Refinery Explosion Lawyers

The Dangers of Refinery Explosions

Working in an oil refinery comes with serious risks—and one of the most devastating is the possibility of a refinery explosion.  Nearly every major refinery handles highly flammable chemicals and operates under extreme pressure and heat, creating the potential for flash fires, blasts, and catastrophic accidents.

At Morrow & Sheppard LLP, we represent workers who have suffered permanent, life-altering injuries as a result of explosions and fires caused by negligence.  In many of these cases, we’ve uncovered failures by companies and contractors who ignored safety procedures, failed to maintain equipment, or pushed workers into dangerous conditions without proper protection or a proper plan.

If you’ve been injured in a refinery explosion, it’s important to have experienced legal representation on your side.  You deserve answers, accountability, and compensation—and we’re here to help you fight for all three. 

Why Do Refinery Explosions Happen?

Refinery explosions are rarely “accidents” in the traditional sense—they usually happen because someone failed to follow proper procedures or ignored known risks.  Based on our experience handling refinery explosion cases, here are some of the most common causes:

Turnarounds

Explosions often occur during refinery turnarounds—planned shutdowns where equipment is repaired, inspected, or upgraded.  These turnarounds require a high level of coordination among multiple contractors and crews.  Unfortunately, when planning is rushed or details are overlooked, proper procedures get lost in the shuffle.  Safety responsibilities are sometimes ignored, increasing the chance of a serious incident.  One missed step during a turnaround can lead to devastating consequences.

Improper Isolation of Equipment

Another frequent cause of refinery explosions is the improper isolation of flammable materials.  Pipes, tanks, or equipment that contain pressurized or combustible substances must be carefully isolated before work begins.  When this isolation isn’t done correctly—or when workers aren’t informed about the risk—it can result in uncontrolled releases that trigger fires or explosions.

Failure to Follow Safety Regulations

Some companies don’t properly follow OSHA standards and other safety regulations, or worse, they knowingly ignore them.  Contractors may rush through Job Safety Analyses (JSAs) or skip critical safety meetings altogether.  Operators might overlook mechanical issues to avoid costly shutdowns.  In many of these cases, the truth is simple: profits are prioritized over people, and workers pay the price.

Failure to Plan for Hazards

Refineries are constantly evolving.  When companies or contractors make operational changes, they’re supposed to perform a Management of Change (MOC) review—a formal process that identifies potential hazards before implementing changes.  When this step is skipped or rushed, the dangers are not addressed, and explosions can follow.

Lack of Staffing, Training, and Supervision

Explosions can also occur when refineries are understaffed or poorly supervised, or when workers haven’t been adequately trained.  In high-risk environments like refineries, everyone must know how to respond when something goes wrong.  Without proper support, training, or leadership, even small problems can quickly spiral out of control—with explosive consequences.

Unique Legal Aspects to Refinery Explosion Cases

Refinery explosion cases are different from typical personal injury or workplace accident claims.  These incidents often involve complex layers of liability, multiple contractors, and federal and state safety regulations, all of which can impact how your case is handled and what compensation you may be entitled to recover.

Here are a few unique legal aspects that set refinery explosion cases apart:

• Multiple Responsible Parties Refineries are typically staffed by a combination of employees, subcontractors, and third-party vendors.  When an explosion occurs, liability may rest with more than one party—including the refinery operator, maintenance contractors, safety supervisors, or equipment suppliers. A thorough investigation is needed to identify who was negligent and how their actions contributed to the incident.

• Independent Contractor Issues In many cases, injured workers are employed by contractors or subcontractors, not the refinery itself.  This creates legal challenges when determining who owed a duty of care, and whether the refinery can be held responsible under premises liability or through claims involving retained control or negligent supervision.

• OSHA & Safety Regulation Violations Refinery explosion cases often involve violations of OSHA regulations or other safety standards.  These violations can serve as strong evidence of negligence.  However, OSHA citations alone aren’t always enough—your legal team must also connect those violations directly to the cause of your injuries.

