Burn Injuries • Explosions
Burn injuries are one of the most painful and traumatic injuries that a person can suffer. Second degree or third degree burn injuries can require long term hospitalization, multiple skin grafting operations, and long term psychological counseling to be able to cope with the emotional and physical trauma of this terrible experience. Permanent scarring, especially on the face or hands, is especially difficult to accept. The effect on the victim’s family is likewise devastating and permanent scars are a constant reminder of the traumatic accident.
Van Blois & Associates have represented many persons who have received severe burn injuries. We understand the emotional trauma on the victim and his or her loved ones. We have been able to achieve substantial recoveries for burn victims who have lost their jobs and need extensive rehabilitation and counseling to overcome their injuries.
Explosions can cause severe burn injuries and other severe and often fatal injuries. Explosions can occur at refineries, chemical plants, construction sites, or whenever there is a gas or oil leak. The cause of explosions is often a result of negligence including defective gas lines, improper maintenance, careless procedures and inadequate training. Our law firm has extensive experience in handling fire and explosion cases. A burn or explosion victim needs to be represented by knowledgeable, experienced and caring attorneys. We work with experienced medical specialists, life care planners, rehabilitation experts and vocational specialists to obtain sufficient funds to pay for our client’s current and future needs.
Examples of our successes include:
CHP Officer Burned in Motorcycle Accident -- $4,304,534 jury verdict
A California Highway Patrol motorcycle officer on duty the night before Thanksgiving was severely burned in a low impact collision with another motorcycle. The other rider was traveling on the wrong side of a two lane rural road at night without lights. We proved to a Stockton, California jury that the officer’s severely burned face and hands resulted from a defect in the CHP motorcycle. The jury found the manufacturer eighty percent responsible for the officer’s burn injuries under theories of product liability and failure to provide the CHP with the maximum amount of safety specified. This was the first ever verdict against the motorcycle manufacturer based on the claimed defect. There was no offer to settle by the motorcycle manufacturer.
Explosion in Hotel Causes Skiier’s Death -- $795,000
A powerful explosion at the Goldminers Daughter Hotel in Alta, Utah during the winter ski season caused the roof of a hotel wing to lift up and the walls to collapse. We represented a Livermore man who was on a ski vacation with his wife. The explosion occurred during the lunch hour when most people were skiing. Unfortunately, our client’s wife had returned to her room to get her gloves when the explosion occurred, resulting in her death. We proved that a large propane gas tank on the hill behind the hotel had been leaking propane gas that went down the hill underground through rock tailings left from mining days and entered the basement of the hotel undetected by anyone. Eventually, the odorless gas spread throughout the basement and ignited when it reached the furnace. We proved that the Cal Gas truck driver had been continuously overfilling the propane gas tank on the hill so that propane spilled onto the ground. Experts located a defective pipe and coupling that allowed the propane to escape into the rock tailings above the hotel.
Defective BART train seats – $1,000,000
We represented several Oakland firefighters and ambulance drivers who were overcome by smoke inhalation suffering lung, liver and brain damage as a result of the January 17, 1979 BART Transbay Tube fire. A BART train car caught fire while traveling under the San Francisco Bay. Oakland firefighters and emergency medical technicians were rushed into the tube to put out the fire and rescue the passengers. Polyeurethane passenger seats gave off toxic fumes and the firemen ran out of oxygen in the dense black smoke which filled the Transbay Tube. Although the California Firemen’s Rule prevents injured firefighters from suing the parties responsible for causing a fire, the California Supreme Court ruled that it did not apply to the circumstances of this case. After this disastrous fire, BART replaced the polyurethane foam seats with fire retardant neoprene seats. Rohr Industries, manufacturer of the BART car and seats that caught fire, contributed to the settlement along with BART.
Farm worker injured by downed power line – Confidential settlement
A 17 year old farm worker boy working on a tomato sorter harvesting machine in Fresno County suffered second and third degree burns on 25 percent of his body when he came in contact with a downed power line. A harvester employee had driven his tractor into a power pole, knocking it to the ground. The landowner did not immediately call to have the power turned off or to secure the line and it was down for over 2 hours. The case settled for a confidential amount at trial.
Worker burned in excavation -- $650,000
We represented an excavating contractor working on the replacement of underground pipes at the Delta Diablo Sanitation Plant in Pittsburg, California. A broken copper line carrying pressurized oxygen leaked oxygen that ignited, causing a worker at the bottom of an excavation to catch on fire. Our client jumped down into the pit to use his body to cover the victim to put out the flames. Our client received second and third degree burns when he attempted to putout the flames on the body of his fellow worker. The defendants refused to pay an adequate amount for a settlement, so we took them to trial. After several trial days and after the jury heard the emotional and dramatic testimony of our client, the defendants paid our demand and the case settled.
Jeep Catches on Fire when Hit by Truck – $750,000
A young married woman had to stop for traffic in heavy fog on Interstate 205 near Tracy, California. A truck crashed into her Jeep vehicle in the fog, causing her vehicle to burst into flames, resulting in her death. Although the trucking company filed for bankruptcy, we were able to secure a settlement for her husband. Unfortunately many accidents occur in the Central Valley of California when there is fog. Truck drivers who are in a hurry to make their deliveries often travel at speeds too fast for the conditions, resulting in catastrophic injuries and fatalities.
