Texas Accident Victims - News You Can Use

Lawmakers look at injured worker ruling in BP deaths

Relatives of those killed in the 2005 BP plant explosion urged lawmakers today to undo a Texas Supreme Court liability ruling made last year.

The decision by the state's highest civil court prevented a BP contract worker from suing the company after the refinery blast. Judges ruled that the worker couldn't sue because he was already covered by a workers compensation policy.

Critics say the ruling wrongly expanded liability protection for businesses under the workers' comp law.

The Supreme Court has agreed to reconsider the case -- but regardless of what happens, accident victims and their families say the Legislature needs to address the matter.

They contend some workers hurt in the BP explosion -- which killed 15 people -- wouldn't have been able to sue if the court's ruling had been in place.

Some 4,000 lawsuits were filed after the BP refinery explosion.

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