Enjuris Blog | Find Answers and Share Your Accident's Story

Finding answers after your accident

24/7 Free Consult   (800) 734-4134    Log in
  • Find a Lawyer
  • Accident Resources
    • Personal Injury Law
      • You’ve been hurt. Now what?
      • Do I have a claim?
      • Finding the best attorney to represent you
      • Dealing with Insurance
      • Laws by State
      • View all
    • Accident Types
      • Car accident
      • Truck Accident
      • Workplace injury
      • Wrongful death
      • View all
    • Workers’ Comp
      • Common work injuries
      • Finding the best workers’ comp lawyers
      • How workers’ comp benefits work
      • Personal injury vs. workers’ compensation
      • View all
    • Injury Guides
      • Spinal Cord/Column
      • Brain Injury
      • Occupational injuries
      • Whiplash
      • View all
    • More
      • Blog
      • Tell Your Story
      • Forms and Worksheets
      • Videos
      • For Students
      • About Us
  • Attorney Marketing
    • Become a partner
    • Contribute to our blog
    • Join lawyer directory
    • Enjuris Excellence badge
Home > Blog > News Stories > What If a Beirut-type Explosion Happened Near You?

What If a Beirut-type Explosion Happened Near You?

Contributor: Enjuris Editor How can I contribute?

Beirut explosions

On August 4, 2020, 2 blasts rocked Beirut, Lebanon and surrounding areas. Reports indicated that the cause was 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate that had been stored unsafely in a warehouse. Ammonium nitrate is a chemical commonly used for fertilizer in the agriculture industry and as a mining explosive.

The second explosion caused at least 177 deaths and 6,000 injuries. It also left 300,000 residents homeless and cost an estimated $10 billion to $15 billion in damages.

How did the Beirut explosions happen?

The stockpile of ammonium nitrate arrived at the Port of Beirut in 2014 and had been sitting in a warehouse for 6 years. In 2013, a Russian-leased cargo vessel  was heading from Georgia to Mozambique when it reportedly made an unscheduled stop in Beirut. There, officials had safety concerns with the ship and there were unpaid fees, so they blocked it from continuing to sail. The owner abandoned the ship at the Port of Beirut, and the cargo (ammonium nitrate) was unloaded and dumped in a hangar in the port, where it remained until the explosion in 2020.

Experts at Scientific American say that ammonium nitrate is stable under normal conditions. But if there’s an external heat source (i.e. fire), the ammonium nitrate begins to decompose and that process can result in an explosion. When ammonium nitrate is stored in a pile, it acts like a bonfire with logs—when the logs trap the heat, it accelerates the burn and creates a bigger fire. It’s the same with ammonium nitrate. The chemical is often stored in containers and piled with no airflow in between. If heat is generated, then decomposition is accelerated and an explosion can happen.

The U.S. state department told the Wall Street Journal that its investigation concluded that the blast was accidental.

Facing facts: The Beirut explosions caused extensive damage throughout the industrial waterfront, along with shopping and nightlife spots and residential neighborhoods that are home to more than 750,000 people. More than 250,000 people were displaced.  

Could an explosion like the ones in Beirut happen in the U.S.?

Absolutely. In fact, it has  happened in the U.S.

In 2013, a fertilizer plant fire in the town of West, Texas, caused an explosion of more than 250 tons of ammonium nitrate that was stored improperly in flammable wooden boxes. Fifteen people were killed, including 12 firefighters, and more than 150 buildings were leveled or damaged.

In the U.S., the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Fire Protection Association provide guidelines for safe handling of hazardous materials. Mainly, the standards require proper ventilation in areas where ammonium nitrate is stored. Ventilation can prevent the decomposition byproduct chemicals  from reaching a concentration that would cause an explosion.

Industrial accidents often happen because a company doesn’t follow OSHA or other regulatory guidelines as it should.

If people and companies aren’t taking safety precautions, an accident can happen anywhere. Whether you work or live near an industrial site, you could be at risk.

What to do if you’ve been injured in a blast on an industrial site where you work

If you work in an industrial area where a blast occurred and you were injured, you might be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. Your employer is responsible for your health and safety while you’re at work. Period.

Even if you’re working for a subcontractor on a site, for example, your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance should cover your expenses if you’re injured. Workers’ compensation benefits cover medical treatment related to the injury and a portion of your lost wages during your recovery time. If your injury was serious or you’re looking to claim damages for pain and suffering, emotional distress, or other non-economic costs, workers’ compensation won’t cover your losses in their entirety.

Instead, it might be possible to file a third-party claim. That means if some entity other than your employer was negligent for causing the accident, you might be able to sue them directly instead of using your workers’ compensation benefits.

If a large-scale incident like the Beirut explosions happened in the U.S., there might be several entities that could be sued for the damages — from the owner of the property, to a contractor who was supposed to be maintaining the conditions, to a regulatory agency that might’ve failed in making sure that safety precautions were being met.

