Billions Recovered for Injured Workers Across Houston’s Industrial Corridor
Houston sits at the center of America’s oil refining industry. The greater Houston area alone processes 2.6 million barrels of crude oil every day, accounting for 45.1% of Texas’s refining capacity and 13.8% of the nation’s. Combined with neighboring Gulf Coast cities like Corpus Christi, Port Arthur, and Beaumont, this region produces more than a quarter of all refined petroleum in the United States.
That scale comes with serious risk. Explosions, toxic exposures, and fires are constant hazards for workers across Houston’s plants and refineries. The volatility of the substances these facilities process puts nearby residents at risk as well. In nearly every case, these disasters could have been prevented. Since 2004, our Houston personal injury lawyers have stood with workers and families after the worst industrial accidents, recovering over $25 billion in verdicts and settlements. We know these facilities. We’ve litigated them. And we won’t stop fighting for our clients.
If you’ve been injured, Arnold & Itkin is ready to help. A consultation with our Houston plant and refinery accident lawyers is free and confidential! Call (888) 493-1629.
We proudly help clients throughout Houston and the surrounding areas, such as Pearland and League City. If you were injured in a plant or refinery accident, such as a chemical spill or explosion, we can help.
Helping Victims of Plant, Refinery & Factory Explosions
Plant and refinery explosions are catastrophic, devastating to both industrial workers and the residents who live with the fallout. Unfortunately, these tragedies are happening in Texas with increasing frequency.
What makes this worse is that explosions are almost always preventable. They are caused by owners and managers who fail to protect their workers: forcing them to use outdated equipment, ignoring recommended safety measures, and cutting corners to protect profits instead of people.
At Arnold & Itkin, our Texas refinery accident lawyers have seen it happen again and again.
Throughout the years, our Houston explosion lawyers have stood side-by-side with survivors of plant and refinery explosions and the families left behind. We’ve seen how often these accidents could have been avoided, and we’ve watched companies fail their own employees repeatedly. Loyal workers believe the company will support them through recovery. It almost never happens. Instead, the company goes into cover-up mode, protecting its own interests at the expense of the people who were hurt.
We refuse to stand by and let companies neglect their duty to their workers. We refuse to let them protect their profits but fail to protect their employees.
Examples of Plants & Refineries in the Houston Area
The Houston area is home to a number of plants, factories, and refineries. We’ve listed several below:
These are facilities our attorneys know firsthand. We’ve handled cases arising from incidents at Houston-area industrial plants, and that experience shapes how we investigate, how we build cases, and how we hold corporate defendants accountable.
Chemical Plant Fires in Houston
Chemical plant fires are common because of the flammable materials industrial plants handle. Facilities can catch fire when owners fail to maintain a safe working environment, fail to contain volatile materials properly, or fail to prepare for power outages and system failures.
Common causes of chemical plant fires include:
Incorrect storage of materials
Noncompliance with state and federal laws
Defective or poorly maintained equipment
Inadequate personnel training
Extensive, ongoing maintenance is one of the most important factors in preventing chemical plant fires. Some facilities run continuously, and worker safety depends on aging machinery that can’t be allowed to degrade. When a company won’t commit to proper upkeep, the consequences fall on the people doing the work.
When Management Knows About a Problem and Does Nothing
Our Texas chemical plant fire lawyers represented workers injured in the Williams Olefins plant explosion in Geismar, LA. Before the incident, upper management knew the facility had a design flaw that could trigger an accident. Instead of fixing it, they left it untouched for years in the name of productivity and profit. When the explosion finally happened, 2 workers were killed and 167 were injured. Our investigation was thorough enough that juries awarded our clients more than $30 million combined.
Safety training is equally critical. Plant owners have a legal obligation to train employees on how to prevent fires and what to do when one breaks out. Failing to provide that training is a failure to protect workers, and it’s one we’ve seen contribute to disasters that should never have happened.
Some of Texas’ Most Devastating Plant Explosions
Phillips Disaster (October 1989): One of the deadliest days in Texas history was October 23, 1989, when a series of explosions tore through the Phillips 66 plastics factory near the Houston Ship Channel in Pasadena, TX. The first blast registered 3.5 on the Richter scale and could be heard for miles. More than 314 people were injured, and 23 employees were killed. The cause: inadequate safety procedures.
Texas City Refinery Explosion (March 2005): In March 2005, a massive explosion struck a refinery in Texas City, TX. The blast was caused by the ignition of a hydrocarbon vapor cloud released from an overfilled distillation tower, killing 15 workers and injuring 180 more. Investigations found significant deficiencies in safety systems and documented management’s failure to address systemic process safety failures.
