Home gas explosions are devastating, and cause catastrophic injuries or death if the victim was home at the time of the explosion. A gas explosion will leave you without any belongings, destroying significant parts of your life in an instant.
In addition to dealing with the physical and emotional recovery of the process, victims will face a complex legal landscape around their home gas explosion. In this article, we give you a roadmap for navigating your claim after a home gas explosion in Ohio.
The most important thing you need to understand is the urgency of contacting an Ohio Gas Explosion lawyer after an explosion. There will only be a short window of time to investigate the root cause of the explosion. An experienced attorney will make sure to get the right experts to the scene as soon as possible.
Real pictures of a client’s home explosion. No rights to reproduce, © Allen Tittle 2023, All Rights Reserved.
Proving Fault
In residential gas explosion cases, there are multiple parties that could potentially be at-fault. It requires careful investigation to determine exactly how the gas explosion occurred, and then hold that party liable. While there will be an investigation conducted by authorities, and your gas company, we highly recommend that you have your own external investigation.
An experienced gas explosion lawyer knows how to investigate these cases, and where to look for evidence. At Tittle & Perlmuter, we visit the scene of our explosion cases to truly feel the impact, and understand what our client is facing.
Collecting Evidence
Documenting the aftermath of the explosion is crucial for building a strong legal case. In these cases, you need any evidence available, such as:
- Photographs and videos of the damage
- Inventory of your belongings
- Photographs and videos of suffered injuries
- Medical records and receipts
- Witness statements
- Police reports
- Insurance documents
- Any other relevant paperwork
Real pictures of a client’s home explosion. No rights to reproduce, © Allen Tittle 2023, All Rights Reserved.
Understanding The Causes and Potential Legal Options
Depending on the cause of the explosion, you could have a legal claim against many potential parties, such as:
- Negligence – If the explosion was caused by someone else’s negligence, you may have a claim against them. This could include gas companies, construction companies, or product installers.
- Defective Products – If the explosion was caused by a defective product, you may have a product liability claim against the manufacturer, or seller.
- Insurance Claims – If you are found at-fault, you can file a claim with your homeowner’s insurance company, as soon as possible.
Negotiation or Litigation
Your lawyer will negotiate with the at-fault parties, and their insurance companies to reach a fair settlement, that leaves you with no debt, and proper compensation for your suffering.
If a fair settlement cannot be reached, your lawyer will prepare for trial, and represent you in court. If your case is taken to trial, this can significantly lengthen the timeline of your case, and generally incurs more attorney’s fees.
Real pictures of a client’s home explosion. No rights to reproduce, © Allen Tittle 2023, All Rights Reserved.
Wrongful Death Claims
If the explosion caused the death of a loved one, you may have a wrongful death claim. In these cases, only the personal representative of the decedent’s estate can file a lawsuit, and there are different recoverable damages in these cases.
Read more about the process of wrongful death cases.
Statute of Limitations
The state of Ohio has a two-year statute of limitations from the day the incident occurred to file a claim, or lawsuit. While this may seem like a lot of time, it can sneak up quickly when you are focused on recovering, and rebuilding your life.
If you have any questions about the statute of limitations in Ohio, we recommend reaching out to an experienced Ohio gas explosion lawyer.
Get the Guardians on Your Side
If you have been the victim of a home gas explosion, reach out to Tittle & Perlmuter to schedule a free strategy session today.
During your strategy session, our team will help you determine the next steps in your case, whether you need a lawyer, and how to proceed.
We operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning you will not pay a cent unless we win. You will never pay any up-front costs during your case.
