Philadelphia Gas Tank Explosion Lawyer
Gas cans, gas tanks, and propane tanks are designed to safely hold and carry different types of fuel. Properly designed gas tanks should avoid leakage, and have valves to release pressure from vapors that build up. If a gas tank or propane tank is improperly manufactured, corroded, or punctured, or if a gas line or hose is cracked or leaking, individuals may be at a serious risk for explosions and fuel fed fires. Gas tank explosions and fuel fed fires typically cause extensive property damage and severe injuries because they can spread very rapidly and can be unpredictable.
Many automobiles, airplanes, trucks, and motorcycles may have defective gas tanks, or locate gas tanks in dangerous locations. Most modern vehicles locate fuel tanks in front of the rear axle, out of the car’s "crumple zone." However, some vehicles have placed their gas tanks behind the car’s rear axle, making the gas tank prone to rupture and a subsequent fire or explosion in the event of a car crash. Some older model pickup trucks actually placed gas tanks outside of the vehicle’s frame, providing virtually no protection around the fuel tank if the truck was struck by another vehicle.
Propane tanks and other gas-fueled machinery, like lawnmowers, have also been the source of explosions and fuel fed fires. Many people have gas-powered grills in their backyards or on balconies, or may have large propane tanks attached to their houses to provide gas for heating and cooking. If these propane tanks are subjected to a heat source, the pressure inside the tank will build, and a pressure-relief valve on the tank will open to release vapors. If the pressure inside the gas tank builds too quickly for the valve to keep up with, the tank can rupture, in what is called a Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion (BLEVE). A BLEVE explosion can be extremely powerful and can throw someone 300 feet away, and if the heat source of the BLEVE was a flame, the explosion often results in a large fire. Although rare, BLEVEs typically occur when a propane tank is installed or located too close to a heat source, or when it is installed in a low-lying area where a leakage could accumulate. Grill fires and BLEVE explosions cause around 5,700 fires annually, resulting in hundreds of deaths and serious injuries. The U.S. Fire Administration reported that grill fires were overwhelmingly caused by malfunction or mechanical errors like gas leaks, broken or cracked pipes, or corroded parts.
Gas tank explosions and fuel-fed fires often result in catastrophic injuries and deaths. If a vehicle’s gas tank is ruptured or cracked during a car crash, low amounts of heat could cause the gas to ignite, and if enough vapor accumulates, explode into a huge fireball, engulfing the entire vehicle, its occupants, and any nearby debris. These horrific fires can cause severe burns, permanent scarring, and disfigurement. Individuals near a BLEVE or gas tank explosion may be thrown hundreds of feet and sustain broken bones, lacerations, head trauma, skull fractures, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and death.
If you or a loved one has suffered a catastrophic injury or wrongful death in a gas tank explosion or fuel fed fire, the experienced Pennsylvania gas explosion lawyers of Reiff & Bily could help you determine the cause of this horrific accident. For several decades, our product liability lawyers have investigated numerous claims of manufacturing defects, faulty design, and negligently made products, like gas tanks, that have caused explosions and fuel fed fires. We understand many factors that lead to gas tank explosions and will put together a team of experts to learn why you have been so seriously injured. Since 1979, we have won hundreds of millions of dollars on behalf of catastrophically injured victims and their families. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.
