Gas Companies and Leak Responsibility

In February 2016, a family filed a lawsuit against a California gas company claiming that a gas leak at one of the company plants accelerated their mother's lung cancer and her death. The leak occurred at the gas company's plant and continued for months before being resolved. The family and their wrongful death lawyer say the leak was a major factor in the aggression of the victim's cancer. This has left people from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City wondering if gas companies can be held liable for leaks.

Simply put, the best way to know for your specific case is to consult with a wrongful death lawyer in Salt Lake City or elsewhere. An attorney who specializes in liability cases is often the most knowledgeable person regarding such incidents. But for now, here are a few things to know about the potential liability a gas company could face.

Your Home

The location of the gas leak is a large factor in your case. For example, if the leak occurs inside your house, you are going to have a more difficult case to make. According to USLegal, this is because in most cases, the gas companies don't usually install the pipes inside homes. Generally, this will prevent their liability if something goes wrong because they are not responsible for those pipes or their maintenance. 

Company Property

Conversely, you might have a stronger case if the gas leak either occurred on or involved the gas company's property. Companies are expected to follow strict safety rules including taking various preventative measures. If these conditions are not met, it is likely the company involved can be held accountable. 

Remember, it doesn't matter if you live in Salt Lake City or on the East Coast, you might be asking yourself if you should hire a wrongful death lawyer after such a situation. If your loved one recently passed away from an untimely death, you shouldn't burden yourself with trying to handle your case alone. An attorney can help investigate, file and argue your case while you grieve. 

Ryan Muir is a legal writer for Fusion 360, an SEO and content marketing agency. Information provided by Robert J Debry. Follow on Twitter.