Pasadena Plant and Refinery Injury Lawyers

Undefeated Plant & Refinery Accident Lawyers with Billions Won

The petrochemical and refining industries are leading drivers of the Pasadena, Texas, economy.

In fact, according to the Pasadena Economic Development Corporation (PEDC), as of 2023, the plants and refineries located in the Lone Star State’s twentieth-largest city supported an estimated 30,000 direct jobs and 100,000 indirect jobs for the residents of Harris County and beyond.

Unfortunately, these economic benefits also come with a downside, as the men and women who keep these facilities running must often work under difficult and dangerous conditions. From the constant threat of catastrophic fires and explosions to the very real possibility of toxic exposure, equipment malfunctions and other workplace accidents, Pasadena plant and refinery workers risk severe injury and death every single day they’re on the job.

If you were hurt or lost a loved one in a Pasadena plant or refinery accident, you can’t depend on your employer to “take care of you” or “make things right.”

No matter what they may promise, the company and its insurance carrier have only one goal: to limit your financial recovery, knowing that workers comp benefits don’t come close to covering your medical bills, lost wages, and other injury-related damages. The truth is, the companies have already hired a team of lawyers and are preparing to employ whatever tactics they deem necessary to avoid accountability.

Contact our Undefeated Pasadena Plant and Refinery Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation at 1-888-603-3636 or by Clicking Here

Our Undefeated Plant and Refinery Explosion Lawyers have won billions for thousands of workers and their families across Texas, Louisiana, and throughout the United States, and we’ve consistently recovered record-stetting verdicts and settlements in connection with the worst industrial accidents and explosions in history, including:

• Williams Olefins Explosion in Geismar, Louisiana
• Williams Gibson Explosion
• BP Texas City Explosion
• BP Deepwater Horizon Explosion
• Imperial Sugar Refinery Explosion, and
• International Paper Refinery Explosion

When you hire our Pasadena plant and refinery accident lawyers, you’re getting a team of the best attorneys in the United States who genuinely care about you and your family. We know what it takes to win against deep-pocketed petrochemical and refining companies, their insurers, and their high-powered teams of attorneys. And we’re ready to devote whatever time and resources are necessary to recover the maximum compensation possible and ensure you have the financial resources to access the best medical care and provide for yourself and your family for the rest of your life.

Call 1-888-603-3636, use the “Chat Now” button on our site, or Click Here to send us a confidential email.

Our Pasadena plant and refinery injury attorneys will answer your questions, explain your rights and options, and ensure you have the information you need to decide what’s best for you and your family.

All consultations are free, and you won’t pay us a dime unless we win your case.

Recent Pasadena Plant & Refinery Accidents

According to the PEDC, at least 130 petrochemical plants, refineries, and other industrial facilities are located within the 14-square-mile radius that comprises Pasadena, Texas, including sites operated by some of the biggest corporations in the world:

• Albemarle Chemical Plant
• BASF Pasadena Site
• Celanese Clear Lake Plant
• Chevron Pasadena Refinery
• Chevron Philips Pasadena Plastics Complex
• Evonik Active Oxygens
• INEOS Phenol Plant
• LyondellBasell – Bayport Polymers Plant
• Phillips 66 Pasadena Terminal
• Trecora Chemical Plant

While these and other facilities provide good-paying jobs for thousands of workers across the Houston Metro Region, some Pasadena plants and refineries have also been the site of horrific accidents and explosions that left workers with serious and, in some cases, fatal injuries.

Some recent examples include:

Quala Chemical Leak

In January 2020,  two men were tragically killed while working at the Quala facility located along Underwood Road, apparently overcome by toxic fumes. Several other workers were injured in the incident. It’s unclear how the chemical leak occurred, but the deceased were members of a crew cleaning oil tanks at the site. The two men had gone behind an 18-wheeler and never returned. They were both pronounced dead at the scene shortly after being discovered.