• Preservation of Evidence is Harder and More Important After a refinery explosion, companies may attempt to clean up or repair the site quickly.  This makes it essential to preserve key evidence, such as equipment, inspection records, maintenance logs, and witness statements.  A skilled refinery explosion lawyer can act fast to send preservation/spoliation letters and begin the investigative process before critical evidence disappears.

• Catastrophic Injury Damages Refinery explosion victims often suffer severe burns, amputations, traumatic brain injuries, or permanent disabilities.  Because of the seriousness of these injuries, the damages in these cases are often substantial, including compensation for medical bills, lost earnings, future care needs, pain and suffering, and in some cases, punitive damages for gross negligence. 

• Workers’ Compensation May Not Be the Only Option While some refinery workers may be covered by workers’ compensation, many cases involve third-party claims that go beyond basic comp benefits.  If a contractor or another company’s negligence caused the explosion, you may be entitled to file a separate personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit seeking full damages.

Real World Example of a Refinery Explosion Case

At Morrow & Sheppard LLP, we’ve handled high-stakes explosion cases that show just how hard companies will fight to avoid responsibility—and how important it is to have experienced trial lawyers on your side.

In September 2021, our firm tried the case Bigbey v. Devon Energy, Cause No. 2018-56622, in the 55th District Court of Harris County, Texas.  This was a serious worksite explosion case involving a client who had returned to work after the incident.  His past medical bills totaled around $200,000, and he had not received any medical treatment for over two years leading up to the trial.  Despite these facts, we believed in the strength of our case and the seriousness of the harm caused.

For years, the defendants refused to offer more than $7 million to settle the case.  But on the first day of trial, during jury selection, defense counsel suddenly approached and announced an “official” offer of $15 million.  We turned that offer down.  During trial, as we were conducting a live-streamed cross-examination of a corporate representative, the defense requested a recess—and shortly thereafter, the case resolved by agreement for a confidential amount.

What To Do Immediately following a Refinery Explosion That Potentially Impacts You

If you’ve been injured or affected by a refinery explosion, your next steps are important—both for your health and to protect your legal rights.  In the chaos that follows a major incident, it can be hard to know what to do.  Here are the key steps you should take:

• Get Medical Attention and Treatment Immediately Your health comes first.  Even if your injuries seem minor, get checked out by a doctor right away.  Some injuries—like internal organ damage, concussions, or smoke inhalation—may not show symptoms immediately but can worsen quickly without treatment.

• Report the Incident Make sure the incident is properly reported to your supervisor or employer.  Ask for a written incident report and request a copy for your records.  If you’re a contractor, notify your direct employer as well.

• Do Not Sign Anything Without Legal Advice After an explosion, companies often try to limit their liability by asking workers to give statements or sign forms.  Do not sign any documents, waivers, or settlements until you’ve spoken with an experienced refinery explosion lawyer.  You could be giving up your right to full compensation.

• Preserve Evidence If it’s safe to do so, try to document what happened.  Take photos of the area, your injuries, and any damaged equipment.  Write down names of witnesses, coworkers, or supervisors who were present.  This information will be important later.

• Keep a Record of Medical Treatment and Time Off Work Track every doctor visit, prescription, test, and therapy session related to your injury.  Keep all receipts and note any time you’ve missed from work.  This will help support your claim for damages like medical expenses and lost wages.

• Speak With a Qualified Refinery Explosion Lawyer As Soon As Possible Refinery explosion cases are complex.  Multiple companies may be involved, and important evidence can disappear quickly.  An experienced refinery explosion lawyer can launch an immediate investigation, protect your rights, and help ensure the responsible parties are held accountable. 

What Is a Refinery Explosion Case Worth?

While every case depends on its unique facts, juries have consistently shown a willingness to award significant compensation—often in the hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars per victim—in refinery explosion lawsuits.  These awards typically reflect two important realities: first, that refinery explosions are often preventable, and second, that the injuries they cause are catastrophic and life-altering.

In many of the cases we handle, the explosion could have been avoided if the companies involved had taken basic safety precautions.  When evidence shows that an operator or contractor ignored known hazards or skipped critical procedures, juries are often moved to hold them fully accountable for the harm they caused.

