Construction workers were busy going about their jobs in McKinney, Texas, late last month when a hole was suddenly knocked into a gas line pipe with a backhoe. The ruptured gas line caused an explosion and a powerful fire that people said was visible from 15 miles away. Two of the construction workers on the scene sustained minor injuries as a result of the accident.
According to Deputy Police Chief Joe Ellenburg, one of the two injured construction workers was taken to a hospital nearby.
Stacie Durham, who works with the McKinney Fire Department, said the construction crew was with Atmos Energy. Jennifer Ryan, a spokesperson for Atmos, had no details to offer regarding why the construction crew was working over a gas line. She did say that, following the accident, the gas line was quickly shut down; but it took a while for the residual gas to burn off.
McKinney is located approximately 30 miles north of Dallas.
Texas laws do not always allow injured workers to sue their employers directly. If a contracting company is at fault for an injury accident in the workplace, however, there is a potential for filing a claim to recover such damages as medical costs, loss of pay while recuperating, and pain and suffering. When an employee dies in a work injury accident as a result of the employer’s gross negligence, certain family members can sue the employer, whether or not the employer carried workers’ compensation insurance coverage.
–Guest Contributor