Kuraray America Plant Explosion

In May 2018, an explosion at the Kuraray America EVAL facility in Pasadena injured 21 workers, including 19 who were transferred to local hospitals via ambulance. Two others were airlifted from the scene with severe burns.

A subsequent investigation attributed the Kuraray Pasadena explosion to an overpressurized chemical tank, which caused a pressure relief valve to discharge more than 2,000 pounds of highly flammable ethylene gas into the atmosphere. The blast was triggered when the vapor made contact with an ignition source near welding equipment. 

Pasadena Refining Systems Explosion

In March 2016, an explosion at Pasadena Refining Systems left one worker with burns to his hands. At the time, the facility lacked a federal operating permit, had seven emission violations reported to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and was embroiled in an investigation involving Petrobras and a massive over-payment/kickback scandal.

SunEdison Plant Explosion

In October 2015, an explosion at the SunEdison plant in Pasadena seriously injured four workers, including one who sustained severe chemical burns. A subsequent investigation determined that the blast was triggered by a silane leak that occurred as the four workers were “conducting maintenance.” The plant used silane to produce granular polysilicon, which SunEdison, in turn, used to make solar wafers. Unfortunately, silanes will explode if allowed to come into contact with air.

Causes of Pasadena Plant and Refinery Injuries

Workers in the petrochemical industry are exposed to a wide range of hazards on the job. Some of the most common causes of injuries among Pasadena plants and refineries include:

Heavy Equipment Malfunctions

Heavy equipment, such as cranes, forklifts, and drilling machines, is essential in plants and refineries. However, when this equipment is poorly maintained or defective, or if workers haven’t been adequately trained in its operation, dangerous malfunctions can occur, resulting in severe and potentially fatal injuries.

Toxic Chemical Leaks and Spills

Exposure to toxic chemicals stored and used at Pasadena’s chemical plants and refineries can lead to respiratory problems, skin burns, and other serious health issues. Implementing strict handling procedures and providing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) are vital steps to prevent chemical-related injuries.

Slip and Falls

Plant and refinery workers may slip and fall because of wet or oily surfaces, cluttered walkways, and uneven flooring. These incidents can result in fractures, sprains, and head injuries. Maintaining clean and organized workspaces, using slip-resistant flooring, and proper signage can help prevent these accidents.

Explosions

Plant and refinery explosions can result from equipment failure, human error, or chemical reactions. The consequences are typically devastating, leading to multiple injuries or fatalities and extensive property damage. Implementing rigorous safety protocols, regular equipment inspections, and emergency response plans are essential to prevent and mitigate the impact of explosions.

Fires 

Electrical faults, flammable materials, and equipment overheating can cause fires in industrial settings. These fires can spread quickly, putting workers at risk of burns, smoke inhalation, and other serious injuries. Ensuring that fire detection and suppression systems are in place, along with regular fire drills and safety training, can significantly reduce the risk of fire-related injuries.

Falls from High Platforms

Employees at industrial plants and refineries frequently work on raised platforms. Implementing robust fall protection systems, installing appropriate signage, and conducting regular safety inspections are all critical to ensuring their safety.

Scaffolding Accidents

Scaffolding is frequently used in maintenance and construction activities at plants and refineries. Facility operators have a duty to ensure that scaffolding is only erected by trained professionals, regularly inspected for stability, and in full compliance with all applicable safety regulations and industry standards at all times.

Loading and Unloading Accidents

Loading and unloading heavy equipment and materials pose significant risks in industrial settings, and Pasedena’s plants and refineries are no exception. Proper worker training, appropriate lifting equipment, and enforcing safe loading and unloading procedures can minimize these risks.

Common Pasadena Plant and Refinery Injuries

From minor cuts and abrasions to severe burns and catastrophic brain injuries, plant and refinery workers can suffer a wide range of injuries while they’re on the job. Some of the most common and consequential include:

Burn Injuries

Plant and refinery workers typically sustain burns when they come into contact with hot surfaces, steam, chemicals, or fire due to explosions or equipment malfunctions. Burns can range in severity from first-degree (superficial) to third-degree (full thickness), resulting in pain, scarring, and life-long disability. In the most severe cases, burn injuries may require multiple surgeries and extensive rehabilitation.

