Construction is, of course, an incredibly dangerous profession, with workers always facing the risk of suffering a severe injury every day. One of the biggest risks is an explosion, which can result in an excruciating burn or some other type of bodily harm. When workers suffer from construction explosion injuries, they not only face years of medical treatment, they may never be able to return to their jobs.
If this has happened to you or someone you love, you may be able to take legal action in order to obtain the compensation needed to pay for all of your accident-related expenses. The McEwen Law Firm has a team of attorneys who can help you do just that. We have a deep knowledge of this area of the law, and we also fight passionately on behalf of the people we represent. Please contact us online or call (800) 732-3070 for a free evaluation of your case.
The following is a look at just some of the injuries that can result from a construction site explosion.
Minor and Severe Burns
The most common injury from an explosion is a burn. Even though there are certain burns that are classified as “minor,” they can still lead to an incredible amount of pain. Major burns are exponentially worse, often resulting in the need for repeated medical procedures, such as skin grafts.
Burns are classified into different degrees of severity, including the following.
First Degree Burns
This is a superficial burn, one that only affects the epidermis – the outermost layer of skin. In most cases, a first-degree burn results in pain, redness, and a small amount of inflammation. It will usually only require minimal treatment and will heal without any scarring. However, if it affects a joint, the face, or if it covers a wide area of the body, it can lead to substantial complications.
Second Degree Burns
A second-degree burn reaches deeper into the skin, affecting the epidermis as well as the layer directly underneath, known as the dermis. Swelling and redness are common, as is the development of blisters. If one of these blisters pops, that could result in an infection. Second-degree burns may result in pigment changes, but they’ll usually heal in less than a month.
Third Degree Burns
This kind of burn can result in skin that looks and feels almost like leather, and it can also lead to significant pigment changes. Even worse, however, a third-degree burn can also cause nerve damage since it reaches much deeper into the skin. Not only is significant scarring a risk, but so is a loss of range of motion in the affected area.
Traumatic Brain Injury
Whether an explosion involves propane tanks or anything else, it can send shrapnel flying in every direction. These objects are flying through the air at an extremely high speed and will do severe damage if they strike any part of the body. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can be the result.
A TBI can be so severe that it results in a lifetime of total debilitation. Victims may no longer be able to perform even the most basic tasks and could require constant care.
Eardrum Rupture
The eardrum plays a critical role in hearing, but it also helps protect the middle ear from infection due to bacteria. It also keeps out water and other debris. When an explosion occurs, the initial wave of the blast can place an immense amount of force on the eardrum, causing it to rupture in the process. In addition, it can destroy the tiny bones inside the ear, known as ossicles. This can lead to permanent hearing loss.
Blast Lung
The wave of a blast can also compress lung tissue, doing severe damage as well as internal bleeding. Blast lung will often result in the need for immediate, extensive treatment to help prevent total respiratory failure. Victims may need this treatment for a year or even longer.
Abdominal Hemorrhage
A construction explosion can also do a great deal of damage to the abdomen, causing hemorrhage. The gastrointestinal tract contains many structures that are filled with gas, and these are vulnerable to being punctured. When this happens, significant bleeding can result. This is not only a life-threatening situation, it can also lead to intense pain.
Blunt Force Injuries
When an explosion occurs, the objects propelled by the blast can cause blunt force trauma. This can result in not only broken bones but also organ damage. These objects can strike the body with so much force that they can lead to death in many instances.
Crush Injuries
Crush injuries on a construction site are more closely associated with accidents involving a part of the body getting caught in machinery. But they can happen due to explosions as well. For example, an explosion may cause a scaffold to come loose, crushing anyone located below the structure. Even if this type of injury isn’t fatal, it often leads to amputation because it can damage an arm or a leg so severely.
Post-Explosion Complications
Adding to an explosion victim’s misery are the potential complications that can develop long after the accident. Victims will often inhale chemicals as well as smoke, resulting in potentially permanent lung problems such as asthma and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). These can make breathing impossible without the help of medications or medical devices.
Receiving Compensation for Your Burn Injuries
If you’ve been injured in a construction explosion, it could take years for your body to be able to heal completely. In the meantime, you’ll be incurring significant financial losses, such as damages. These can include wages lost from not being able to work, medical expenses, and many others.
Contact McEwen Law Firm Today. We’re Here to Help You Get the Compensation You Need
How do you go about getting the compensation you deserve to recover your damages? You get in touch with an experienced attorney. The McEwen Law Firm has a team of legal representatives who can investigate the accident and determine all of the potentially liable parties. We’ll do everything possible to get you the money you deserve.
Schedule a free consultation by using our online contact form or calling (800) 732-3070.
