Evergy Accident Lawyers
Representing Workers Injured at Westar Energy & KCP&L Plants Across Kansas & Missouri
Formed by a merger of Westar Energy of Topeka, Kansas, and Great Plains Energy of Kansas City, Missouri, the parent company of Kansas City Power & Light, Evergy is the largest electric company in the area. It serves about 1.6 million customers across eastern Kansas and Western Missouri, including residential, commercial, and industrial clients. Evergy’s service area covers over 28,000 square miles.
Evergy owns more than 40 power plants in Kansas and Missouri. Every worker at each of these plants is placed at risk if the company or its executives, supervisors, or other employees fail to uphold safety standards. A single act of carelessness or intentionally overlooked safety regulation can cause a catastrophe that injures workers or claims lives.
If you were injured while working at an Evergy power plant, talk to our team about your legal rights. We're here to help you and your family. Call (888) 493-1629 today.
About Westar Energy
Prior to its merger with Great Plains Energy, Westar Energy was the single-largest provider of power to the people of Kansas. Their 12 power plants provided power to 690,000 residents in eastern Kansas. The largest of their plants is Jeffrey Energy Center—a coal-fired power plant in Pottawatomie County.
Jeffrey Energy Center Accident of 2018 Kills 2
In 2018, equipment containing pressurized steam malfunctioned, causing the deaths of two workers. The accident is currently being investigated, but there's no word on whether the deaths of the workers will affect the $8.6 billion acquisition that was approved only weeks before the Kansas plant accident.
About Kansas City Power & Light
Kansas City Power & Light was a wholly-owned subsidiary of Great Plains Energy and was the company’s biggest component, serving the Kansas City metropolitan area. Its first power plant was built in 1882 and initially provided electric lighting for 13 customers. The company grew exponentially from there, eventually providing power to hundreds of thousands of customers in its service area. In October 2019, Kansas City Power & Light officially changed its name and branding to Evergy.
Committed to Preserving Your Future
The Evergy accident law firm of Arnold & Itkin has served thousands of workers and families nationwide in the wake of tragedy. The death of a plant worker often means the loss of a family's sole source of income—meaning spouses and children have simultaneously lost their loved one and their only means to survive in fatal plant accidents. Our work makes sure families get what they need to survive while holding negligence accountable—preventing accidents like this from happening ever again.
Wrongful Death in Kansas & Missouri Plant Accidents
"Wrongful death" is the legal term for any death that happened due to negligence, carelessness, or human error that should have been caught or corrected. Essentially, it's any death that never should have happened, where the cause was fundamentally preventable. Our Evergy plant accident attorneys understand that virtually all plant accidents are a form of wrongful death.
The fact is, power plants are outdated. Jeffrey Energy Center has been running for 40 years—parts age and need replacement. Systems need to be updated. With shrinking margins due to new energy sources, traditional providers like Westar are less inclined to keep their plants running in tip-top shape. In fact, the merger with Great Plains was likely motivated by their shrinking profits.
Evergy Accident FAQ
What should I do if I was injured while working at an Evergy plant?
If you were injured in any type of accident at an Evergy plant, you should see a doctor, report your injuries, and talk to an attorney. Seeking medical care is always the first step, as your health is of the utmost importance. Once you’ve received the immediate treatment you need and are able to do so, you should inform your employer, in writing, of the incident. This will help protect your right to workers’ compensation benefits, if they apply. You should also involve an attorney as soon as possible.
Too many injured plant workers face unfair challenges when trying to get the medical care and financial support they need. A competent attorney can level the playing field and help a worker recover fair, complete compensation.
What are common power plant worker injuries?
Power plant workers may face serious illnesses and injuries as a result of their employment. While there is some inherent danger in working at any Evergy plant, when safety regulations are properly implemented, workers are protected from undue harm.
Plant worker injuries may include:
- Falls from heights
- Electrocution
- Hearing loss caused by exposure to loud noises
- Severe burns
- Fires and explosions
- Occupational diseases caused by exposure to toxic chemicals
Plant workers have the right to receive medical care and financial support for their work-related injuries. Our team at Arnold & Itkin fights for injured workers, helping them get maximum compensation so they can heal, pay their bills, and face stable futures.
Who is responsible for my injuries at an Evergy plant?
If you were injured an at Evergy plant in Kansas or Missouri, your injuries may be covered by workers’ compensation on a no-fault basis. This means you do not have to prove that someone else was to blame to get medical benefits and financial help. However, workers’ comp benefits are limited and you could be entitled to additional compensation through a personal injury lawsuit.
By investigating the circumstances leading up to your Evergy plant accident, our team can determine if a third party—someone other than Evergy or a co-worker—was responsible. If so, we can take legal action against them to pursue both economic and non-economic damages. This can cover not just medical expenses but ongoing treatment, all of your current and future lost earnings, emotional trauma like pain and suffering, and even punitive damages.
No matter who’s responsible, we have the resources to fight for your fair recovery.
Call (888) 493-1629 to Learn What to Do Next
Our Evergy accident lawyers understand the dangers that you or your loved one faces every day. We've investigated the worst industrial accidents of the last decade, like the 2005 BP Texas City explosion, the 2010 Deepwater Horizon explosion, and the 2013 Williams Olefins explosion in Geismar. We helped the survivors and families of those disasters rebuild their future by getting them the money to afford medical care, keep their homes, and put food on the table.
All it took for their case to begin was a free phone call to learn about their options. Schedule a free consultation with our plant accident lawyers—we never invoice our clients and only take a fee if you win your case.
Schedule a free consultation by calling (888) 493-1629 or using our short online form.