Respiratory Injuries

Respiratory injuries often result from inhaling toxic fumes, dust, or gases like hydrogen sulfide or asbestos. Workers who suffer respiratory injuries are more likely to develop chronic conditions such as asthma, COPD, or silicosis in the long term.

Hearing Loss

Hearing loss is a common issue for workers exposed to loud machinery, explosions, or alarms. Prolonged exposure to high noise levels can cause permanent hearing damage, resulting in the need for hearing aids or other assistive devices.

Fractures and Other Musculoskeletal Injuries

Plant and refinery workers may suffer strains, sprains, herniated discs, fractures, and joint dislocations when lifting heavy objects, in connection with an explosion, or in slip-and-fall accidents. Depending on their severity, such injuries may require surgery or physical therapy, and even then, the affected workers may experience chronic pain and long-term disability.

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)

Traumatic brain injuries can occur from falls, being struck by heavy objects, or explosions. TBIs range from concussions to severe brain damage, with symptoms like headaches, memory loss, and cognitive impairments. Severe cases can result in permanent disability or death.

Crush Injuries

Crush injuries occur when a worker is caught between heavy equipment, vehicles, or collapsing structures. Plant and refinery workers who suffer these types of injuries may experience extensive tissue damage, internal bleeding, and organ failure, often requiring emergency surgery and long-term rehabilitation.

Toxic Exposure

Exposure to toxic substances, whether through inhalation or direct physical contact, can cause chemical burns, respiratory injuries, poisoning, and asphyxiation. Long-term exposure to many of the chemicals used in the refining process has also been linked to a range of chronic health issues, including cancer, neurological impairments, and respiratory conditions like asthma or COPD.

What to Do After a Pasadena Plant or Refinery Accident

Many Pasadena plant and refinery workers assume workers’ compensation benefits will cover their medical and living expenses as long as they’re unable to work and provide for their families. 

But that’s never the case.

For one thing, Texas is one of the few states that does not require companies to carry workers’ compensation insurance. When workers compensation benefits are available, they don’t close to replacing the weekly wages an injured plant or refinery worker typically earns. There’s also a strong possibility that benefits will expire before a worker can return to their job.

Most importantly, workers comp coverage DOESN’T compensate injured workers and their families for future medical expenses, pain and suffering, physical impairment, mental anguish or any of the other damages they can recover in a personal injury lawsuit.

Fortunately, you do have options. Even if you are collecting benefits, you may still be able to sue your employer, provided you can prove the harm resulted from the company’s gross negligence.  Depending on the circumstances of your injuries, you may also be able to bring a personal injury claim against other at-fault parties, such as other contractors and equipment manufacturers. However, you must act quickly to preserve any rights to compensation you might have beyond typical workers’ comp benefits.

• Seek Medical Attention: Getting checked out at the nearest ER will ensure you have documentation of any injuries you might have suffered. Seeking immediate medical attention is critical, even if you don’t think you were seriously hurt, as some severe injuries may not be immediately apparent.
• Report the Incident: Report the injury to your employer or supervisor immediately. Having your injury on record is essential for workers’ compensation claims and any legal action you might later wish to pursue.
• Document the Scene and Preserve Evidence: If it is safe to do so, try to document the accident scene by taking photographs or videos. Save the clothes you wore and any other physical evidence in your possession. Don’t launder or alter anything; store all evidence in a sealed plastic bag.  If there were witnesses to the explosion or accident, write down their contact information. 
• Record Your Account: While your memory is fresh, write down or record your account of the accident or explosion as soon as possible. Include as many details as you can recall, even those that don’t seem particularly important.
• Follow Medical Advice: Failure to comply with your doctors’ orders could hurt your credibility should you file a lawsuit. Be sure to maintain detailed records of all medical treatments, expenses, and interactions related to your injury, including co-pays for doctor visits and prescription medications.
• Don’t Discuss the Explosion or Accident: Limit discussion of the incident and your injuries to your spouse and attorney. Anything you say or post on social media could be used against you in a lawsuit. 

