Chapel Hill Gas Leaks Injury Lawyer
A $5.5 Million Recovery in a Deadly North Carolina Gas Explosion Case
A gas leak can trigger a fire or explosion, causing burns, inhalation injuries, other catastrophic injuries, property damage, or death.
We have secured several substantial settlements, including a $5.5 million recovery for a deadly explosion prompted by a gas leak.
Attorney John W. Jensen has over 25 years of experience in personal injury cases and has been honored with an AV® Preeminent™ Rating by Martindale-Hubbell for the highest level of professional excellence. Founded in 2011, Jensen Law Group is also recognized by Super Lawyers and included in Best Lawyers in America. We research each case thoroughly, negotiate with insurers, and prepare to litigate when necessary.
Call Jensen Law Group at (919) 335-7910 today for a free consultation.
Understanding Liability in Gas Leak Incidents
Investigating a gas leak may require reviewing regulatory compliance, maintenance practices, and equipment failures. Determining how the leak began and who controlled the line or equipment is central to identifying potentially responsible parties.
The “Odorization” Requirement: Propane vs. Natural Gas
One of the most critical factors in gas leak cases is whether the gas was properly odorized. Both natural gas and propane are naturally odorless. Gas suppliers generally add a mercaptan odorant, which produces the rotten-egg smell that can alert occupants to a leak.
However, certain conditions can render this safety measure ineffective. “Odor fade” occurs when soil, pipe materials, moisture, or other media absorb the odorant, making the gas more difficult to detect before a dangerous concentration builds up.
In cases where a house fire occurred and resulted in fatalities, whether the supplier took sufficient steps to provide a detectable odor may be central to the claim. Whether a person could reasonably detect the leak may be examined alongside evidence of the source, notice, maintenance, and causation.
Infrastructure “Custody” & Maintenance
Responsibility for gas lines often depends on who owned or controlled each part of the system. A utility company may be responsible for the gas line up to the meter, while buried lines beyond that point serving secondary appliances, pool heaters, or guest houses may be the property owner’s responsibility.
Landlords may be liable if customer-owned lines weren’t properly inspected or maintained. Corrosion, improper installation, or lack of periodic checks can make these lines a serious hazard.
Potentially responsible parties may also include maintenance or installation contractors, construction companies, gas distributors, product manufacturers, or other entities connected to the leak. Proving negligence often involves reviewing maintenance records, inspection logs, installation documents, and regulatory records. The North Carolina Utilities Commission conducts pipeline-safety inspections covering operations, maintenance, construction, operator qualifications, and incident investigations, and those records may be relevant evidence.
Attorney Jensen previously defended insurers and corporations. That experience helps us anticipate how opposing parties may evaluate and contest gas leak claims. We limit our caseload to give each client individualized attention, and we prepare every case as though it may proceed to trial.
The Gas Company’s Duty to Respond to Reported Leaks
Federal and state pipeline-safety requirements address operator emergency plans, operations, maintenance, public awareness, and incident investigation. The specific duties depend on the facility and circumstances, but a gas-leak investigation may examine when the report was made, what information was provided, when personnel arrived, what areas were tested, whether the gas supply was isolated, and what warnings or evacuations occurred.
When a gas company receives a leak report and fails to follow procedures applicable to the circumstances, that failure may be relevant to causation and liability in a gas explosion claim.
We have handled cases in which a gas leak was timely reported to the utility company, the company was aware of the danger, and employees were alleged to have failed to follow protocols intended to prevent disaster. We evaluate the resulting explosion and the available evidence to determine whether negligence contributed to the incident.
If you or a loved one were injured in an explosion following a reported gas leak, contact our team. We can investigate the utility company’s response and whether it followed the procedures applicable to the circumstances.
Injuries & Losses in a Gas Leak or Explosion Claim
Injuries that may result include:
- Burns
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal injuries
- Fractures
- Hearing damage
- Respiratory and inhalation injuries
- Psychological trauma
- Permanent disability
In the most serious incidents, these events are fatal.
A gas leak or explosion claim may pursue compensation for:
- Emergency and ongoing medical care
- Rehabilitation
- Future treatment costs
- Lost income
- Reduced earning capacity
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
In cases involving a death, a wrongful-death claim may also seek funeral and burial expenses and other losses recognized under North Carolina law. The losses that may be pursued depend on the evidence, the injuries, the claimant’s circumstances, and the legal claims available.
North Carolina Filing Deadlines for Gas Leak Claims
North Carolina generally provides three years to bring a personal injury action and two years for a wrongful-death action, though the applicable deadline can depend on the parties, the legal theory, the date of injury or death, and other facts. Acting promptly also helps preserve physical evidence, witness recollections, and records that may be critical to establishing what happened and who was responsible.
Because these deadlines are claim-specific and exceptions can apply, you should obtain legal advice about your own situation rather than relying on a general deadline. A prompt consultation can help clarify the claims available, the parties who may be responsible, and the time you have to act.
Statewide Representation from Our Local Office
At Jensen Law Group, we work on a contingency basis, so you won’t pay legal fees unless we secure a recovery. We also offer virtual consultations, making it easy to connect with our team no matter where you are in North Carolina.
We prepare each case for potential litigation and draw on Attorney Jensen’s prior defense work to anticipate how insurers and corporations may challenge a claim. Our limited caseload allows us to give each client individualized attention throughout the process.
Call (919) 335-7910 today for a free consultation, or contact us online to schedule an appointment. Virtual consultations are available throughout North Carolina.
