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Plant & Refinery Accident Attorneys

Representing the Victims of Plant Explosions & Chemical Accidents 

El Paso Plant & Refinery Accident Lawyers

Fighting for Workers Injured in El Paso Plant Explosions, Fires & More

Plant and refinery accidents can cause devastating injuries to on-site workers as well as nearby residences. Unfortunately, most refinery and plant accidents could have been prevented with the proper care, equipment, and employer supervision. Too often, these accidents occur because owners or managers failed to take the necessary steps to protect their workers. In some occasions, workers are tasked to work on projects without the proper resources and equipment—resulting in severe on-the-job injuries and even death.

If you are employed at a production plant or oil refinery, you know how dangerous your job can be. In a hazardous work environment, it is vital to have the best equipment, effective safety policies, and well-trained workers to prevent accidents. Yet, more often than not, these practices are not present, causing workers to suffer catastrophic injuries. Our El Paso refinery accident attorneys won't stand by while it happens again and again. We are proud to advocate for injured refinery workers and we refuse to let companies neglect their duty to their workers.

It is critical that you have your case reviewed by a lawyer you can trust. At Arnold & Itkin, our El Paso plant accident attorneys represent clients in West Texas and nationwide. Contact us today at (888) 493-1629.

Plants & Refineries in El Paso, TX

El Paso is home to a number of industrial worksites, including refineries and plants. These include:

  • Andeavor El Paso Refinery
  • Western Refining North Plant
  • Western Refining Wholesale
  • Western Refining Logistics

Texas’ Most Tragic Plant Explosions

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Texas had the largest number of oil and gas industry fatal injuries than any other state between 2007-2011.

Some of the most tragic plant explosions in Texas include:

  • BP Texas City Refinery (March 2005)
    The pipes at the Texas City refinery had been worn too thin and were leaking fumes. As a result, the fumes led to a massive explosion triggered by the ignition of a hydrocarbon vapor cloud. The owners and managers failed to keep the work environment safe, and 170 workers were severely injured and 15 were killed as a result. Our El Paso refinery accident lawyers represented several of those injured in the blast.
  • West Fertilizer Company Explosion (April 2013)
    An explosion occurred at a storage and distribution center in West, TX. The incident injured more than 250 people and killed 15 others. It was discovered that the explosion occurred deliberately.

2017 Explosion at Western Refining El Paso, Texas

Accidents still continue to happen in refineries nationwide—even in El Paso, Texas. In 2017, several incidents were reported at Western Refining, including a fire and chemical leak. Not only does an incident like this put the on-site workers in danger, but it also affects nearby residents. It was later discovered that about 2,057 pounds of sulfur dioxide leaking into the air. Inhaling high levels of sulfur can result in swollen lungs and difficulty breathing. Skin contact with sulfur dioxide can also cause irritation and burn injuries.

Common Types of Plant & Refinery Accidents

Plants and refineries are some of the most dangerous places to work because of all the hazardous material that can cause various accidents. Workers can be exposed to different dangers depending on the type of plant they work for. Below are some of the most common types of accidents that occur in refineries.

  • Oil Refinery Accidents – Oil refineries use complex equipment and technology to refine oil into other products. Through this industrial process, heating is used to refine the crude oil, which often causes accidents. Accidents typically occur from the refining process overheating or by defective equipment.
  • Plant & Refinery explosions – Refineries are dangerous in part due to highly flammable materials all over the plant. If workers do not follow the proper safety procedures to handle and store these materials, then a major explosion is inevitable. Employers can prevent explosions from happening by properly training their teams on safety protocols and replacing outdated equipment.
  • Chemical Fires – Along with explosions, fires can also occur at a chemical plant or refinery. Since refineries contain highly flammable materials, fires can erupt if not handled with precaution.

Arnold & Itkin in the News

Our El Paso Refinery & Plant Accident Lawyers Have Won Billions

Our passion for helping the injured, along with our vast experience in refinery cases has allowed our El Paso plant accident attorneys to win billions of dollars over the years for our clients. We have record-setting verdicts that have allowed our clients to receive the compensation they need to recover and secure their future.