Injury to bystanders

People from the surrounding areas near the Beirut blasts were hurt, not just from the blasts themselves, but also from debris and damage to buildings. A strong explosion can reverberate for miles… like an earthquake or volcano, homes or buildings could be damaged and you could be hit with debris, trapped under rubble, or suffer other kinds of injuries.

If that happens, your only legal option is to file a lawsuit for your injury damages, just like you would if you were in a car accident or suffered a slip-and-fall injury.

Again, there can be several defendants and you might have no way of knowing on your own who the companies or individuals are who can be held liable for this or any other type of industrial accident.

The first thing to do is to find medical help right away. You might be in a situation where dozens or hundreds of people are all trying to access medical care at the same time, and resources could be strained. There are a lot of factors involved, like the size of your community and resources or hospitals available, the size and reach of the accident, and the number of people who need help.

It also might be hard to get medical documentation of your injuries in a large-scale emergency situation. If you’re being tended to by medics or pop-up medical services, they likely won’t have access to your electronic medical record and documenting the injuries is likely less important in the moment than actually taking care of people’s trauma needs.

If that’s the case, do what you can to preserve evidence. The fact that the accident happened won’t be in question, but you might need to prove that your injuries are a direct result of the accident and didn’t happen in some other way that was unrelated.

Take photos at the scene if you can. Document your own injuries, how the area looked immediately following the accident, and any other evidence that can help demonstrate how and when you were hurt.

Enjuris tip: If there were a lot of people injured in the same incident, you might want to ask your lawyer about joining or filing a class action lawsuit—that’s when plaintiffs join together to file a lawsuit because their claims are similar or based on the same cause.

For example, several class action lawsuits were filed following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, some of which were for toxic exposures at Ground Zero.

How to handle damage to your home or business as a result of an accidental explosion

Your home or business could be damaged if it’s within range of an explosion or other large-scale industrial accident.

You might experience physical damage, like collapse, broken roof, windows, or other structural issues. The other possibility is contamination from toxins, such as airborne gases, or if an explosion results in chemicals that leach into the soil or enter the water supply.

Not only can toxic contamination or physical damage make your building unsafe for you to live or work, but it also can affect your ability to sell the property.

Your homeowners or business insurance would likely cover some damage from an accident like this (depending on the terms of your policy), but you can also file a lawsuit for expenses that your insurance doesn’t cover.

These kinds of accidents are rare, but they do happen—as the people of Beirut unfortunately experienced first-hand.

If your livelihood, home, or health and safety has been affected by an explosion or other industrial accident, you should contact a personal injury lawyer who can help. It’s going to be a complicated case, and the likelihood is that the company or companies that caused the accident have deep pockets.

Consider browsing the Enjuris law firm directory to find a knowledgeable, skilled, experienced lawyer who can explore your legal options.

More articles on job injury and workers' compensation
  • How much does a workers’ compensation lawyer cost?
  • How to prepare for a workers’ comp doctor evaluation
  • Lump sum vs. lifetime benefits for your workers’ comp settlement
  • Third-party workplace injury claims vs. workers’ compensation
  • 10 telltale signs of a bad workers’ compensation attorney
  • Carpal tunnel: A leading cause of occupational injury
  • How to prevent cold work injuries
  • Common injuries that affect nurses and other health care professionals
  • The most common types of occupational diseases
  • Tips for finding a skilled workers' compensation lawyer near you
  • Tips to help prevent heat related injuries
  • The most dangerous professions in America
  • Common reasons workers’ compensation claims are denied
  • Repetitive strain injuries in the workplace
  • How to report a workplace injury
  • Guide to Social Security Disability Benefits
  • Hearing and vision loss in the workplace
  • How to prove workplace defamation & sue for damages
  • What is hazard pay, and who are essential frontline workers?
  • Guide to severance pay, unemployment, and workers’ comp claims
  • Directory of state workers’ compensation agencies

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Required fields are marked *. While our editors carefully moderate all comments, Enjuris cannot guarantee the authenticity or accuracy of the information contained in the post. Such information should not be used as a substitute for obtaining legal advice from a professional. We always recommend consulting with an attorney or other legal professional if you require legal advice. Also, know that any information you provide in your comment may be published on our website, so please avoid sharing any confidential, private or personal information that you don’t want to be made public. Lastly, we will not publish any comments that we determine are promotional, hateful or inappropriate.

