Propane and Natural Gas Stove Burns and Explosion Attorneys in Niagara Falls, New York

For the better part of a half-century, natural gas and propane stoves have undergone scrutiny for exposing homeowners to toxic emissions—emissions that can cause severe respiratory distress, and can ignite, causing deadly effects if allowed to accumulate.

Fires and explosions, even when contained to a kitchen, almost always have the potential to inflict serious and potentially life-altering injuries. Accident victims may feel fortunate to have simply survived but often struggle to overcome the lasting effects of debilitating burns and organ damage.

Since our founding in 2005, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. has fought to protect the rights of accident victims in Buffalo and Niagara Falls. Our experienced team of attorneys is committed to providing unparalleled personal injury service—and we have the results to prove it. Please send us a message online or call us at 716-839-3939 to speak to a Niagara Falls propane stove attorney and schedule your 100% free, no-obligation consultation as soon as possible.

Propane and natural gas-powered stoves have long been advertised as affordable and convenient alternatives to more modern electric ovens and induction cooktops. Aside from offering the benefit of an open flame, which can be considered ideal for searing and heat control, they typically cost much less to operate.

Although gas-powered stoves are sometimes advertised as safer than their electric counterparts, the inherent safety of using highly combustible sources of fuel inside residential homes and apartment complexes remains under intense debate.

Legislators, for instance, have questioned whether the affordability of natural gas stoves outweighs their reliance on fossil fuels—a concern that recently prompted New York to propose a blanket ban on the installation of gas-powered cooktops in newly constructed buildings. Federal regulators and consumer advocates, meanwhile, have noted that the relative volatility of natural gases could increase the risk of potentially catastrophic accidents.

In Niagara Falls and Erie County, these risks have underlain real-world catastrophes. Wilson, a small town across the northeast of Niagara Falls, was the site of a recent Western New York tragedy when a propane tank exploded, killing a teenage girl and injuring her parents and two siblings.

Each year, similar accidents involving propane cause thousands of fires, hundreds of injuries, and dozens of deaths. Even with the use of a homeowners insurance policy and comprehensive medical coverage, survivors often struggle to rebuild their lives.

However, you may have options beyond uncertainty. If you, or a loved one, have been injured in a fire or explosion caused by a defective gas-powered stove, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. could help you assert your rights to a fair recovery. Recognized as a U.S. News & World Report Best Law Firm, we know what it takes to build a compelling case for recompense and have the results to prove it. Please send us a message online or call us at 716-839-3939 to schedule your free consultation as soon as possible.

Both propane and gas ranges operate on similar principles, with some subtle differences.

These differences include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Propane Stoves: Propane stoves receive fuel from a larger supply tank, usually located outside the home or elsewhere on the premises. Supply tanks can be located underground or above ground, with most placed a reasonable distance from potential sources of ignition. Propane stoves are activated using adjustable knobs, which control gas flow and sometimes include an electric ignition switch. Defects can affect the stove’s controls, the fuel line, or the propane supply tank.
2. Natural Gas Stoves: Natural gas stoves are typically connected to larger gas mains, which provide a common source of fuel to different homes within the same neighborhood or district. Most natural gas stoves are activated using dials or knobs, which regulate gas flow and sometimes assist in ignition. Defects can affect the stove’s controls, fuel line, or the fuel line’s connection to the larger main.

If a stove-related defect causes or exacerbates an accident, survivors are often entitled to file a claim for compensation against the person—or party—who caused their injuries.

However, litigating a natural gas or propane-powered stove accident lawsuit could present unexpected challenges. For accident victims, simply identifying the right set of defendants could prove an exercise in frustration. With different parties beholden to vastly different legal standards, wrongdoers may try to minimize their liability to avoid paying for the injuries that you sustained because of their negligence.

You do not have to accept excuses in place of a fair recovery. The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. could help you investigate the causes of your accident and identify potential defendants. Depending on the circumstances of your accident, potential defendants in a propane stove or natural gas range explosion could include any of the following:

1. An appliance manufacturer;
2. An appliance retailer;
3. A utility company;
4. A home appliance installation or manufacturing company; or
5. A landlord or other property manager.

Natural gas leaks, propane explosions, and kitchen fires can cause complex injuries—injuries that sometimes necessitate a combination of intensive medical treatment, mental health counseling, and long-term care. Paying for recovery, even with insurance, is often beyond the means of most working families.

However, filing a civil claim against the party responsible for your accident could provide you with the resources needed to begin reclaiming your independence.

Every settlement and court-ordered award is different. But, in most cases, a successful lawsuit could provide compensation for the following types of damages:

1. Economic Damages: Economic damages compensate objective and easily quantifiable losses. Examples of economic damages could include paid and outstanding hospital bills, anticipated medical care, physical rehabilitation, and lost income from work.
2. Non-Economic Damages: Non-economic damages compensate comparably subjective losses. Examples of non-economic damages could include financial relief for emotional pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment, and disfigurement.

New York courts sometimes award a third category of damages: punitive damages. Unlike economic and non-economic damages, punitive damages are not compensatory. Instead, they are intended to punish especially negligent parties.

Although the New York State does not cap or otherwise limit damages in most natural gas and propane stove accident claims, most lawsuits are still subject to a stringent statute of limitations. If you wait too long to take action, the statute of limitations could end and cause your case to be dismissed by the court on a technicality.

Do not lose your chance to obtain relief. Please send the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. a message online, or call us at 716-839-3939 to speak to a propane and natural gas stove accident lawyer near Niagara as soon as possible.

Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately at 716-839-3939 so that our aggressive, tenacious, and hardworking personal injury lawyers can fight to obtain the best result for your personal injury claim in Niagara Falls, New York. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!