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San Antonio Refinery Accidents

Representing Victims of Plant Explosions Across Texas & Nationwide. Billions Won.

San Antonio Refinery Accident Attorneys

Advocating for Workers Injured by Refinery Accidents in San Antonio & Beyond

Aging factories and poor safety policies have made refineries some of the riskiest places to work. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Texas had the highest number of fatal injuries between 2007 and 2011 in the oil and gas industry. Unfortunately, most of these tragedies could have been prevented, had proper precautions been taken.

At Arnold & Itkin LLP, we have represented hundreds of injured refinery workers, helping them to rebuild their lives. Time and time again, we see these accidents are caused by the owner or employer’s negligence. Loyal employees believe that the company will compensate them for their damages, but their lawyers and insurance companies’ sole goal is to keep their costs down—costs which include your medical care and lost wages.

Although your employer may claim to help you, they are not the ones making these decisions. This is why it is vital to contact a San Antonio refinery accident attorney to help you through the process. Arnold & Itkin has stood beside workers injured in plant and refinery accidents countless times. We do everything possible to help our clients receive the compensation they deserve and ensure the parties at fault are held liable for their actions.

Learn more about how our San Antonio refinery attorneys can help you see if you have a case. Contact us today for a free consultation: (888) 493-1629.

The Plants & Refineries in San Antonio, Texas

  • Calumet Refining
  • Gen Texas Oil Company
  • Mayo Oil Inc
  • San Antonio Refinery (NuStar Energy)
  • SDC Montana
  • Valero Energy Corporate
  • Venus Oil Co
  • Warren Industrial Lubricants

2018 Valero Refinery Explosion in San Antonio, TX

In April 2018, a fire and explosion were reported in the San Antonio Valero refinery. Employees were working near the facility’s 12,000-barrel alkylation unit inside the refinery when a line carrying liquids failed and led to an explosion. As a result, 28 workers were injured—leaving many with PTSD, orthopedic injuries, and hearing loss. The accident may have been caused by negligence on the part of Valero and a subcontractor.

Arnold & Itkin in the News

Texas’ Most Tragic Plant Explosions

Plant and refinery accidents are common in Texas, but they seem to be happening with even more frequency and severity as the industry grows in strength, especially due to increased drilling in the Permian Basin. Some of the most tragic plant explosions that have occurred in Texas include cases from only a few years ago, including the BP Texas City disaster, the Corrigan plywood factory explosion, and the 2013 West Fertilizer explosion.

Read more about these incidents below.

  • Phillips Petroleum Company Plant (October 1980) - In 1989, a series of explosions was sparked by an ethylene leak at a Phillips Petroleum Company plant in Pasadena, TX. A valve was not secured properly, so 85,000 pounds of flammable ethylene-isobutane gas were released into the plant. There were no detectors or warning systems in place for worker safety. Within 2 minutes, the gas ignited with the power of two-and-a-half tons of dynamite. As a result, 23 people were killed.
  • BP Texas City Refinery (March 2005) - The Texas City refinery's pipes needed replacing and were leaking fumes. As a result, there was a massive explosion caused by the ignition of a hydrocarbon vapor cloud. Despite repeated warning, the owners and managers failed to keep the work site safe. Around 170 workers were severely injured and 15 were killed as a result. Our San Antonio refinery accident lawyers represented several of those injured in the blast.
  • West Fertilizer Company Explosion (April 2013) - An explosion occurred at a fertilizer storage and distribution center in West, TX. The incident injured more than 250 people and killed 15 others. It was later discovered that the explosion occurred due to a deliberately-set fire.

Common Types of Catastrophic Refinery Accidents

Refineries are some of the most dangerous places to work because of all the hazardous material contained within the plant. Workers risk exposure to different hazardous chemicals depending on the type of refinery.

Below are some of the most common types of accidents that occur in refineries:

  • Oil Refinery Plant Accidents – Oil refineries use complex equipment and technology to refine oil into other products. Accidents typically occur from the refining process overheating or by defective equipment. This typically occurs during the process used to refine the crude oil.
  • Plant & Refinery Explosions – Refineries are dangerous because of the highly flammable materials contained inside the plant. If workers are not trained in proper safety procedure, employers could be responsible for a major explosion.
  • Plant & Refinery Fires – Along with explosions, fires can also occur in a refinery accident. Since refineries contain highly flammable materials, fires can erupt if the materials are not handled properly or if workers are not trained to handle them.

San Antonio Wrongful Death Lawyers for Refinery Accident Victims

When accidents happen at plant or refineries, they usually aren’t minor. In many cases, there are countless lives that are claimed during catastrophic accidents at industrial sites. There is no way to express the devastating loss of a loved one—especially when the accident could have been prevented. At Arnold & Itkin, we have helped hundreds of families who have experienced the loss of a loved one from a refinery accident.

Our San Antonio refinery accident attorneys represent the families of killed industrial workers, working tirelessly to get the best possible outcome for their future. If you are currently grieving the loss of a loved one, we encourage you to contact us. We can handle the legal complexities, so you can focus on you and your family’s well-being.

Our San Antonio Refinery Lawyers Have Helped Injured Workers Win Billions

Our firm is passionate about helping injured workers receive the compensation they deserve, which is why we have recovered billions of dollars on our clients' behalf—clients who were facing similar circumstances as you.

Some examples of refinery cases we have won include:

  • $97 Million Secured for Refinery Workers: 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: Our San Antonio 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.

Check out more of our firm’s victories here.

Contact Our San Antonio Law Firm for a Free Consultation: (888) 493-1629

Our San Antonio refinery accident attorneys have helped hundreds of people receive the financial support they need to take care of themselves and their families. Don’t let the responsible parties get away with their actions, you deserve to be compensated for your losses. We can help you step by step to figure out how to rebuild your life, pay for your medical care, and more.

Contact us today for a free consultation: (888) 493-1629. We can listen to your story and review all your legal options.

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
“They were able to help me and get me the help and attention I needed. They were always there. I mean, anything I needed, they were just a phone call anyway. It didn’t matter what time it was.”
Pedro Workplace Explosion Victim

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