Oil Field Injury Lawyers

Oil and gas work is dangerous. Workers handle deadly chemicals and work with heavy machinery on a daily basis, often in conditions that can compromise their safety. This is a risky industry with many on-the-job injuries, including deadly incidents. Whether you’re a roustabout, roughneck, derrickhand, floorhand, or other field worker, injuries can happen out of nowhere.

It can also be very dangerous hauling truckloads of sand, water, or other materials to remote drilling sites or well sites on narrow, poorly made roads. When an injury happens, you need a lawyer who understands these dangers.

Let Nix Patterson fight for you.

If you or a loved one suffered an injury in an oil or gas field or offshore rig, you need expert legal representation to fight for the best compensation you can get while you focus on recovery and healing. The expert Nix Patterson legal team will go to work for you, carefully considering every legal angle to find the strongest case possible for you. Our aim is to get the maximum dollar amount from those responsible for what happened.

What Are Common Oil Field Accidents?

Workers in the oil industry are more likely to sustain catastrophic injuries than those in most other occupations. Hazards exist in many areas of this industry. Since they deal with large equipment, toxic chemicals, and heights, oil field workers may end up getting hurt while on the job.

The problem is that oil field operators may end up cutting corners in the name of profits. Worker safety is an expense, and it may reduce productivity. Oilfield workers are the ones who end up paying a price for their employers’ carelessness (or that of third parties).  

Some of the alarming injury sources that Nix Patterson handles include:

• Oil truck accidents
• Oil well blowouts
• Poisoning accidents
• Oil field or well fires
• Battery explosions
• Hazardous material exposure
• Falls
• Crush injuries
• Machinery failures
• Gas plant or oil refinery accidents
• Drilling accidents
• Workover rig collapses

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports that roughly four out of every ten employees killed in the oil and gas industry die as a result of vehicle accidents.

Common Injuries in Oil Field Accidents

Oil field accidents can cause serious injuries that can change the course of your life. Not only can you suffer the same types of injuries that other workers may sustain on an industrial site, but you could also be dealing with severe health effects from things like a sudden explosion. The fact that there are many “moving pieces” on an oil field involving things like complex machinery and toxic substances that are highly combustible can mean more severe injuries.

Common injuries suffered on an oil field can include:

• Broken bones and fractures
• Back injuries
• Sprains and strains
• Cuts and lacerations
• Crush injuries
• Job-related illnesses from exposure to toxic substances
• Burns
• Amputations
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries

No matter what type of injury you have suffered, it is your obligation to both yourself and for your legal case to take care of your health immediately. Make sure to see a doctor for your injuries and follow up on all medical treatment. Not only does your long-term health depend on it, but the success of your legal case is also in the balance. The insurance company may claim that you failed to take steps to mitigate your damages, and they may try to cut the amount of compensation they pay you.

What to Do After an Oil Field Accident?

Here are crucial steps to take if you or someone you care about has suffered an injury at an oil field.

1. Seek Medical Attention

After an injury, your health should be your main priority. Make sure you seek immediate medical attention and follow your doctor’s orders. Your doctor will assess the severity of your injuries and recommend the best treatment procedure.

Seeking medical care leaves a paper trail of medical records and expenses that you can use to file a personal injury or workers’ compensation claim later.

2. Report the Accident

Make sure you report your oil field accident to your employer. Every state has a time limit for employees to report their injuries to their employers or supervisors. For example, the state of Texas requires workers to report injuries to their employers within 30 days from the date of the accident.

If you don’t report it within this time frame, you may jeopardize your ability to make a workers’ compensation claim.

3. Document the Accident

Here are some pieces of evidence that can significantly boost your oil field claim:

• Pictures of the accident scene, hazards, and any visible injuries
• Details from any eyewitnesses
• Records of medical expenses and any other expenses related to the oil field accident
• Documents or emails about safety concerns that went unaddressed

4. Contact an Oil Field Injury Lawyer

Speak with an experienced attorney to find out if you have a valid claim. Nix Patterson is prepared to assess your case and advise you regarding your legal options. A case assessment is totally free, and you have no obligation to move forward if you don’t want to.

