While explosions are relatively rare compared to some other workplace hazards, when they happen in Kentucky, they often leave workers with severe injuries and significant medical bills. If you were injured in an explosion at work, you need an explosion accident lawyer with the Kentucky Courage it takes to handle your case and help you seek maximum compensation for all your losses.
Contact Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer now for a free consultation with an experienced Kentucky explosion attorney about your case. We will review the incident and explain your options for seeking compensation through a workers’ compensation claim, a personal injury lawsuit, a Social Security disability claim, or a combination of them.
Kentucky Workplaces Where Explosions Can Occur
Explosions are more common at some Kentucky workplaces than others. For example, people working in office buildings are less likely to experience an explosion, while those working with flammable materials and high-pressure gases are more likely to experience one.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, explosions caused three fatalities in Kentucky in a recent year. Some of the workplaces where explosions are more likely to occur include:
- Manufacturing facilities – Manufacturing often involves the use of high-pressure tanks, flammable materials, and countless possible ignition sources. An example of a recent manufacturing facility explosion was the one that occurred at the Givaudan Sense Colour facility in Louisville in 2024.
- Chemical plants – Plants where flammable or explosive chemicals are manufactured and stored are at a particularly high risk of explosions. Some substances may ignite when placed under pressure, temperatures get too high, or they come in contact with oxygen.
- Oil refineries – Fires leading to explosions are a significant risk at oil refineries. While refineries have safety measures in place to reduce the risks of an explosion, there is always the possibility of an explosion occurring.
- Construction sites – Exposed wiring, high-pressure systems, and large amounts of dust and other particulates can lead to explosions on construction sites. The best way to prevent an explosion is for employers to follow OSHA regulations.
Types of Injuries from Workplace Explosion Accidents
Workplace explosions frequently cause catastrophic injuries such as severe burns, broken bones, crush injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and others. Explosion injuries typically fall into four major categories: primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary blast injuries. The difference between these injuries is their relation to the explosion.
Primary Blast Injuries
Primary blast injuries are those caused directly by the explosion, such as lung damage, hearing loss, and other internal organ injuries caused by the blast’s pressure. The closer you are to the explosion, the more severe these injuries will be.
Secondary Blast Injuries
Secondary blast injuries are caused by flying debris from the explosion. When this debris strikes you, it can cause lacerations, fractured bones, and penetrating wounds. These are among the most common injuries sustained in explosions.
Tertiary Blast Injuries
Tertiary blast injuries occur when the blast throws you into another object, which causes your injuries. For example, if the explosion knocks you over and you hit your head on the ground, the resulting head and brain injury would count as a tertiary blast injury. These injuries are typically musculoskeletal.
Quaternary Blast Injuries
Quaternary blast injuries are all other injuries related to the explosion that do not fall within the previous three categories. These injuries may include burns, smoke or toxin inhalation injuries, and crushing injuries caused by building collapses.
Compensation You Can Claim After a Work Explosion Accident
Our Kentucky gas explosion attorneys can help you seek compensation for your injuries and their impact on your ability to work. If you are an independent contractor or if a non-employer third party was at fault for the explosion, you can seek compensation through a personal injury lawsuit. If you are an employee, you can file a workers’ compensation claim to seek medical expense coverage, partial wage-loss replacement, and vocational rehabilitation benefits.
Medical Expense Coverage
Workers’ compensation medical expense benefits cover all reasonable and necessary treatments relating to your workplace explosion injuries. It is crucial that you keep track of any medical bills related to the incident so your lawyer can seek the compensation you deserve.
Wage Loss Coverage
You may be entitled to recover up to two-thirds of your pre-injury average weekly wage while you are out of work due to an explosion injury. Wage-replacement benefits are subject to a cap under state law.
If you are totally disabled for a temporary period, temporary total disability (TTD) benefits will continue until you return to work. If you are permanently disabled but still able to work in a reduced capacity, you may be able to receive permanent partial disability (PPD) benefits. And if you are totally disabled on a permanent basis, you could receive permanent total disability (PTD) benefits.
Vocational Rehabilitation
Workers who are partially disabled and cannot return to their pre-injury role may be eligible for vocational rehabilitation benefits. These workers’ compensation benefits cover the cost of education and training needed to secure a different job that fits within your work restrictions.
Damages in a Personal Injury Lawsuit
If you have a valid personal injury claim, you may be able to recover compensation that goes beyond what is available from the workers’ compensation system. In addition to compensation for medical expenses, a successful personal injury lawsuit or third-party claim could provide complete replacement of your lost income, pain and suffering damages, and other types of compensation.
What Can a Work Explosion Accident Attorney Do for You?
Our work explosion accident attorneys can help with all aspects of your case, from investigating the incident to dealing with your employer’s workers’ compensation insurer and pursuing any personal injury claims you might have against negligent third parties.
Explosion injuries are typically severe and take a significant time to recover from. Nobody wants to deal with a legal case or insurance claim during that time. That is where our lawyers come in. Our dedicated team is ready to help you seek the compensation you need for your explosion injuries while you focus on healing.
Things to Consider When Choosing an Explosion Accident Attorney
When choosing a Kentucky explosion accident attorney, it is always a good idea to read client reviews and testimonials on the website and Google. Client reviews will give you a better understanding of what it is like to work with a particular firm.
Also, check out case results to see what the attorneys’ track record looks like and whether they have handled similar cases. And do not forget that you can ask questions during your initial consultation.
Why You Need Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer to Help You After a Work Explosion
If you were injured in an explosion at work in Kentucky, you need a lawyer who can handle your case from all angles, including personal injury, workers’ compensation, and Social Security disability claims. You also need an attorney who provides the type of client service you need to stay informed about your case.
To find out more about what it is like to have Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer as your law firm, check out what our satisfied clients have to say. For example, one of our past clients wrote:
“Morgan, Collins, Yeast and Salyer took on my accident case and stayed with it to the end. They kept me in the loop all the way. I am very happy with the outcome and will recommend them highly. I hope I never need another personal injury lawyer again, but if I do Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer are the ones for me. Thank you Roy and Sonya for all your hard work. Tremendous group of folks.” – Ron M.
Contact us at (877) 809-5352 for a free consultation with one of our work explosion attorneys. Our team is available 24/7 to discuss your case. When you hire us, the attorneys you see in our TV commercials will be the same ones working hard to seek the compensation you need.