Exploding gas can lawsuits forced the nation’s largest manufacturer of gas cans to close its doors.
Blitz USA, located in Miami, OK, closed its doors after facing multiple lawsuits.
Gas Can Company Files for Bankruptcy
Blitz filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on November 9, 2011. Before filing for bankruptcy, the company faced 42 lawsuits. According to FOX23, one burn injury lawsuit was settled for $5 million, another for $10 million, and 26 more were filed after the settlements.
Blitz manufactured many of the nation’s gas cans. The company produced 15 million gas cans each year and, in 46 years of operation, averaged three to seven lawsuits per year.
The company blames the lawsuits and bankruptcy on the lack of protection in the gasoline can industry. South Carolina burn injury lawyers representing victims who have suffered from exploding gas can injuries say the injuries were preventable had the company put a flame arrestor on the gas can. The company counters the argument by saying that there is no way to prove that a flame arrestor would prevent injuries from exploding gas cans. The company states no device makes pouring gasoline on a fire safe.
The company states a majority of the lawsuits resulted from people suffering burns from pouring gasoline on a fire. One case involved a man pouring gasoline on a fire to keep it burning in his mobile home. The gasoline can exploded and killed the man’s two-year-old daughter.
The company that they feel they have taken adequate precautions by posting the dangers of having gasoline around a fire on the gas can.
Bills like the Children’s Gasoline Burn Prevention Act, which requires gas can manufacturers to install a childproof cap on the gas can, aim to monitor the gas can industry and help eliminate future lawsuits.
What you need to know about exploding gas cans
Blitz USA’s gas cans were not equipped with a flame arrestor. A flame arrestor is a thin wire mesh located in the gas can spout. It acts as a safety device. It allows the gas to exit but prevents flames from igniting gasoline vapors inside the can. Explosions typically occur when vapors from inside the can are exposed to a nearby open flame.
Gasoline can companies like Blitz USA, Inc., Midwest Can, Scepter Manufacturing, and the Plastics Group should have known about the dangers. Professional-grade gas cans have been equipped with flame arrestors and spring-activated caps, which close automatically and prevent vapors from escaping.
The pouring of gas on a fire is not the only way gas cans explode. With rising gas prices, many people use gas cans to stock up on gas. Some people may place these gas cans in a truck bed or the back of a car. A simple spark from a truck latch or static electricity can ignite these gas can,s causing them to explode.
South Carolina Exploding Gas Can Lawyers
Gas can explosions can cause serious injuries, including severe burns and even death. Burn injuries can lead to costly and time-consuming rehabilitation, leaving you out of work. Burn injuries can also leave lasting scars and disfigurement. Our Columbia burn injury lawyers at the Strom Law Firm will fight gas can manufacturers to get you the money you deserve for your injuries. Call us today for a free consultation to see how we can help you. 803.252.4800.
