There was a large fire at an industrial recycling and waste facility in Hockley, Texas on August 21, 2021. The Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office reports that the fire began after steel drums fell over inside the building. The facility is owned by VLS Recovery Services. Due to the chemicals that were inside the building, an evacuation order was put in place for nearby residents. The thick gray smoke produced by the fire could be seen for miles. It is unknown what chemicals were consumed by the fire and released into the surrounding air.
Facility operators must take precautions to ensure the safety of not only their workers, but those who live nearby in the community. Maintenance and repair work must be done, and chemicals must be stored in a safe manner and should be regularly and thoroughly inspected. Hazards must be carefully evaluated to minimize the dangers to members of the public, and eliminate them before tragedies occur.
There have been a number of recent incidents involving chemical leaks in the Houston area. There was a chemical leak at the LyondellBasell Industries facility in La Porte, Texas on July 27, 2021, during which nearly 100,000 pounds of acid were released. There was a chemical leak at the Dow Chemical Plant in La Porte, Texas on July 21, 2021.
Our experienced lawyers have handled personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits of all kinds and have the skills needed to represent the families of loved ones who have lost their lives or those who have been seriously injured as a result of an accident. The experienced personal injury and wrongful death attorneys at Spagnoletti Law Firm can help you understand your rights if you or a loved one was a victim of an incident involving chemical leak. Spagnoletti Law Firm has lawyers admitted in Texas, New York, and Florida, and has experience in litigation all over the United States.
Our lawyers have represented numerous individuals who have sustained serious and catastrophic injuries as a result of the negligence of another party, including filing lawsuits for those impacted by exposure to dangerous toxins. There are strict and short time limits on making claims, so please contact us online or call 713-804-9306 or to learn more about your legal rights.