can lead to gas leaks and explosions. In such cases, the manufacturers of these products can be held liable for their faulty designs or components.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured in a fire or explosion, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys with the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you. For over 53 years, our skilled attorneys have established a proven track record of assisting injured victims. One of our clients — a hot water burn victim — secured $750,000 in damages from the property owner and manager.
Our firm also obtained a $985,000 settlement out of a $1 million policy for two people who suffered smoke inhalation injuries because the homeowner did not have smoke detectors installed and the $15,000 that was left on the insurance policy was for a person that we did not represent. Another of our clients recovered $2,500,000 due to a faulty space heater. Also, one of our clients obtained a verdict for $43,940,000 and another of our clients got a verdict for $23,500,000, both in medical malpractice cases.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury, lead poisoning and medical malpractice cases including, brachial plexus palsy (Erb’s palsy) and cerebral palsy cases in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
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1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
Please visit us at: www.WORK4YOULAW.com
Source: https://www.timesunion.com/hudsonvalley/news/article/wappingers-falls-building-explosion-18465173.php