Oil and fire don’t mix and have caused thousands of explosions throughout history injuring thousands of innocent individuals. Oftentimes, these men and women are on the job when they are harmed by painful burns from an oil explosion or killed in the midst of an oil and fire blaze. Unfortunately, these fires aren’t easy to put out, and they happen quickly and frequently. Just this morning, two people were injured when an oil storage tank exploded at a facility in East Texas.

According to ABC News, two men were smoking cigarettes on top of an oil storage tank when the large container burst into flames. Both victims are 24 years old, and one is in critical condition on life support. The accident happened at approximately 3:00 a.m. Because the oil fires are hard to put out, firefighters have been working tirelessly for hours. They are trying to keep the blaze from spreading to the other oil tanks on the property and creating an even large explosion at the East Texas location.

There are a variety of reasons that oil explosions occur. Oftentimes the explosions can start because of an oil rig fire, a blowout, an equipment failure, or negligence on behalf of a party present at the scene of the accident. Some of these accidents happen on the mainland, like the tragedy that occurred in Texas earlier this morning. Other times, the explosions start offshore on an oil rig where employees are working tirelessly to gather the black gold from the depths underneath the ocean. No matter where the explosion occurs, the fact is that oil explosions are extremely harmful and take many lives every single year.

Tragic offshore injury accidents such as the Black Elk explosion or the Deepwater Horizon explosion caused thousands of gallons of oil to leak into the ocean, which adds additional damage to situations. The fact is that many times employers are negligent when thinking about the safety of their employees. Allowing two employees to smoke on the top of an oil storage container, as happened recently in Texas, is an unwise decision that came with a tragic consequence. There are also times that an employer may insist that employees put themselves in the way of danger and this may cause a fatal explosion. If you have been in an oil explosion and were injured, then you will want to make sure that investigators are on the case.

Typically, drilling executives, Coast Guard officials, and other industry professionals will want to investigate the oil rig explosion to see what caused the burst. As a victim, you should make sure to hire a legal representative who can help to represent you in your case. You will want a local personal injury and oil explosion attorney to handle your situation and advocate on your behalf in court. With the right hardworking and compassionate attorney, you may be able to obtain a settlement that can cover the costs of your pain and suffering.

Oil explosions can cause a variety of injuries and no matter what kind of ailment or pain you are suffering you deserve to be compensated. Crude oil typically burns at between 257 and 494 degrees Fahrenheit, so there is a high chance that you will be burned if you are in the midst of an explosion. This may leave you with permanent scars or may cause damage so extensive that you need reconstructive surgery. As well, brain injuries can occur in an oil rig explosion. There is typically falling debris or a person may suffer from oxygen deprivation after breathing in too much smoke at the time of the accident. People also often experience spinal injuries because of a fall in the midst of an oil explosion. Any injury that involves the spinal cord or neck can be debilitating and may result in paralysis. As well, oil explosions can result in crush injuries.

This is because an explosion normally fragments any structures nearby. These heavy pieces of building material may fall on unsuspecting victims or they may be buried under the rubble after the explosion occurs. Men and women can also be dismembered by the explosions. Debris may trap limbs or sever arms and legs. Without immediate medical attention, these amputations can be fatal. When you have been injured by one of these devastating explosions, make sure that you have a local personal injury lawyer there to help you out. Explore this directory to find an attorney near you who can take on your oil explosion case!