EXPLOSION CAUSED BY RUPTURED GAS LINE – ATTORNEYS MINNESOTA
There have been two recent house explosions caused by the gas company. Fortunately, in both explosion cases, no one was in the home at the time. Had there been anyone in either house, they would have been killed or severely burned. Our lawyers can pursue a gas explosion injury case against the utility or other responsible company.
In the first case, a home in St. Paul burned to the ground after a sewer contractor accidentally ruptured a gas line. Northern States Power had accidentally bored the gas line through the sewer line. The procedure is known as a “cross bore.” After the rupture, natural gas flowed into the home and ignited. The contractor suffered first-degree burns, which were not serious. Fortunately, no one was in the house.
GAS EXPLOSION FINES AND INSPECTIONS
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s pipeline safety office required NSP to inspect thousands of Minnesota sewer lines for similar cross bores in St. Paul and South St. Paul. The company has since inspected and cleared 53,471 addresses. In addition, they plan to inspect 20,000 more by the end of the year. A gas leak can be very dangerous, and contractors must be careful not to puncture a gas line. Otherwise, there will be property damage and innocent bystanders could be injured. Our lawyers are able to pursue a claim against a contractor that creates a gas line puncture and explosion in Minnesota.
NSP’s initial fine of $1 million was later reduced to $20,000. The Public Safety Department discovered the company had “procedures for analyzing accidents and failures to minimize recurrence of cross bores,” according to the agency.
In the second explosion, the agency initially fined Center Pointe Energy $1 million for a delayed response to a house explosion in Edina. A telephone-line contractor hit a gas line next to an unmarked, unused line. The rupture sent gas underground into a nearby home, which was ignited. Again, no one was injured in the blast, although the house was destroyed. Luckily, the homeowners were working, and their children were in school.
The gas company didn’t shut a nearby emergency valve because it would have cut off service to 266,000 customers. They instead took the time to manually squeeze off the line closer to the rupture. Since the accidental explosion, the company has installed 78 new valves. They also created new engineering standards for installation of new valves.
GAS EXPLOSION LAWYER
If you or a family member has been injured in a gas explosion because of a ruptured gas line, call our office to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney. Our attorneys have experience with gas explosion cases and understand the injuries involved. Our top gas line explosion lawyers can also assist your investigation and understanding of the cause, and we have our own investigator as well.
Pam Rochlin is a Minnesota Personal Injury Super Lawyer with more than 25 years’ experience representing people injured in all kinds of accidents, including gas explosions. She is a former partner at Meshbesher and Spence, and a past president of Minnesota Women Lawyers. A gas explosion lawyer will meet with you to discuss your case at our office in Edina, Minneapolis, Woodbury or St. Louis Park. An attorney will also meet you at your home or hospital to discuss your gas explosion case in St. Paul, Roseville, Brooklyn Park, Maple Grove, Plymouth MN, Chanhassen, Chaska, Lakeville, Burnsville, and other cities throughout Minnesota. The initial consultation is free. Further, we never charge anything unless we get you compensation.