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EXPLOSIONS · LEAKS · PIPELINE FAILURES

Natural Gas Accidents

OVERVIEW

Natural gas incidents — residential explosions, line ruptures, meter failures, and pipeline blowouts — cause some of the most devastating losses in personal injury law. They involve utility companies, pipeline operators, contractors performing locate-and-mark work, meter manufacturers, and excavators. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration sets federal standards, while state utility commissions add a second regulatory layer. Evidence dissipates rapidly — the failed component is often destroyed by the explosion itself, making early site preservation critical.

01

Common Causes

  • Failed pipeline integrity management
  • Defective meters, regulators, or fittings
  • Excavator damage and locate-failures
  • Corroded or aged distribution lines
  • Improper installation or service work
  • Inadequate emergency response procedures
02

Who Can Be Held Liable

  • The gas utility
  • Pipeline operators and contractors
  • Locate-and-mark service companies
  • Excavation contractors
  • Meter and component manufacturers
03

Evidence We Preserve

  • PHMSA incident reports and integrity records
  • 811 locate tickets and response documentation
  • Utility meter and service order histories
  • Maintenance, inspection, and leak survey records
  • SCADA pressure and flow data
  • Fire marshal and ATF investigation files

Statutes of Limitation

Every state imposes a strict deadline to file suit. In some states, claims must be filed within one or two years of the injury or death. Once that deadline passes, the case is gone forever. Federal claims and claims against government entities can have even shorter notice requirements — sometimes as little as ninety days. Do not assume you have time.

Why Acting Quickly Matters

Critical evidence disappears in days, not weeks. Black-box data is overwritten. Surveillance footage is recycled. Witnesses move. Defendants and their insurers begin building their case the moment an incident occurs. The injured family deserves a litigation team moving just as fast.

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