Pennsylvania Personal Injury Blog

According to The Morning Call, a gas explosion accident occurred late Wednesday night, February 9, leaving at least three dead. Two others are missing, and eight injuries related to the blast have been reported, all of which are minor.

The explosion occurred at about 10:45 p.m., and prompted a blaze which witnesses have said was hundreds of feet in the air. Two homes were completely leveled by the blast, and six neighboring houses caught fire. The article reports that a total of 47 properties were affected by the explosion, and at least 600 people were evacuated from the area.

Holes needed to be dug into the ground to cut off the gas flow to the area, and fire fighters worked all night to contain the blaze. By about 4:30 a.m., the gas leak was under control.

UGI Corp. stated early Thursday it is likely one of its natural-gas pipelines exploded. While authorities will investigate the accident to conclude what caused the natural-gas pipelines to explode, typically, similar explosion accidents are determined to have been caused by gas mains that have not been installed or maintained properly. Rules and regulations dictate that gas companies should regularly check gas lines for signs of problems, such as corrosion, so repair can be prompt to prevent explosion accidents from occurring. When these precautions are overlooked, a catastrophic or even fatal explosion accident can occur. If it is found that a gas company disregarded the safety of their workers as well as area residents by failing to follow proper regulations, they could be held liable for any injuries or deaths that result from a gas explosion accident.

If you have been severely injured in an explosion accident, contact Cherry Fieger & Marciano, LLP. For many years, our Pennsylvania gas explosion accident lawyers have helped explosion accident victims and their families receive compensation to help pay for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. Call 1-888-684-7192 to schedule a free consultation with one of our skilled attorneys today.

A gas main explosion in a Philadelphia neighborhood on the night of Tuesday, January 18, has left one Philadelphia Gas Works employee dead and injured five others. According to a myfoxphilly.com report, three other PGW workers suffered injuries and are considered to be in critical condition at the Temple University Hospital burn unit as of Wednesday morning. One firefighter was injured and reported to be in guarded condition.

While the exact cause of this Pennsylvania gas main explosion has yet to be determined, it has been noted that workers arrived at the scene around 7:30 p.m. to repair a 12-inch high-pressure gas main that had ruptured. The explosion occurred about an hour later, causing a fireball that burst 50-feet into the air. The blast reportedly destroyed a chiropractor’s office and the Red Cross stated that 15 to 20 families have had to be evacuated from their homes.

Gas companies are required to follow and implement specific safety rules and regulations to ensure that gas mains are properly installed, regularly monitored, and correctly repaired when necessary. If a gas explosion accident occurs due to some form of carelessness or oversight on the part of a gas company or a gas worker, they may be held legally responsible for resulting injuries, property damage, and fatalities.

The Philadelphia gas explosion accident lawyers at Cherry Fieger & Marciano, LLP understand that you and your family may have many questions following a serious gas explosion accident. We are here to help. Our personal injury attorneys have handled several burn injury, explosion, and workers’ compensation cases, lending us the experience and resources to help you obtain the compensation you deserve from negligent parties. Call 888-684-7192 for a free consultation and to learn more about your legal rights.