West Fertilizer Company Explosion (April 2013): In April 2013, an explosion ripped through a storage and distribution facility in West, TX, killing 15 people, injuring more than 250, and damaging approximately 500 buildings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives later announced that the fire that started the explosion was deliberately set, though that finding has been disputed by legal and forensic experts.
Pasadena Industrial Plant Explosion (May 2018): More than 20 people were injured after a fire and explosion tore through the Kuraray America facility in Pasadena, TX, which had more than 250 workers inside at the time. Several were transported to local hospitals. Two were airlifted. The accident was caused by a highly flammable gas leak from the production system.
Baytown ExxonMobil Fire (July 2019): A fire at an ExxonMobil facility in Baytown, TX injured nearly 40 people, most with burn-related injuries. It was the second fire that year at the plant and part of a broader string of industrial disasters in 2019. Smoke was visible throughout the Houston area.
4 Workers Injured in Fire at ExxonMobil Plant Outside of Houston
At about 1:00 am on December 23, 2021, a fire broke out at the ExxonMobil facility in Baytown, about 25 miles outside of Houston. Local residents reported feeling their homes shake, almost like an earthquake. Four workers were injured in what authorities called a “major industrial accident”: three were airlifted, and one was transported by ground to the hospital for treatment.
The facility houses an oil refinery, chemical plant, and an olefins plant. The fire, which was extinguished several hours later, took place in the part of the facility that produces gasoline. Authorities did not issue a shelter-in-place order for local residents, and all workers were accounted for.
The LyondellBasell Chemical Leak in La Porte
On July 27, 2021, the LyondellBasell plant near La Porte experienced a serious chemical leak when a pressurized cap blew off a line containing acetic acid. Two workers were killed, and 30 more were injured. Both of the deceased were contractors, and the plant was partially shut down for maintenance at the time. The facility is the third-largest producer of acetic acid in the world. Acetic acid is highly corrosive and can cause skin irritation, burns, and respiratory injuries. The leak released approximately 100,000 pounds of the substance.
After the incident, reports revealed the La Porte plant had a recent string of pollution citations. The company’s Galena Park facility had also experienced a leak just weeks earlier, releasing a garlic-like odor that prompted complaints of headaches and nausea from area residents.
Common Causes of Plant & Refinery Explosions
Plant and refinery explosions are rarely caused by factors outside human control. They can almost always be traced to negligence, recklessness, and decisions that place company profits over worker safety. Severely outdated equipment is a recurring factor, as is the deliberate choice to ignore a known problem rather than spend the money to fix it.
“Working in a plant is so dangerous because the equipment is so old. There hasn’t been a new plant brought online for decades. Then you have immense pressure and dangerous chemicals all around you. It’s a recipe for disaster. That’s why so many people are hurt. They make so much money from these plants, and they invest so little back. I’m always shocked at how they foresaw the problem. They knew it was a problem, and they just didn’t fix it. It shocks me.” – Texas Plant Accident Attorney Kurt Arnold
Who Can Be Held Liable After a Houston Plant or Refinery Accident
Industrial accidents rarely have a single responsible party. Multiple companies may be operating at the same facility simultaneously, each carrying independent liability for the injuries that result. As Houston plant accident attorneys, our approach is to identify every potentially liable party, not only the direct employer, because the full scope of accountability shapes the full scope of the case.
Plant Owners & Operators Owners and operators can be held liable when they cut corners on maintenance, ignore OSHA Process Safety Management standards, or pressure workers to prioritize production over safety.
Contractors & Subcontractors Companies brought in for construction, maintenance, or specialized tasks such as welding or scaffolding can be held liable for their own negligence, including failure to follow lockout and tagout procedures that prevent accidental equipment activation.
Third-Party Inspection & Maintenance Firms If a contracted inspection or maintenance company failed to identify or correct a hazard that later caused an explosion or fire, that firm can be held independently accountable.
Identifying all responsible parties requires prompt investigation. Evidence can be lost or altered quickly after a major industrial incident, and Texas’s two-year statute of limitations on personal injury claims means there’s no time to wait. We’ve faced off against the largest corporate defendants in the nation and won. We know how these companies respond after an accident, and we know how to build a case that holds them accountable.
Texas Workers’ Compensation vs. a Personal Injury Lawsuit
Texas is the only state that doesn’t require private employers to carry workers’ compensation insurance. Employers who opt out of the system lose the ability to raise comparative negligence as a defense, and their injured workers can pursue civil claims rather than being confined to the limited benefits workers’ comp provides.
