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Plant & Refinery Accidents

Fighting for Injured Plant Workers in Sulphur, Lake Charles, & Beyond

Lafayette Plant & Refinery Accident Attorneys

Refinery Explosion & Fire Lawyers in Sulphur, Lake Charles & Beyond

When company negligence injures or kills refinery workers, Arnold & Itkin holds them accountable to help workers and their families rebuild their lives. Our Lafayette plant accident lawyers have gotten more than $10 billion in verdicts and settlements for our clients, including record-setting results for some of the largest plant and refinery explosions in recent history. More importantly, we’ve helped our clients achieve financial security for medical care, lost wages, lowered quality of life, and more.

We’ve represented workers in accidents involving:

You may not even know what caused the accident or who might be responsible. All you know is that your loved one was in a serious accident that may change your lives forever. Stay focused on them; let our team worry about getting answers and making things right. We’ll fight to get you everything you need, no matter what.

Sulphur Chemical Plant Explosion at Westlake Chemical

At least five people were injured by a chemical plant explosion in Sulphur, Louisiana in September 2021. Residents in nearby Lake Charles and Hammond reported feeling the explosion from miles away. As of this writing, we’re happy to report that there were no fatalities. However, one of the workers in the explosion was left with severe burns over half of his body.

The cause of the explosion at Westlake Chemical hasn’t been uncovered. However, we do know that the plant was going through a turnaround when the explosion ignited. In our experience, explosions are tied to turnarounds because shutdown operations puts pressure on the system where there’s been corner-cutting or serious neglect.

Plant & Refinery Accident FAQ

Do I Need a Plant Injury Lawyer?

It’s far more likely that you’ll uncover what happened to you or your loved one if you enlist the help of a Lafayette refinery injury attorney. Plant and refinery accident lawyers have vast experience investigating industrial accidents, often in the chemical or oil-and-gas industry. We’re familiar with industrial procedures like turnarounds and their relationship to serious accidents. Just as importantly, we’re familiar with the ways companies attempt to cover up their mistakes via shell companies, temporary fixes, and a number of other tactics.

What Causes Plant & Refinery Accidents?

There could be any number of technical causes, but the root factor is corner-cutting. Longer shifts, fewer breaks, less down-time for maintenance, and smaller crews all make catastrophic injury or explosion more likely. A related factor is aging and defective equipment, which is a result of long-term neglect and cost-cutting as well. Every year that companies don’t invest in updating their equipment and infrastructure is another year that workers face a higher likelihood of disaster.

Who Is Liable for a Refinery Accident in Lafayette?

The plant or refinery owner is responsible in most cases. As the owner and employer, companies are responsible for maintenance, safety policy, and general risk mitigation. If there’s an accident, it will be traced back to an employer policy or decision 9 out of 10 times. In cases where the employer isn’t at fault, it’s usually a contractor or manufacturer. For instance, we recently won a case where a man was killed by a valve that was poorly repaired by a third party. In that situation, the employer was only found 10% at fault.

Speak with Lafayette Plant & Refinery Accident Lawyers for Help

When our firm takes a case, we fight to win. No matter how big the defendant, how complex the accident, or how costly the investigation, we pour everything we have into making sure our clients get what they need. It’s why people have turned to us for help after some of the worst industrial accidents in recent history.

Our past and current clients include survivors of:

Our Lafayette refinery and plant accident lawyers have the resources, experience, and reputation to hold your employer accountable for what they did to your family. By leveraging our past results and our reputation for relentless advocacy, we’ll fight to make them pay for your medical care, long-term treatment, current and future lost wages, and anything else your family needs to rebuild. We’ll do whatever it takes to get your life back.

No matter what.

Call (888) 493-1629 or contact us online to schedule a free, confidential consultation. Let’s discuss your options and figure out how we can get what you need.

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 ...
  • $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 ...
  • $117 Million Largest Single-Event Personal Injury Verdict in Louisiana History Arnold & Itkin represented a pregnant woman who experienced stomach pain and called Acadian Ambulance. The driver of the ambulance drove the ambulance into the back of a sugar cane truck causing the plaintiff's spine to be severed at T4 and for her ...
  • $116 Million Confidential Settlement Arnold & Itkin LLP negotiated a massive nine figure settlement on behalf of their clients after several years of hard fought litigation.
See All Results
“I have eight brothers and sisters. Family means a lot to me. When Arnold & Itkin stepped up the way they did, and treated me the way they did, it felt like family.”
Christopher Workplace Explosion Victim

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