On the morning of July 6, 2019, a vacant pizza restaurant in a South Florida shopping center exploded, injuring 23 and damaging several stores. West Virginia residents should know that this took place in the town of Plantation. The town’s fire and police departments responded, pulling the victims out of the rubble and closing the street to traffic. They believe that a gas leak caused the explosion, but the case is still under investigation.

The pizza restaurant was demolished with nothing but its metal frame standing. The explosion also blew out the windows of a nearby fitness center, blew off the roof of one section and sent metal pieces flying for at least 100 yards. Concrete bricks were scattered as far as 50 yards. The debris wound up severely damaging two vehicles.

There were no fatalities. Of the 23 who were injured, 19 were transported to a hospital. One incurred serious injuries. Another victim is a child.

Gas leaks on a property are something that the owners must be vigilant against. Otherwise, they are failing in their duty of care to their customers, their employees and other lawful entrants. When people suffer confined space injuries through no fault of their own, they may be eligible for compensation.

Victims may want to see an attorney who works in premises liability law before filing their claim. The attorney might have third-party investigators to help gather proof of negligence. In a case like the one above, this would involve getting the incident report and any evidence found at the site of the explosion. The attorney may then negotiate for a settlement with the defendant’s own legal team.