When a catastrophic industrial accident involves immune entities and aggressive contributory negligence defenses, finding a viable path to recovery requires strategic precision.

Our firm recently secured a nearly 8-figure settlement for two specialized field technicians who sustained catastrophic burn injuries in a severe arc flash explosion.

From the outset, the liability picture was incredibly complex. The defense relied heavily on the "empty chair" strategy, pointing the finger at two entities we couldn't legally pursue as well as the victims:

• The Facility Owner: A municipality protected by governmental immunity.
• The Employer: Shielded by the exclusive remedy of the workers' compensation bar.
• The Plaintiffs: The defense aggressively argued our clients were contributorily negligent, despite the fact that they performed a final safety check with a meter just moments before the blast.

To secure this massive recovery, we had to meticulously thread the needle to establish third-party liability. We focused our case on the primary electrical subcontractor. Through rigorous discovery, we proved their project superintendent explicitly cleared our clients to enter the danger zone, falsely assuring them the de-energization process was complete.

By establishing that the subcontractor by passed mandatory safety procedures with actual, subjective awareness of the extreme risks, we overcame the contributory negligence defenses and built an undeniable case for corporate gross negligence.

If your firm is evaluating a severe catastrophic injury file—especially one complicated by workers' comp bars, immune defendants, or heavy contributory negligence allegations—we have the strategic experience to help you uncover third-party liability and maximize the recovery.