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Pasadena Industrial Accident Lawyer
From the Plant Floor to the Courtroom: An Attorney Who's Lived the Risks Firsthand
Before he was an attorney, founding attorney Kevin Johnson spent years working as a petrochemical process operator on the Texas Gulf Coast. He later became an elected Union Business Manager, representing thousands of workers across the region's plants and refineries, before going to law school to keep fighting for those same workers in a different way. That firsthand experience is why SJ Injury Attorneys understands industrial accidents not just as a legal matter, but as something we've seen up close.
If you or someone you love has been seriously injured, or killed, in an industrial accident near Pasadena, we can help you understand your rights and pursue the compensation you deserve.
Call (936) 297-7972 to talk to a Pasadena industrial injury lawyer about your legal options and next steps.
Our Neighbors. Their Outcomes.
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$11,000,000 Chemical Plant InjurySettlement recovered for a client who sustained severe injuries while working a turnaround at a chemical plant in Pasadena, TX
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$10,000,000 Shoulder, Neck & Back Injury
Settlement recovered for a client who sustained shoulder, neck, and lower back injuries while working a turnaround at a chemical plant in Pasadena, TX
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$5,000,000 Lower Back InjurySettlement recovered for a client who sustained lower back injuries while working a turnaround at a chemical plant in Pasadena, TX
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$3,500,000 Back and Leg InjuriesRecovered for three patrons of a McAllen restaurant who were struck by a car. Injuries ranged from a broken leg to soft tissue low back injuries which required surgery
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$3,000,000 Fatal Rear-End CollisionRecovered in a wrongful death case. The client’s spouse was tragically killed in a rear-end accident on Highway 146 in Seabrook, TX
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$2,000,000 Catastrophic Hand InjurySettlement for a client who sustained a degloving injury of his left hand while working at a machine shop in Houston, Texas
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$1,400,000 18-wheeler CollisionRecovered for a client who was rear-ended by an 18-wheeler on Highway 225 in Pasadena, Texas. The client sustained low back injuries which required low back surgery
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$1,400,000 Serious Back InjuryRecovered for a client who was rear-ended by an 18-wheeler on Highway 225 in Pasadena, Texas. The client suffered lower back injuries requiring surgery
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$1,200,000 Neck InjuryRecovered for a client who sustained injuries at a refinery when debris fell on his head. The client’s injuries required neck surgery.
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$964,000 Neck and Soft Tissue InjuriesRecovered for clients who were rear-ended by a tractor-trailer on Interstate 10 near Channelview, TX. One client suffered neck injuries that required surgery and the passenger sustained soft tissue injuries.
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$865,000 Slip and Fall Injury
After a three-day trial, a judge awarded $865,000 to our client. Our client suffered multiple fractures to her leg as a result of a slip and fall at work.
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$800,000 Leg Fractures Injury
Injured worker from Spring, Texas suffered multiple fractures to her leg. After a three day trial the judge awarded her $800,000. Attorney fees and expenses were $340,000.
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$750,000 Back and Neck Injury
Settlement recovered for a client who was rear-ended by a box truck on U.S. Hwy. 59 in Houston, Texas. Client required a series of three epidural steroid injections to his lower back and neck.
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$685,000 Back and Soft Tissue InjuriesRecovered for clients who were struck by an 18-wheeler when the truck driver made a wide right turn. One client required microdiscectomy surgery and the other sustained soft tissue injuries.
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$565,000 Herniated Disc Injury
18-wheeler ran a stop sign and struck my client's vehicle at a low rate of speed. The client aggravated a prior neck injury and suffered a herniated disc in her low back, which required surgery. The case was settled for $565,000.
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$550,000 Falling Debris Injury
$550K recovered for a worker who was injured at a refinery after tools and debris fell on him from a 30-foot platform.
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$500,000 Lower Back Injury
Recovered for a client who was rear-ended by a pickup truck in Baytown, Texas. The client required minor back surgery.
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$485,000 Neck and Spine Injury
Recovered for a client who was “T-boned” after a company pick-up truck ran a red light on Spencer Highway in Pasadena, Texas. The client sustained neck injuries that required surgery.
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$400,000 Pipeline Explosion Injury
Recovered for a client injured when a pipeline exploded in Robertson County, Texas. The client required rotator cuff surgery.
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$355,000 Cervical Disc Injury
Client was rear-ended on a Houston freeway causing herniated disc in his neck. We forced the insurance company to pay $355,000.
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$350,000 Workplace Fall Injury
Recovered for a warehouse worker who fell from a 10-foot platform. The employee suffered multiple facial fractures.
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$240,000 Herniated Disc Injury
Client was rear-ended by a company pickup truck. She sustained a herniated disc to her low back which will require surgery. Client declined surgery and the case settled for $240,000. After attorney fees and expenses the client received $120,000.
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$195,000 Herniated Lower Back Disc InjurySuccessfully negotiated a $195,000 settlement on behalf of a young man rear-ended by a tractor-trailer on IH 45. Client sustained a herniated disc to his low back which required surgery.