Workers’ compensation in Texas typically replaces income at about 70% of average weekly wage. It doesn’t compensate for pain and suffering, disfigurement, or full future income loss. A personal injury lawsuit can pursue those damages directly, including mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, and, in cases of gross negligence under the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, exemplary damages as well.
We represent plant and refinery workers in personal injury lawsuits against employers who opt out of workers’ comp and against third-party defendants whose negligence contributed to the accident. We work on a contingency basis, which means our clients don’t pay for any services or litigation expenses unless we win a verdict or settlement on their behalf. We carry the financial risk of litigation because that’s what it means to be fully committed to a client’s case.
Compensation Available to Plant & Refinery Accident Victims in Houston
A successful personal injury claim after a plant or refinery accident can pursue several categories of damages. Economic losses include past and future medical bills, lost wages, and loss of future earning capacity. Non-economic damages address pain and suffering, emotional distress, mental anguish, disfigurement or scarring, and loss of enjoyment of life. When a defendant acted with fraud, malice, or gross negligence, such as knowingly ignoring a safety failure that led to an explosion, Texas law also permits exemplary damages on presentation of clear and convincing evidence.
Workers’ compensation doesn’t cover these categories, which is often the decisive reason a personal injury lawsuit can result in larger recoveries for injured workers and their families. We also work to connect clients with the medical care they need throughout our representation, not just at the conclusion of the case.
Burn Injuries Sustained at Chemical Plants, Oil Refineries & More
At Arnold & Itkin, we help clients recover from catastrophic injuries and overcome seemingly impossible odds.
Burn injuries at chemical plants, factories, and oil refineries are among the most devastating and long-lasting injuries a worker can suffer, often requiring multiple surgeries and years of ongoing care. Our Houston burn injury lawyers have represented catastrophic burn injury victims throughout Houston, working to pursue top medical treatment and financial compensation. We’ve fought for victims of third-degree burns, scarring, and lifelong disfigurement, demanding justice for the negligence that caused their suffering. We won’t stop fighting to hold responsible parties accountable.
Wrongful Death Cases in Houston, TX & Surrounding Areas
There are no words to properly describe the devastation of losing someone you love to a fatal plant, factory, or refinery accident. At Arnold & Itkin, we’ve helped countless families who have been left without answers, giving them a voice when they feel they have none. Our Houston wrongful death lawyers represent the families of killed industrial workers and have a track record of helping them pursue compensation as they move forward.
Texas wrongful death law allows the spouse, children, and parents of a deceased worker to bring a claim. If none file within three months, the estate’s executor may file on their behalf. A successful wrongful death suit can deliver answers, hold the at-fault parties accountable, and provide a path toward greater financial stability. As a spouse, parent, or child of someone killed in a fatal plant accident, you may be entitled to compensation for loss of companionship, loss of support, funeral costs, emotional trauma, and, where gross negligence is established, exemplary damages.
Our Texas Plant & Refinery Explosion Attorneys Have Won Billions of Dollars
The results we’ve achieved for industrial workers reflect what happens when trial lawyers genuinely prepare for battle. We’ve won hundreds of cases worth $1 million or more, along with multi-billion-dollar verdicts of $8 billion, $2.25 billion, and $2.07 billion, contributing to over $25 billion recovered in total. Many of our largest wins have come on behalf of injured plant and refinery workers and their families.
$97 Million – We reached a settlement on behalf of refinery workers who survived a severe fire at their place of work and helped them access the medical attention they needed.
$39.7 Million – We won a record verdict for a man severely injured in a dust fire and explosion at a plywood plant. Our client underwent seven surgical procedures before trial concluded and was projected to require more in the years ahead.
More Than $30 Million Won for Victims of the Geismar Explosion
In 2013, a plant explosion in Geismar, LA killed 2 workers and injured 167 more after management knowingly left a design flaw unaddressed for years. We took on the plant’s owner and multiple defendants across two separate trials. In the first, we won $15.45 million. The jury assigned 95% of the responsibility to Williams Companies, Inc. and 3% to Williams Olefins, LLC, finding that both knew with “substantial certainty” the explosion would occur. In the second trial, we won $18.5 million for four additional victims, with a second defendant, Sabic Petrochemical, held accountable for its 16% stake in the plant.
“We spent more than $10 million of our own firm’s money to pursue the strongest possible recovery for our clients and help take care of them. That’s what we did, and that’s what we do.” – Plant Explosion Attorney Kurt Arnold
What Workers Think About Our Houston Plant Explosion Attorneys
At Arnold & Itkin, we believe the workers and families we represent are the backbone of our economy, in Houston, across Texas, and nationwide. We’re honored to work with them and committed to fighting for them when their company fails them. One client recalled what working with us during trial was like:
“It was just unreal how tirelessly they worked. Our trial lasted around 10 days. Every night, they were working ’til way after midnight. There were a couple nights they never even slept.” — Terry, Client of Arnold & Itkin
Much of our success comes from passion, preparation, and an absolute refusal to be outworked. The results we’ve won over the years are what that commitment looks like in practice.
