Don’t Sign Insurance Offers for Lawrence, Andover Gas Explosions, Warns Boston Attorney
Douglas Sheff, a Boston attorney with four decades of experience in fire and explosion cases, has a simple message for those impacted by the Andover, Lawrence and North Andover gas explosions: Do not accept insurance offers without first talking to a lawyer.
“Insurance companies are contacting people right now,” Sheff explained. “If you accept an offer, you could wind up with a much smaller settlement than you would receive if you waited.”
In cases of property damage, personal injury and wrongful death, insurance settlements may include language that prevents people from filing future claims. This could result in significantly lower compensation.
“Don’t sign off on the offer,” Sheff said. Instead, Sheff recommends bringing settlement offers to an experienced property or personal injury attorney who can evaluate the value of the settlement and any future rights to claims that might otherwise be lost.
A Lawrence teenager was killed and 25 people were injured when explosions and fires tore through homes of Columbia Gas customers in the evening hours of September 13. Massachusetts Congressman Seth Moulton compared the scene to “a war zone” as firefighters and police from Boston to southern New Hampshire traveled to Lawrence, Andover and North Andover to battle fires in 70 locations.
Columbia Gas Issues Statement on Lawrence and Andover Gas Explosions
Early on the morning of September 14,Columbia Gas issued a statement on the natural gas explosions in Andover, Lawrence and North Andover. The company, eyed as the source of the natural gas explosions, said it will be sending workers to more than 8,600 homes in the area to turn off gas service and conduct safety inspections.
Columbia Gas announced earlier in 2018 that it planned pipeline improvements in the area. Four pipeline projects were taking place in Andover alone
Columbia Gas has been in this situation before. The company was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) for gas explosions in West Virginia that destroyed three houses and damaged several others. Gas pipelines are considered transportation infrastructure and the NTSB has investigative authority, though it typically only investigates cases involving extreme failures.
Residents who fled for their lives from natural gas explosions in the Merrimack Valley are still waiting to return home. Power remains shut off in the affected area, exit ramps from highways are closed and police have blocked local streets.
Sheff Law has extensive experience representing people injured in fires and explosions. Sheff Law clients get a full team of experienced attorneys and you pay nothing for their services unless you receive a settlement or verdict. Call us at 1-888-423-4477 or contact us online for a free case consultation.