Some examples of refinery cases we have won include:

  • $97 Million for Workers Caught in a Refinery Fire: Our firm was able to secure a huge settlement for clients who were injured in a refinery fire. Arnold & Itkin attorneys fought for justice against some of the largest corporations in the world. This settlement helped our clients receive the medical attention need and financial security for their future.
  • $12 Million Received for Burn Injuries Suffered Due to a Failed Safety Valve: Our El Paso refinery accident attorneys recovered $12 million on behalf of a plant worker who suffered burns when a safety valve failed at the refinery he was working at. Arnold & Itkin helped this client receive the compensation they deserved to move on from this tragic incident.

Contact Our El Paso Refinery Accident Lawyers: (888) 493-1629

Employers and supervisors are required by law to keep their workers safe while conducting dangerous work. Unfortunately, most employers wait until there's a crisis or someone gets hurt before they do something about aging equipment, poor training, or dangerous conditions. Why? Because it's cheaper to run a refinery that way. To the company executives, workers who get injured in an explosion are just part of the business equation.

At Arnold & Itkin LLP, we are here to advocate for you and help you answer your questions. In this overwhelming time, we want to help you find justice and protect your best interest. Don’t let the parties responsible get away with what happened. You deserve a future that is secure and can help you take care of yourself and your loved ones. Our El Paso plant accident attorneys can help you fight for your rights. Contact us today and we will walk you through every step.

Call (888) 493-1629 to schedule a free consultation. An El Paso personal injury attorney can travel to you to review your options and get you much-needed help and relief.

Case Results

Check Out Our Victories

  • $8 Billion Top 3 Largest Jury Verdict in U.S. History Arnold & Itkin tried a case against Johnson & Johnson for failing to warn about a drug’s most damaging side effects: gynecomastia. Our skill, hard work, and dedication resulted in the third-largest jury verdict ever obtained for an individual ...
  • $860 Million History-Making Verdict After Fatal Crane Accident Arnold & Itkin took up the case of a woman who lost her daughter after a crane collapsed on her daughter’s apartment building. After nearly four years of delays, the defendant was forced to take responsibility.
  • $557 Million Massive Verdict Won Against Union Pacific Arnold & Itkin won a half-a-billion-dollar verdict against one of the nation’s largest rail companies after train operators mercilessly struck our client despite knowing she was on the tracks.
  • $357 Million Largest Workplace Accident Settlement in Texas History Arnold & Itkin LLP secured a massive nine-figure settlement against a transnational corporation for a workplace incident. The settlement set a Texas record for being the largest personal injury settlement in the state’s history.
  • $222 Million Record-Breaking Verdict for Widow Our firm won $222 million for a woman who lost her husband in an industrial accident caused by a faulty valve. We took the case to trial because the at-fault company refused to take responsibility. The jury saw through the corporate lies and double ...
  • $205 Million Confidential Settlement Obtained for Numerous Clients Arnold & Itkin reached a record $205,000,000 settlement on behalf of clients after several years of hard-fought litigation. The case settled just before trial was set to begin.
  • $193 Million Settlement Won for Victims of Pipeline Explosion Offshore injury lawyers at Arnold & Itkin fought for two workers who were injured in a pipeline explosion at sea, one of whom passed away. Our relentless investigation and advocacy resulted in a nine-figure settlement that will provide for our ...
  • $171 Million One of the Largest Confidential Settlements in History Arnold & Itkin worked over the course of several years to represent clients in a case that many other law firms turned down. In the end, we were able to obtain a record-setting confidential settlement.
  • $139 Million Massive Settlement Achieved for Victims of an Oilfield Incident Arnold & Itkin LLP negotiated a huge $139,000,000 settlement for injured families affected by an oilfield incident in the eastern United States, settling one week before trial.
  • $125 Million Settlement Won for Widow of Dredge Worker Offshore lawyers at Arnold & Itkin LLP won a nine-figure settlement for a woman who lost her husband in a pipeline explosion. By pushing the case toward trial, our firm pressured the defendant into settling with our client, allowing her to rebuild ...
See All Results
“They took my case and they took care of me in every way I needed. They stayed with me and that's a big thing for me. They treated me like family, so they're like family to me.”
Nicholas Workplace Explosion Victim

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