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$175,000 Herniated Disc Injury
A client’s vehicle was struck in the rear by an 18 wheeler on I-10 in Houston, Texas. The client suffered herniated discs to his neck but refused surgery. The case settled for $175,000.
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Confidential Soft Tissue InjuriesPersonal injury client struck cargo dropped from a semi-truck forcing the client's vehicle into another vehicle. Client sustained soft tissue injuries.
What Counts as an Industrial Accident?
Industrial accidents happen at facilities where heavy machinery, hazardous chemicals, or high-pressure systems are part of everyday operations, including chemical plants, oil refineries, manufacturing facilities, and oil and gas operations. Pasadena sits at the heart of one of the largest concentrations of these facilities in the country, along the Houston Ship Channel corridor. A single incident can touch several of these categories at once. A plant or refinery accident might also involve a construction crew working on-site, an oilfield operation nearby, or a truck hauling hazardous materials to or from the facility.
Why Industrial Accidents Happen
Industrial facilities that handle hazardous chemicals are required under OSHA's Process Safety Management standard to maintain rigorous hazard analyses, equipment inspections, and emergency response plans.
When industrial accidents happen anyway, it's often because one or more of these systems failed:
- Poorly maintained or defective equipment
- Inadequate employee training
- Understaffing or pressure to cut corners for the sake of production schedules
- Failure to follow OSHA safety standards
- Inadequate hazard communication between contractors and site owners
When a serious incident does occur, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board, an independent federal agency, may investigate to determine the root cause, findings that can also become important evidence in a personal injury or wrongful death claim.
Common Types of Industrial Accidents
- Explosions and fires, often caused by equipment failure or the ignition of flammable vapors
- Chemical exposure and toxic releases, which can cause immediate injury or long-term health effects
- Falls from height, common on scaffolding, catwalks, and elevated platforms
- Equipment and machinery accidents, including workers being struck by or caught in moving parts
- Confined space incidents, where toxic atmospheres or oxygen deficiency pose a serious risk
- Pipeline and oilfield accidents, including blowouts and equipment malfunctions
Our region has seen this firsthand in the past two years alone: an ammonia leak at Roehm's facility in Matagorda County in March 2025, an explosion at ONEOK's Mont Belvieu plant that injured three workers in October 2025, a sulfuric acid leak into the Houston Ship Channel after a catwalk collapse in Channelview in December 2025, and an explosion at Valero's Port Arthur refinery in March 2026. Not every incident results in injury (Valero reported none in that case), but each one shows how quickly things can go wrong at an industrial facility.
Meet the Team Behind Every Case
From intake to trial, every person on this team plays a part in getting you the outcome you deserve.
Behind every case file is a full team working on your behalf: case managers, paralegals, and support staff who answer your calls, track down your records, and keep you in the loop every step of the way. We built this firm to feel less like a law office and more like a neighbor you can count on. That starts with hiring people who care, and it shows in how we treat every client who walks through our door.
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“Mr. Soileau represented me in a car accident that occurred in November 2014 where I suffered a herniated disc to my neck requiring surgery. After surgery the medical bills were piling up which caused me quite a bit of stress worrying about how all of the medical bills were going to get paid. As my case was complicated and took almost 2 years to work through, Mr. Soileau and his staff were very understanding of my situation throughout the whole ordeal. They took the time to answer my questions, assist with getting the appropriate medical care and kept me in the loop throughout the process. The outcome was much better than I expected. I highly recommend Mr. Soileau and will refer my family and friends if they ever find themselves in need of his services.”- J.N.
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“Brenda made this whole process smooth and easy.”- Anaissa G.
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“We contacted Mr. Soileau after being rear-ended in Kemah, Texas. When we contacted Mr. Soileau we had no health insurance and we were not sure what to do. He helped us find doctors who would work with us and then went on to settle the case for the maximum amount of all insurance policies available.”- J.M.
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“There was no need to constantly call them to check up on my case. They would always update me with any new developments as they got it. I would certainly recommend this firm to anyone and I will definitely use them again.”- Monica V.
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“I've been in a couple of car accidents and have been lucky enough to have Chris Soileau as my attorney. They have helped me through these tough times and I am forever thankful. I definitely recommend.”- Jessica B.
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“My car was hit by a guy who was racing down the highway. The impact forced my vehicle into a retaining wall. At the time I was between jobs and Mr. Soileau helped me find medical care. Ultimately, Chris obtained a great settlement for my case.”- S.J.
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“It was a great experience, especially when you have a lot to deal with and the uncertainty after an accident.”- Eduardo H.
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“It was my first time being in a bad accident and I did not know much about the process. They answered all my questions and updated me as we went. I was very well compensated and highly recommend them.”- Lisa P.
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“Right from the beginning, we felt like we had a champion in our corner. His entire staff was great to work with, and Chris never stopped fighting for us. He made the entire process a breeze to work through, and when he took on the responsibility of dealing with the doctor's bill and insurance it freed my wife and I up to concentrate on our healing process. Thanks, Chris Soileau for doing such a fantastic job. The big check at the end was pretty nice too!”- Joey J.