See for yourself what plant and refinery workers think about their experience with us!
“I was able to actually witness them in court. They went in there like straight bulldogs and they won. They’re unstoppable! They definitely have the experience you need. They’re fighting for these little people that can’t handle themselves when a giant comes. Almost like the David and Goliath. It’s an amazing thing to see. I would recommend them to anybody, I mean anybody. When they say Super Lawyers, that’s what they mean.” — Shawn Thomas
“I felt like family because they were there to listen and hear. Not just brush you off because ‘you’re just a client.’ They let me know when I met them that everything was going to be all right. Ever since the day I met them until today that I’m sitting here, they have always had my back.” — Veronica Sowell
“They’re very professional. They didn’t back down. That’s why I like my lawyers. Even when I had to do my testimony in court, they didn’t let those lawyers run over me. They fought hard. You have some lions with Arnold & Itkin. They’re not going to back down.” — Maurice Dilworth
Contact Our Houston, Texas Plant & Refinery Injury Law Firm for a Free Consultation
At Arnold & Itkin, we’re here to give you a voice when you may feel you have none. We uncover what actually happened, hold responsible parties accountable, and fight for the compensation and future stability your family may need. Don’t let the companies responsible for your injuries bury what they did. Kurt Arnold and Jason Itkin are members of the Inner Circle of Advocates, one of the 100 best plaintiff’s lawyers in the nation, and our firm has set records at the local, state, and national level for injured workers. There is no cost to speak with us, and you won’t pay anything unless we win.
Who Is Responsible for Houston Plant & Refinery Accidents?
Ultimately, it’s up to the companies that run these refineries to make sure no accidents happen. Proper training, maintenance, and safety procedures mean that accidents are always preventable. Yet, too often, companies decide that neglecting safety in favor of profits is the right choice. When this happens, workers suffer the most.
What Are Common Refinery Accidents?
Explosions and fires are the most common types of plant refinery accidents. When these happen, workers sustain life-changing catastrophic injuries such as burns, amputations, and brain injuries. Other common Houston plant and refinery accidents include explosions, fires, falls, and toxic exposure. Many of these accidents are the result of companies failing to adequately maintain their facilities. The refining process requires incredibly hot temperatures, high pressure, and incredibly volatile chemicals. This means that companies have no excuse when they fail to maintain the equipment that handles processes at their refineries.
How Can a Houston Plant & Refinery Accident Law Firm Help?
Arnold & Itkin focuses on making sure anyone hurt receives the compensation that they need after an accident. Since refinery accidents often cause severe injuries, we always focus on the recovery a worker needs rather than the settlement they’re offered. Our Houston plant and refinery accident attorneys often secure compensation for things such as lost wages, medical bills, pain and suffering, cost of future medical care, and more.
What If My Loved One Was Killed by a Houston Plant Accident?
Unfortunately, the behavior of negligent companies often results in the deaths of their workers. If your family is suffering because a member was killed by an accident, you might be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Doing so will hold the company accountable, help prevent more accidents from causing more families to suffer, and help you get the compensation you need to move forward. Compensation we help grieving families recover often includes funeral expenses, medical expenses, loss of companionship, lost wages, and emotional suffering.
What Do Plant Explosion Lawsuits Accomplish?
These lawsuits accomplish two significant things. First, they hold companies accountable and help ensure that more workers don’t have to face a similar situation. Second, the help injured workers recover damages such as lost wages, medical bills, and so much more.
Do I Accept a Settlement After a Plant Explosion?
No. Companies offer settlements because they are trying to pay as little as possible while escaping further legal consequences. After accepting a settlement, workers release the responsible part from further liability. Speaking with a plant explosion lawyer ensures that you’re receiving a fair settlement and that your interests are protected.
Why Are Oil Refineries Dangerous?
Oil refineries are potentially dangerous places for a few reasons. The most obvious is the presence of highly combustible substances like crude oil, natural gas, and the chemicals commonly used to process these. A single spark could set off an explosion or start a fire that rips through the entire refinery, injuring workers and claiming lives. Other hazards at oil refineries are present because workers must perform physically demanding labor, work at heights, and work with or around heavy machinery or equipment that can cause severe harm if it is misused, poorly maintained, or improperly designed or manufactured. Even though oil refineries are dangerous places, however, this is no excuse for safety violations or acts of negligence that lead to serious accidents and injuries.
