Undefeated Houston Explosion Lawyers
Hours after the devastating October 2nd explosion at the Holiday Inn Express hotel under construction in downtown Houston, investigators revealed new details about what may have gone wrong.
As investigators piece together the cause, survivors and families are facing an uncertain and overwhelming future. Having recovered Billions for injured workers and families after the worst refinery, plant, pipeline, and hotel explosions in Texas and U.S. history, our Undefeated Houston Explosion Lawyers know exactly what you’re going through — and what it takes to hold negligent companies and their insurers accountable.
Here’s what you need to know about the explosion and what you can do right now to protect your rights and safeguard your future.
Pressure Problems With Tankless Water Heater Under Investigation
While initial reports pointed to a boiler, Houston Fire Department officials have since confirmed that the blast involved a natural gas line and a pressure issue with a system of tankless water heaters on the 17th and 18th floors. The Holiday Inn Express, part of a combined project with Staybridge Suites at 1319 Texas Avenue near Daikin Park, was under construction and set to open this month, ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
The explosion occurred shortly after 11 a.m. on October 2, blowing out windows, sparking a fast-moving fire, and leaving at least six construction workers seriously injured, with potential burns to the face and other areas of the body.
How to Protect Your Rights After a Construction Explosion
After a workplace explosion, time is critical. It’s up to you to act quickly. While you focus on getting medical care, remember that the company and its insurers are already taking steps to protect themselves. Their priority is avoiding responsibility — not making sure you and your family are taken care of. The sooner you take action, the stronger your case will be.
Here are the immediate steps every victim should take:
1. Get Medical Attention Right Away
Seek emergency care immediately — even if you think your injuries are minor. Burn injuries, smoke inhalation, and blast-related trauma can worsen quickly. Keep every medical record, doctor’s note, and prescription. These documents become essential proof of what you’re going through.
2. Contact an Experienced Explosion Lawyer ASAP
The best explosion attorneys can protect your rights from the start and ensure you don’t make mistakes the company will use against you. Furthermore, they will do whatever it takes to recover the full compensation you deserve, hold every at-fault party fully accountable, and force negligent companies to become safer so accidents like this one don’t happen in the future.
3. Preserve Your Clothing, Gear, and Personal Items
Don’t throw away the clothes, boots, gloves, or safety gear you were wearing at the time of the explosion. These items often show evidence of burns, chemicals, or blast damage that can help prove how the incident occurred. Store them in a safe place and avoid cleaning or altering them.
4. Document Your Injuries and Recovery
Take photos of burns, cuts, bruises, or any visible injuries as soon as possible — and continue documenting them throughout your recovery. Keep a journal of your pain, treatments, and how the injuries impact your daily life and ability to work.
6. Avoid Talking to Company Representatives or Insurance Adjusters Alone
After an explosion, insurers and company reps will reach out to you. They may sound concerned, but their goal is to limit what you receive. Anything you say can be twisted and used against you. Always let your attorney handle these conversations.
7. Don’t limit yourself to Workers’ Compensation
These benefits will never cover the full cost of medical bills, lost wages, or future care needs. Contacting a lawyer and pursuing a third-party lawsuit against the equipment manufacturer, contractors, or property owners is the only way to secure full compensation. If you’re unsure whether you have options, an experienced attorney can review your situation and guide you toward the best path forward.
The Dangers of Natural Gas and Tankless Water Heaters
Explosions like the one at the Holiday Inn Express don’t just “happen.” In our experience, they’re almost always the result of entirely preventable safety failures, defective equipment, or companies cutting corners to save time and money.
Natural gas and tankless water heaters, in particular, pose extreme risks when they’re not properly installed, maintained, or monitored. In a high-rise construction project, those risks are magnified — putting workers in immediate danger when something goes wrong.
Some of most common causes we see of these explosions include:
- Natural Gas Leaks: Even a small leak in a pressurized system can ignite and cause a powerful blast.
- Tankless Water Heater Failures: These systems operate under high pressure; a malfunctioning valve, sensor, or improper installation can create dangerous conditions.
- High-Rise Construction Risks: Explosions at upper levels are especially hazardous, as debris, fire, and structural damage can spread quickly.
Tragically, it is often the contractors and workers who are left with severe burns, mounting medical bills, and financial hardship — while the companies responsible for the blast will already be working to limit their financial exposure.
Why Injured Workers Deserve to Recover Maximum Compensation After an Explosion Injury
At Zehl & Associates, we’ve seen firsthand how explosions upend lives, and we know the true cost of what was taken away from industrial workers injured in these catastrophic events:
- Severe Burn Injuries and Trauma: Many survivors of gas explosions suffer burn injuries requiring extensive treatment, grafts, and long-term care.
- High Medical Costs: Burn treatment and rehab often cost hundreds of thousands or millions over a lifetime.
- Lost Wages and Career Impact: Construction workers may be unable to return to the same work, leading to financial strain.
- Emotional Impact: PTSD, depression, and anxiety are common after catastrophic blasts.
That’s why we fight relentlessly to ensure survivors recover the maximum compensation available under the law.
Anything less leaves victims struggling to cover the cost of their care, their lost income, and the long-term physical and emotional impact of their injuries.
Our top priority is making sure you never have to worry about providing for yourself or your family ever again.
Undefeated Houston Explosion Lawyers: 1-888-603-3636 for a Free consultation
Having represented more than 1,000 workers injured or tragically killed in gas, refinery, and industrial blasts across Texas and the U.S., our undefeated Houston explosion lawyers know exactly how to fight to ensure our clients recover the maximum compensation for their injuries, lost wages, and future care.
If you or a loved one were injured in the Holiday Inn Express hotel explosion, don’t wait to learn your options. Our team is available 24/7 to answer questions and help protect your rights.
Please call 1-866-773-0092 or l send us a confidential email via our Contact Us form.
Our attorneys will answer your questions, explain your rights, and provide all the information you need to make the best decision for yourself and your family.
Consultations are always free, and you won’t owe us anything unless we win your case.