Why Our Pasadena Refinery Accident Lawyers Are Different

We don’t just win for Pasadena plant and refinery workers – we set records.

Just recently, we secured the #1 Largest Burn Injury Settlement in History for a contractor who suffered third-degree burns to 55% of his body when an oil well blew out during a workover project.

Some of the other record-setting victories we’ve obtained for injured plant and refinery workers include:

•  $100 Million settlement on behalf of a group of workers injured in a refinery explosion after overcoming the plant owner’s attempts to limit our clients to less than $50,000 in workers’ compensation benefits.
• $75 Million Settlement for workers injured in refinery explosion
• $85 Million Settlement for injured refinery contractors
• Highly favorable (and confidential) settlements for the families of 3 of the 4 workers who were tragically killed during the Williams Station 62 explosion in Gibson, Louisiana
• Highly favorable (and confidential) settlements for over 65 workers injured during the Williams explosion in Geismar, Louisiana
• Highly favorable (and confidential) settlements for 5 of the workers who were working onboard the BP Deepwater Horizon when it tragically exploded

But our winning record isn’t all that sets our Pasadena plant and refinery injury lawyers apart. 

From getting you to the best doctors and medical providers in the country to making sure you’re able to pay the bills while your case is pending and setting you up with the best financial advisors to protect your settlement once your case has been resolved, our refinery explosion lawyers are always there for you—both while your case is pending and long after it’s been resolved.

But don’t just take our word for it. You can hear directly from our clients by viewing our Client Video Review Page or our firm’s YouTube Channel.

Undefeated Pasadena Plant and Refinery Injury Lawyers: Call 1-888-603-3636  or Click Here For a Free Consult.

If you or a loved one were seriously injured or tragically killed while working at a plant or refinery in Pasadena, you can’t afford to place your family’s future in the company’s hands!

With Billions in record-breaking settlements and verdicts, our Pasadena Plant and Refinery injury have repeatedly demonstrated that we know what it takes to win against the largest corporations and insurance companies in the world.

Call 1-888-603-3636, use the “Chat Now” button on our website, or Click Here to send us a confidential email through our Contact Us form.

We’ll answer your questions, explain your rights and options, and provide the information you need to make the best decision for you and your family.

All consultations are free and completely confidential, and you won’t pay us a dime unless we win your case.

Plant and Refinery Explosion Video Resources

• Plant and Refinery Explosion Information Page
• Our Success in Refinery Explosions
• Our Commitment to Injured Workers and their Families
• Injured in a Refinery Explosion: Who is Responsible?
• The Most Common Causes of Plant and Refinery Explosions
• How Our Refinery Explosions Lawyers Secured Record-Settlement for Refinery Explosion Victim and His Family
• What’s My Case Worth?
• How Long Will It Take to Resolve My Case?
• Do I Need a Lawyer After a Plant or Refinery Explosion?

Recent Review:

5/5 Stars

“My husband almost lost his life in a refinery explosion and lawyers didn’t stop calling us. We wanted nothing to do with them, because we wanted to find the best on our own. We found Ryan from a friend who worked with their firm before, and everything instantly became easier for us. They got my husband to the best burn injury surgeon, who made his burns almost unnoticeable, got rid of his constant pain, and gave him his life back! His medications were delivered to our front door and when he needed transportation they supplied it for him. Zehl and Associates are hands down the best personal injury lawyers. As we know communication is the biggest problem with law firms. After you obtain a lawyer it is hard to speak with him afterward. These guys treat you like family not a client. As far as the outcome, they far exceeded our expectations. WE CAN’T BE HAPPIER! If you want results these are the guys. I could go on about these guys but words won’t do justice. THANKS ZEHL AND ASSOCIATES!”

– Patrick Bridges