When handled correctly, propane and natural gas are fuels many of us use to keep our homes warm, prepare meals and heat our water. They are considered a safe and efficient source of energy used widely across the nation. However, if these fuels are allowed to escape into a home as a result of a defective or faulty installation or delivery, the results can be disastrous.
Just last week, two people were injured by a natural gas explosion in their Fort Dodge home. Area residents reported feeling what “felt like an earthquake” shaking their homes and, when they looked across the street, the blast had blown off the entire front of a neighbor’s home and engulfed the property in flames.
Officials believe that the natural gas leak that caused the explosion may have started when a city crew struck a gas line in front of the house while repairing a water main. A worker was sent to the home to evacuate the four residents just before the blast erupted. Fortunately, the worker and two residents were unharmed, while two others were taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
One doesn’t have to look very far to find other recent incidences of gas leak explosions and fires. Unfortunately, natural gas leaks and accidents are not that uncommon. While digging excavations that hit pipelines certainly pose a risk, defective products or faulty installation, maintenance or inspection failures, and delivery issues are also factors.
Aging infrastructure by itself is also a concern. In the last several years, hundreds of significant pipeline leak incidents were reported, many of which occurred during gas distribution, which is the delivery from main pipelines to homes and businesses. While some were detected in time, others created massive explosions resulting in injury and property damage.
Gas explosions, simply put, are catastrophic and can result in debilitating injuries and fatalities. Physical injuries may include blast wave injuries, flying debris injuries, impact injuries and burns. Asthma, COPD and other lung ailments may also result from inhaling toxic or overheated fumes. Psychological injuries may include pain and suffering, physical disfigurement and physical impairments.
Contact an Experienced Iowa Gas Explosion Lawyer
Because many Iowa gas explosions are caused by some form of negligence, those who are affected may pursue damages for their losses. If you or a family member is injured in an Iowa gas explosion, contact the Des Moines personal injury law offices of Marc Humphrey for immediate assistance today at 515-331-3510.
