Chemical plants help power the American industrial sector. While chemical plants are largely safe, every year people are injured in chemical plant accidents. These victims are most often employees of the chemical plants and people who live near the plant. If you have been hurt in a chemical plant accident, you need to take action to get compensated for your injuries and your pain and suffering.

What Causes Chemical Plant Accidents?

Chemical plant accidents are caused by natural disasters, human error, or some combination of the two. Human error comes in the form of negligence or carelessness. Because of the volatile nature of many chemicals, even the smallest breach of safety protocols can result in disaster.

Some common causes of chemical plant accidents are:

• Creation of a lax safety environment
• Failure to plan sufficiently for natural disasters
• Poor training of staff
• Inadequate safety procedures
• Poorly maintained equipment
• Failure to upgrade facilities
• Defective equipment
• Important safety warnings are ignored

When your injury in a chemical plant accident was the result of someone else’s negligence, you may have the right to be compensated for your damages.

Types of Chemical Plant Injuries

Because of the high toxicity of most chemical plants, the injuries in chemical plant accidents can be severe. Some of the types of injuries include:

• Burns
• Cancer
• Inhalation of toxic chemicals
• Chemical burns
• Lacerations
• Fractured bones
• Strains and sprains
• Eye injuries
• Amputations
• Paralysis
• Death

Immediately after a chemical plant injury you need to seek a medical evaluation. Even if you do not feel any symptoms, you may have been exposed to dangerous chemicals. The sooner you are examined the better chance you have at making a full recovery. Make sure you follow all of your doctor’s instructions. This will help you heal faster. This includes staying home from work until you are medically cleared to go back.

Make sure to tell your doctor that you may have been exposed to toxic chemicals. The more information you can provide the better. While your first priority is to get better, seeing a medical professional is also important for any future injury claims.

Medical records are some of the best documentation of your injuries when you go to make a personal injury claim.

Worker’s Compensation and Third Party Lawsuits

Most chemical plant workers are covered by worker’s compensation policies. This means their medical bills and disability will be paid, regardless of the cause of the accident. However, these policies do not allow them to file claims for pain and suffering from their employers in most circumstances.

In some states if your employer does not have worker’s compensation insurance, or your employer caused the accident by deliberately ignoring warnings or safety procedures, you may be able to recover pain and suffering damages from them.

If the accident was caused in part by a third party, such as a contractor, you may be able to go after them for additional damages. Because every case is different, you need to speak with a lawyer familiar with chemical plant accidents. Without the expert advice of a lawyer, you may miss out on money you are otherwise legally entitled to.

If you were not an employee of the chemical plant you are not covered by worker’s compensation. You are able to file a claim directly with the company for all of your damages including:

• Medical bills
• Pain and suffering
• Future medical expenses
• Out of pocket expenses
• Increased risk of cancer or future diseases

Getting the Compensation You Deserve

Chemical plant accidents are incredibly complex. If you do not have the help of an experienced injury lawyer you may lose the chance to file a claim, or you may settle for far less than your case is worth.

The chemical plant will have teams of lawyers working for them to resolve all the claims resulting from an accident. There may be hundreds of victims all trying to get compensated. You shouldn’t have to face them alone.

When you retain a lawyer he or she will evaluate your claim. They will make sure you meet all the deadlines. They will prepare a lengthy and detailed demand for damages to everyone responsible for the accident. Most of these cases will be resolved without having to go to court. But, if you have to go to court, your lawyer will be prepared to demonstrate why you should be awarded the damages you seek.

Finding a personal injury lawyer who is experienced in chemical plant accidents is not easy. We can help you find the lawyer with the experience and expertise to handle your case. Contact us today and we will help you find the right lawyer for your case.