Safety is a major concern these days when it comes to natural gas pipelines throughout West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and other states. In fact, just recently the Post Gazette discussed this issue extensively when they referenced an explosion that occurred near Charleston:
….but the pipeline explosion Tuesday near Sissonville, along Interstate 77, 15 miles north of Charleston, highlights its often overlooked and sometimes fiery risks.
There are more than 2.5 million miles of pipelines running through the U.S., approximately 60,000 of which are in Pennsylvania. Concerns have heightened as new pipelines are laid to service burgeoning shale gas development in Pennsylvania and other states, and older pipelines corrode and crack, increasing the possibility of leaks and accidental explosions. A recent federal report found more than half of the pipelines in the U.S. are 50 years old or older.
And while the West Virginia pipeline accident didn’t cause any injuries or fatalities, the U.S. Transportation Department’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration data show pipeline accidents have caused the deaths of 68 people nationwide in the last five years, 21 of those pipeline workers.
Natural gas pipelines throughout the State of West Virginia operate under very high pressures and explosions can result in devastating injuries.
Why Do Gas Explosions Occur and are there Law Firms with Experience in this Area?
At The Segal Law Firm, we are experienced in investigating why pipelines explode. Usually, either improper construction, improper components, or improper maintenance can result in a major pipeline explosion.
Scott S. Segal successfully represented a young pipeline maintenance worker against development and construction companies as a result of a gas pipeline explosion. Through careful investigation, Scott S. Segal was able to determine that a part of the drip system of the pipeline had been constructed out of the wrong material. Because the pipeline was constructed with the wrong type of pipe, the explosion occurred while the young pipeline maintenance person was doing his job.
The Segal Law Firm works with experienced pipeline experts, welders, and pipeline designers in order to investigate and prove how pipeline gas explosions hurt people. If you have any questions about your rights as the result of a gas pipeline explosion, please contact Scott S. Segal at The Segal Law Firm at 1-855-344-9100 or simply go here to fill out a form.