Property Damage in Gas Drilling Accidents

Hydrofracking Property Damage

Drilling for gas and oil in West Virginia is a major source of revenue in our state, but it also causes significant property damage in some areas. There are rigid governmental rules and regulations in place to ensure that drilling companies avoid contaminating the environment, but these regulations have been violated in some cases, and the result can have extremely negative impact. If you are a homeowner in the vicinity of a gas drilling operation or if you own an adjacent tract of land, you need to be aware of your legal rights against property damage.

Chemical spills will frequently lead to widespread groundwater contamination in the area. The local population may suffer poisoning from toxic vapor & chemical exposure, and this is known to cause short term illness and long term, chronic health problems including cancer. Consequently, property values will fall as a result of the damage. Hydraulic fracturing, also known as hydrofracking or simply "fracking," is a recognized source of water contamination, air pollution and radioactive contamination. It can even cause earthquakes in areas that aren't traditionally recognized for seismological activity.

Property Damage Claims for Drilling Accidents

Property damage resulting from West Virginia gas drilling accidents can be substantial, and you shouldn't be left with the bill when you have been affected. Don't accept any type of settlement or sign an agreement until you have received a consultation from a West Virginia gas drilling attorney at Hartley Law Group. We are a West Virginia law firm with over 30 years of experience with this type of situation. We have seen countless cases where a property owner was offered a much smaller settlement than the claim was worth. Accurately estimating the extent of the damage requires a thorough knowledge of the short term and long term effects that may appear, in addition to what is immediately visible. Let us help you seek a claim for your damages.