Propane Explosion Injury Claims: Who Can Be Held Liable
Propane powers homes, businesses, and industrial operations throughout Western Colorado, but when it is mishandled, stored improperly, or supplied through defective equipment, the results can be catastrophic. Explosions caused by propane or natural gas often cause severe burns, traumatic injuries, and in the worst cases, death. Victims and their families are often left wondering who should be held accountable. Our Grand Junction personal injury attorneys are ready to help you find out.
How Propane Explosions Happen
Most propane explosions can be traced back to a preventable failure somewhere along the chain of supply, installation, or maintenance. Common causes include undetected leaks from aging or corroded lines, defective tanks, valves, or regulators, improper installation of appliances or tanks, and failure to follow safety inspection requirements. Because propane is often odorized specifically so leaks can be detected by smell, an explosion frequently points to a missed warning sign or a maintenance failure somewhere in the process.
Identifying the Parties Behind an Explosion
Propane explosion cases often involve more than one potentially responsible party. Property owners and landlords have a duty to maintain safe conditions for tenants, guests, and workers on their property. Propane suppliers and distributors may be responsible if they failed to properly fill, inspect, or maintain a tank. Manufacturers can be held liable if a defective tank, hose, valve, or appliance contributed to the explosion. Contractors or maintenance companies may also share responsibility if improper installation or repair work played a role. Because explosions often destroy physical evidence, identifying every liable party requires a prompt and thorough investigation.
Proving Fault in a Propane Case
Colorado law allows injured individuals to pursue compensation from a property owner when a dangerous condition existed that the owner knew about or should have known about. This legal framework, often referred to as premises liability, applies to many propane explosion cases involving rental homes, commercial buildings, and industrial sites. Beyond premises liability, a claim may also involve product liability theories if defective equipment played a role, or general negligence theories against a supplier or contractor.
Steps to Take After an Explosion
Anyone involved in a propane or gas explosion should prioritize medical treatment first, since burn injuries and smoke inhalation can worsen without prompt care. If it is safe to do so, documenting the scene through photographs and preserving any damaged equipment can help support a later claim. Because insurance companies and gas suppliers often move quickly to investigate these incidents, having someone advocating on the injured party’s behalf early in the process can help protect important evidence.
If a propane or gas explosion has upended your life in Grand Junction, Montrose, or Mesa County, Colorado, our Grand Junction personal injury attorneys at Killian, Davis & Richter, P.C. are ready to investigate what happened and fight for the compensation your family deserves. Call us today at 970-241-0707.
Source:
codes.findlaw.com/co/title-13-courts-and-court-procedure/co-rev-st-sect-13-21-115/ -e