Our client unfortunately suffered an injury when filling up a vehicular LPG tank with propane gas. A build-up of pressure caused the gas to shoot out, resulting in (thankfully) minor burns to the hand and lower arm.
The gas immersed part of the hand, covering it with a thin layer of ice and therefore causing freeze burns. They were then rushed to A&E for treatment for their injuries.
Having assessed the claim and whether there was a case to answer for, we decided to accept and represent our client on a No Win, No Fee basis, allowing them a risk-free approach on their fight for justice for their injuries suffered.
About the case and the injury
Pressurised propane gas can be very serious if it comes into contact with a person’s skin as it can cause cryogenic burns. Like in our client’s situation, high concentrations of the gas can cause frostbite as well as blistering, tissue death and infection. In this case, the bayonet fixture of the filling tube was not correctly connected which led to the injury being sustained. It could have been far worse had our client inhaled the gas as well. In high concentrations, breathing in propane gas can cause harm to the nervous system as it displaces oxygen.
From the gas burn, our client required time off of work and had to endure a short period of pain as the injury healed up. Skin injuries of this nature can be a real nuisance as the skin dries and cracks when moving the hand, and it can be a cause for continual distress and discomfort.
Burn injuries often cause scarring as well, which is never nice for someone to have to endure. It can be something that people are very conscience of and can have a negative impact on a person’s self-confidence.
The claimant came to The Injury Lawyers for help to file all the necessary paperwork to start up a claim. We obtained medical records and instructed an expert to provide an examination of the injuries to allow us to value the claim. In this case, the council delayed proceedings when they refused to disclose necessary documents, meaning we were forced to threaten them with a Court order to obtain them.
In the end, the council admitted negligence and that they had no defence to the case and agreed to settle the claim for £1,800 – an amount our client was happy to receive.
