Managing Partner
In California, gas companies are required to install, operate, and maintain gas pipelines and valves to ensure that there is no risk of harm. However, gas explosions can, and do, happen in California.
Natural gas or propane explosions can be extremely dangerous. In 2010, the San Bruno pipeline explosion was responsible for injuring 58 people and the deaths of 8 more. As gas pipelines are increasingly approved and installed across the country, the risk of an explosion may be greater than ever.
If you or someone you love has been injured or killed in a California gas explosion you may be entitled to compensation. The best way to learn about your options and to recover the money you need after a gas explosion is to contact an experienced Los Angeles gas explosion attorney.
Joshua W. Glotzer is a Los Angeles injury attorney who has spent more than two decades fighting to hold negligent companies responsible for injuries their products cause. Mr. Glotzer believes that if a company is responsible for harming and/or injuring an innocent bystander they should be held accountable.
If you have been injured because of a gas explosion, Mr. Glotzer can help you fight to recover the compensation you deserve. He has established a track record of success in holding companies responsible and making them compensate injured accident victims like you.
Contact his Los Angeles office today to schedule your free consultation and to learn about how our office can help you during this difficult time.
Why do gas explosions happen in Los Angeles? Most gas explosions are caused by a gas leak and an ignition spark. When gas pipelines and propane tanks are properly manufactured, installed, maintained, and operated there is little to no risk of a leak occurring.
In fact, gas tanks, valves, and pipelines are supposed to be leak-proof. Gas companies are also required to follow local, state, and federal regulations to minimize the risk of leaks. Most gas explosions happen because of an unexpected gas leak. When the gas and the spark combine, a powerful explosion results.
In California, gas leaks have been caused by improperly monitored gas lines, improper marking of gas lines, and poorly maintained pipelines and valves that have corroded with age and exposure to weather.
Most gas explosions are caused by negligence. Valves, pipelines, and tanks are designed to be leak-proof. When a leak does happen it is a strong indicator that someone was negligent. Negligence can occur at any time during the lifetime of a gas pipeline or tank, including its:
Gas companies are responsible for ensuring that the gas pipeline, tanks, and all relevant components are safe and fit for use. This means testing designs, running multiple quality control checks on manufacturing equipment, testing finished products, and monitoring pipelines and tanks while in use.
Companies are also responsible for training employees in appropriate quality control and safety standards to ensure that no gas leaks happen.
If you were injured because of a gas explosion you may be entitled to compensation based on the theory that the gas company was negligent. A successful negligence argument requires proving that a gas company (1) owed you a duty to safely and diligently design, install, and maintain pipelines; (2) failed to live up to that duty; and (3) this failure caused you to suffer some injury or harm.
Determining how a gas company was negligent will often require an independent investigation into the accident. In this investigation, your attorney will rely on evidence collected by law enforcement, independent research, and consultation with gas safety experts. The investigation will help your attorney establish why the explosion happened. When your attorney knows why and how the explosion happened he can establish which parties may be liable for damages.
Gas explosions can cause severe and life-threatening injuries. Severe and extensive burns are the most common gas explosion injury. These burns often require multiple reconstructive surgeries, skin-graft surgeries, and invasive debridement surgeries to remove dead tissue.
As a result, gas explosion injury victims can be forced to deal with permanent scarring, lengthy rehabilitation exercises, disfigurement, and significant emotional trauma. In some cases, the burning may be so severe that it leads to the wrongful death of a gas explosion victim.
Recovering from gas explosion injuries is not an inexpensive venture. Recovering from moderate burns may cost more than $206,000, and recovering from severe burns (barring any complications) may cost as much as $1.6 million dollars. The costs are even greater if you sustain severe burns that require multiple surgeries or medical care.
Fortunately, gas explosion injury victims can recover these (and other) costs by filing a personal injury claim for damages. Hiring an experienced Los Angeles gas explosion injury attorney to represent you can help to maximize your recovery.
In California, you are entitled to file a claim for damages to recover compensation from a negligent gas company for your injuries. Economic damages can be awarded to compensate you for your injury-related financial losses. These damages can help to pay for your surgeries, rehabilitation, prescription medications, nursing care, prosthetics, ambulatory devices, and any other medical expenses you have.
Economic damages can also be awarded to help compensate you for any earnings and wages you may have lost out on because of your injury and recovery. An attorney will seek economic damages to ensure that a loss of income does not add to the stress you already face.
The injuries caused by a gas explosion can also have other, non-financial consequences. You may be faced with a new life where you have to deal with permanent scarring, disfigurement, and limited mobility. These may cause you considerable emotional trauma.
Non-economic damages can be awarded to compensate for these hardships. Non-economic damages are difficult to value and will depend on the extent of your injuries and the degree to which the gas company was negligent.
Have you been injured in a Los Angeles gas explosion? If so, you may be entitled to recover compensation from a negligent gas company. Andrew Glotzer is an experienced Los Angeles gas explosion injury attorney who has helped thousands of injured accident victims recover monetary damages they need to get back on their feet.
Mr. Glotzer understands that it may be just as important to his clients to hold negligent companies accountable for their actions. This has caused him to take cases that other attorneys may have passed on. When you meet with Mr. Glotzer for your free initial consultation he will review the facts of your case, explain your legal options, and answer any questions you may have. You only have a limited amount of time to file a claim after an accident, so it is important to contact an attorney as soon as you can.
“Mr. Glotzer represented me after I was involved in a car accident. I was badly injured,but the insurance company refused to offer me a reasonable settlement. I decided to find an attorney and decided to hire Josh.
His law firm did a great job on my case. They were very responsive to all my questions and obtained a great resolution for me. I received way more money than was originally offered. I would recommend their firm to friends and family.”
“Mr. Josh Glotzer is a great attorney. Over the last 15 years he has helped me on a number of cases with professionalism, and more importantly a positive outcome in my favor. I have referred him to a number of friends and colleagues, all of which have been equally as happy with his legal representation. I trust him and confident in legal ability. I highly recommend his law firm.”
“Don’t try to deal with insurance companies on your own. They strung me along for almost two years before I gave the case to Glotzer & Leib. Josh and his team quickly obtained a settlement that netted me many times what the insurance company was offering. Thank You!”
“My wife was in a car accident last year and Josh did an amazing job representing her. It’s very refreshing to see someone in his profession that actually cares and puts his clients first. He’s the best in the business and I feel so fortunate that I was referred to him. Keep up the great work and thanks for everything you did for my family!”
“I was in a rear end car accident last year and hired Mr. Glotzer’s office. It wasn’t a big case but their office helped me with my property damage claim and did a good job resolving the injury portion of the case as well.”
