Written by Pritzker Hageman Law Firm on July 12, 2022
Within nanoseconds of lighting a cigar, Casey felt and heard a whoosh and explosion as his body was thrown back 90 feet away from where he was standing.
Casey is a builder and developer, and in July 2013, he was on-site wrapping up a multi-year construction project. Before attending a celebratory dinner, he had some extra time, so Casey grabbed a glass of wine and a cigar and headed out on the second-floor balcony to enjoy an approaching and blossoming mid-west thunderstorm. When Casey leaned into the house, escaping the growing wind to light the cigar, he had no idea that propane gas was swirling around him. That's when he saw a blue ball of flame around his hand, and within mere nanoseconds, a massive explosion erupted, catapulting his body 90 feet off the balcony.
A month later, Casey woke from a coma in the ICU of a burn hospital. He had a long road to recovery ahead of him. Not only did he suffer 3rd-degree burns on 70% of his body, but Casey also sustained a brain injury and multiple broken bones. Refusing to give up, Casey worked hard to recover and get back to living. While doctors told him he could be in the hospital for up to a year, he went back home in just a few months, where he continued to recover from the accident physically and emotionally.
As someone with years of construction experience, Casey knew that something had gone terribly wrong to cause the explosion that injured him. So he decided to pursue legal action - not for the money but because what happened shouldn't have happened, and Casey was determined not to let this happen to others.
When searching for legal counsel, it was crucial for Casey to find someone with knowledge and experience in similar situations. Casey enlisted the help of the Pritzker Hageman Law Firm because of their respected and longstanding history and, more importantly, because he felt supported by their trustworthy and compassionate team.
—Casey
Most personal injury lawsuits are not settled overnight but rather travel a long and emotional road. Due to the statute of limitations, personal injury lawsuits must be initiated relatively quickly after an accident. This can be incredibly challenging for burn survivors like Casey, who are not only recovering physically but are now facing the emotional and mental impact of both a burn injury and the legal process. The Pritzker Hageman team prides themselves on advocating for justice but also being a support system and thoroughly preparing their clients for what's ahead.
—Eric Hageman, Managing Partner at the Pritzker Hageman Law Firm
July 2013: Casey is injured
January 2014: Casey retains Pritzker Hageman attorneys
February - August 2014: Investigation into explosion occurs
November 2014: Lawsuit is filed in court
January 2015: Casey’s lawyers begin requesting and obtaining documents from the defendant to help prove the case
April-September 2015: Numerous depositions take place to develop the liability claim
October 2015: Mediation occurs, and the case settles
Throughout the two+ years of the case, Casey always felt prepared and protected by his legal team. While nothing is certain, the Pritzker Hageman team knew Casey had a strong case which eventually went on to settle outside of court.
—Casey
The national award-winning Pritzker Hageman burn, fire, electrocution and explosion legal team is led by attorney Eric Hageman. They help survivors and their families throughout the United States get compensation and justice. They know that it's not just about money. It's about restoring dignity, holding wrongdoers accountable, and forcing changes so that what happened to their clients doesn't happen to someone else: https://www.pritzkerlaw.com