Explosions at refineries frequently cause devastating injuries.  A worker near the blast zone may suffer severe burns across much of their body.  The force of an explosion can throw a worker to the ground or into surrounding structures, causing additional trauma upon impact.  Even when workers are wearing personal protective equipment, the extreme heat and pressure from a refinery explosion can render that gear ineffective.  Helmets can be knocked off, and heat-resistant clothing can be destroyed in seconds.

These injuries often require extensive medical treatment.  A burn victim may undergo multiple surgeries, including skin grafts and reconstructive procedures.  Over time, they may struggle with temperature sensitivity and lose the ability to tolerate heat or cold.  In some cases, they may need to wear special clothing to protect their body, and they may never regain the physical ability they had before the explosion.  Some will need medical care for the rest of their lives.

Juries also consider the emotional and psychological toll.  Victims of refinery explosions often endure chronic pain, permanent disfigurement, and a profound loss of enjoyment of life.  The trauma of surviving an explosion can leave lasting scars—not just on the body, but on the mind too.  Many workers experience post-traumatic stress, anxiety, and depression.  They may relive the moment of the blast, suffer from flashbacks, or live in fear that it could happen again.

When a jury evaluates what a refinery explosion case is worth, they take all of this into account.  They consider the full extent of a person’s suffering—physical, emotional, and financial—and how the injury will affect the rest of their life.  At Morrow & Sheppard LLP, we work hard to ensure that every client’s story is told and that they receive full and fair compensation for everything they’ve lost and everything they still have to endure.

We also offer a free, confidential consultation to evaluate your case, answer your questions, and explain your legal options. There are no hidden fees and no obligations.  Our goal is to make high-quality legal representation available to workers and families during one of the most difficult times of their lives.

Refinery explosion cases are complex and often involve large corporations, multiple contractors, and serious, long-term injuries.  Companies have legal teams working to protect themselves—and you deserve a team that’s equally committed to protecting you.  We invest the time, resources, and expert support needed to build strong cases and fight for the full compensation our clients deserve.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a refinery explosion, don’t wait.  Call us today at (713) 489-1206 or reach out through the contact form on this site to speak with an experienced refinery explosion injury lawyer.

Why Do I Need a Lawyer in a Refinery Explosion Case?

It is important to consult a refinery explosion lawyer early on when you suffer injuries in a refinery explosion. Your refinery explosion lawyer can demand that the companies and contractors responsible for the explosion preserve relevant evidence and allow inspection of the equipment and materials that led to the explosion. You also may have a limited time to bring your claim and a refinery explosion lawyer will be able to ensure all deadlines are adhered to.

What To Look for In a Refinery Explosion Lawyer

If you’ve been injured in a refinery explosion, choosing the right lawyer is one of the most important decisions you’ll make.  These cases are complex, high-stakes, and often involve powerful companies with teams of lawyers working to protect their bottom line.  You need someone who knows how to fight back—and win.

A good refinery explosion lawyer should have real experience handling refinery explosion accident cases, not just general personal injury claims.  Look for a lawyer who understands how refineries operate, is familiar with OSHA regulations and safety protocols, and knows how to investigate explosions involving multiple contractors and layers of liability.

Trial experience matters.  Many companies don’t take claims seriously until they know your attorney is willing and able to take the case to court.  You want someone who has not only handled refinery cases before—but has taken them to trial and won substantial results.  The ability to stand up to major oil and gas companies, dig deep into technical evidence, and cross-examine corporate witnesses is critical in refinery explosion cases.

You also want a lawyer who can explain the legal process in plain English, keep you informed, and make sure your voice is heard.  Explosions often cause devastating physical and emotional trauma.  The right lawyer will understand that and make sure your story is told—fully and powerfully.

At Morrow & Sheppard LLP, we’ve successfully represented workers in some of the most serious refinery explosion cases in Texas and beyond.  We know how to hold negligent companies accountable, and we’re ready to help you get the justice and compensation you deserve.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Refinery Injury Lawyer?

If you’ve been injured in a refinery explosion or industrial accident, the last thing you should have to worry about is how to afford a lawyer.  At Morrow & Sheppard LLP, we represent refinery injury clients on a contingency fee basis—which means you pay nothing upfront, and you don’t owe us anything unless we win your case.