Industrial accidents can occur in any industry that uses hazardous chemicals, dangerous machinery, or where the type of work itself, such as construction work, poses risks of slips, falls, and other serious injuries.

Industrial accidents that caused serious injuries or death to workers or residents of an area have been the driving force for legislative changes to ensure worker and citizen safety.  The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire of 1911 was responsible for driving changes in factory worker safety laws.  The natural gas explosion in a New London, Texas school killed somewhere around 300 children and students and led to legislation mandating the addition of odor to natural gas.

An industrial accident in Texas City, Texas in 1947 resulted in the first class action lawsuit against the US Federal Government using the newly enacted Federal Tort Claims Act.  The Texas City Disaster, considered the worst industrial accident in US history, was an industrial accident involving an explosion on a docked ship with a load of fertilizer in one hold and ammunition in an adjoining hold.  The chain of events caused by the explosion included sinking almost every ship in the harbor, the complete destruction of the Monsanto Chemical Plant, explosions and fires up and down the waterfront, and leveling of approximately 1000 buildings. This industrial accident killed over 500 people, injured 5000 more and destroyed more than 500 homes.  The actual death toll is considered to be understated by several hundred due to visiting seamen, non-census laborers and travelers who would not have been accounted for in the area.  Improper manufacturing, packaging, transportation and storage was the cause of the worst industrial accident in American history.

Industrial facilities are most likely to have conditions that are ripe for industrial accidents that cause serious injuries and death, much more so than any other workplace setting. Though federal and state statutes provide for safe working conditions for employees, every year thousands of American workers are injured or killed in industrial accidents

Industrial Accident Lawyers

When workers are injured in industrial accidents, an industrial accident lawyer can bring a claim that targets the responsible employer, other employees of the facility, or third parties or companies whose negligence caused the accident.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in an industrial accident, contact the industrial accident lawyers of Arnold & Itkin LLP by completing the "FREE Case Review" form at right (recommended) or phone toll-free (866)222-2606.