Legal Rights Defenders - FREE CONSULTATION 24/7

Categories

  • News Stories
  • My Accident Story
  • Resources You'll Love
  • Questions & Answers

In Your State

AZ CA CO FL GA IN MT NC SC TN TX

Attorney Authors
Enjuris Partners

Denver accident lawyer Mack Babcock

Mack Babcock
The Babcock Law Firm, CO

Texas personal injury and wrongful death lawyer Laura Brown

Laura Brown
Brown Trial Firm, TX

Attorney Mark Chappell

Mark Chappell
Chappell, Smith & Arden, SC

Neal Davis

Neal Davis
Neal Davis Law Firm, TX

Atlanta workers’ compensation attorney

Natalie Elkins
Gerber & Holder Law, GA

Roger Finderson

Roger Finderson
Finderson Law, IN

Jack Fine, personal injury attorney

Jack Fine
Fine, Farkash & Parlapiano, FL

Ben Gerber

Ben Gerber
Gerber & Holder Law, GA

Chris Gilreath

Chris Gilreath
Gilreath & Associates, TN

Award-winning Atlanta workers’ compensation attorney

Thomas Holder
Gerber & Holder Law, GA

George Lorenzo

George Lorenzo
Lorenzo & Lorenzo, FL

Matt Murphy

Matt Murphy
Murphy Law Firm, MT

Tom Murphy

Tom Murphy
Murphy Law Firm, MT

Bernard Nomberg

Bernard Nomberg
Nomberg Law Firm, AL

Brett Sachs, California accident attorney

Brett Sachs
Sachs Law, CA

Chelsee Sachs, California accident attorney

Chelsee Sachs
Sachs Law, CA

Charla K. Tadlock, Montana personal injury and workers' compensation attorney

Charla K. Tadlock
Murphy Law Firm, MT

Stephanie Tucker, Denver, CO workers' compensation attorney

Stephanie Tucker
The Babcock Law Firm, CO

Attorney Beau Wilder

Beau Wilder
Wilder Pantazis Law Group, NC

Wilder Pantazis Law Group

Rob Wilder
Wilder Pantazis Law Group, NC

Robert E. Wisniewski

Robert E. Wisniewski
Law Offices of Robert E. Wisniewski, AZ

Contributors

  • Terry Bryant
  • Jason Chalik
  • Daniel Clancy
  • Jacob Emrani
  • John Foy
  • Edward Friedman
  • Bert Louthian
  • Joseph Markey
  • Jim Parrish
  • Isaias Valencia
  • Steven G Wigrizer
  • Doug Zanes

Free E-Books

car accident e-book

I've been in a car accident I've been in a truck accident

truck accident e-book

What happens now?

What is Enjuris®?

A collection of resources to help people at a tough time in their lives. A place to share your story. A national directory of injury lawyers. Supporter of students, families, caregivers and our communities. How can I contribute?


Hire the right lawyer (800) 734-4134

Lawyer Directory
Car accident attorneys
Defective product attorneys
Personal injury attorneys
Medical malpractice attorneys
Wrongful death attorneys
Workers' compensation attorneys

Enjuris Partner Accident & Injury Lawyers

Gainesville, FL Personal Injury Attorneys
Tampa Personal Injury Attorneys
Lorenzo & Lorenzo (Tampa, Florida)
Finderson Law (Fort Wayne, Indiana)
Wilder Pantazis Law Group (Charlotte, North Carolina)
Brown Trial Firm (Waco, Texas)
The Babcock Law Firm (Denver, Colorado)
Gerber & Holder Law (Atlanta, Georgia)
Law Offices of Robert E. Wisniewski (Phoenix, Arizona)
Murphy Law Firm (Great Falls, Montana)


Law students

Enjuris' Student Center is a resource for all pre-law college students and current law students. Learn how to get ahead in your studies and the career field, as well be a guest contributor to our blog and apply for one of our scholarships.


Partner with us

If your goal is to help people after an accident or injury – or to prevent them in the first place – we'd love to hear from you! We look to work with educators, healthcare and recovery organizations, insurance providers, law firms and other organizations. Get in touch to see how we can work together. Learn more...


Are you a personal injury lawyer?

Login Add your Firm Lawyer online marketing Free resources for attorneys Attorney / SEOs newsletter signup

Contact us today to get involved.
Services for attorneys
Personal Injury Law Firms Directory
Directory guidelines
Law firm SEO quote
Terms of Use


Twitter Facebook LinkedIn YouTube Blog Blog feed

SEO Advantage®, Inc.    SEOLegal Division, Lawyer Marketing    3690 West Gandy Blvd., Suite 444    Tampa, FL 33611    Contact us today

Enjuris is a platform dedicated to helping people who are dealing with life-altering accidents and injuries. We support students, families, caregivers and communities with resources, personal stories and a national directory of injury lawyers. Read more about Enjuris.


Copyright © 2022 Enjuris.com. All rights reserved. Terms and conditions The accuracy, completeness, adequacy or currency of the content is not warranted or guaranteed. Our site and services are not substitutes for the advices or services of an attorney. We recommend you consult a lawyer or other appropriate professional if you want legal advice. Privacy policy.

SEOLegal.com

Attention attorneys
and SEO firms
  • Make Enjuris work for your law firm
  • Exclusive offers & discounts
  • Content contribution opportunities