What Damages Are Available in an Oil Field Accident Case?

If you are injured in an oil field accident, you may have a valid claim. Depending on the facts surrounding your case and the state where the accident happened, you may file a workers’ compensation claim or a personal injury suit. Some of the compensation that you may be entitled to include damages for:

• Medical bills
• Lost income
• Emotional distress
• Diminished earning capacity
• Reduced quality of life
• Disability
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Pain and suffering

Your attorney may also advise you to pursue punitive damages after an oil field accident. These damages aren’t compensatory. Also known as exemplary damages, these damages aim to punish the defendant for their extremely negligent actions or omissions.

Personal Injury or Workers’ Compensation Claims in Oilfield Accidents

You do not have a legal right to sue your employer for personal injuries that you suffered on the job under most circumstances. The fact that they provide you with workers’ compensation Insurance gives them a certain amount of immunity from lawsuits. However, you are able to sue a third party when they were to blame for your accident because they have no other legal relationship with you other than the duty of care. When you hire an oil field accident attorney, they will review the facts of your case to help determine whether you have a potential personal injury lawsuit.

It is always in your best interest to file a personal injury lawsuit when you can because it can lead to more compensation. For example, you can recover non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering. In addition, you can receive the full amount of lost wages, as opposed to two-thirds of your average weekly wage. If you need to file a workers’ compensation claim, fault is not an issue because your own negligence would not keep you from receiving the benefits you deserve, so long as you suffered a job-related injury.

What Happens if My Loved One Dies in an Oil Field Accident?

If you lose a family member in an oil field accident, you may have grounds to file a wrongful death claim. Wrongful deaths may occur due to almost any reason (other than natural causes), including falls, crush injuries, exposure to toxic chemicals, burns, explosions, or electrocution. Wrongful death statutes allow surviving family members and estate administrators to file claims on behalf of their deceased loved ones.

How Long Do I Have to File an Oil Field Injury Claim?

It is important to note that these claims have deadlines that limit when plaintiffs can file cases. Here’s a breakdown of the statute of limitations for some states for oil field injury claims:

If you don’t file your claim within this window, you may jeopardize your oil field injury case. Confused about the deadline to file your claim? Get in touch with an experienced oil field injury attorney to learn more about your case.

Who Can I Sue After an Accident?

The circumstances surrounding your case and the state law that applies will determine who you can sue after an oil field accident. Working with a reliable oil field accident lawyer can help you understand who may be liable for your injuries, including:

• Your employer. You may be able to file a claim against your employer under the right circumstances. Most states’ workers compensation laws limit when and how you can sue your employer for on-the-job injuries. This is a complicated area of the law that requires an experienced attorney.
• Your employer’s insurance. You may file a claim against your employer’s insurance carrier to recover workers’ compensation benefits.
• Equipment or product manufacturers. If your injury was caused by a defective product (for example, if a piece of machinery malfunctions), you might be able to file a product liability claim. It is important that the defective product not be discarded or destroyed. If you think you may have been harmed by a defective product, immediately tell your employer in writing to preserve the defective product so your lawyers can examine it later.
• Other third parties. If anyone else’s negligence led to your oil field injury, you might be able to file a personal injury suit against them. For instance, if you were injured in an accident with another company’s truck, you might have a claim against the other company and their driver.

Keep in mind that every oil field case varies significantly. For this reason, you should contact an attorney to help you understand your legal position and if you can pursue a claim.

Consult with Us on Your Oil Field Accident Case

Taking cases to trial is always risky, and outcomes cannot be guaranteed. That’s why you need the legal team that’s handled billions of dollars worth of complex legal problems and successfully taken on the oil and gas industry, all to help people who rightly seek retribution to the full extent of the law. When you hire Nix Patterson, you are working with oil field accident experts with over 40 years of experience.

Our oil field injury attorneys will dedicate their time and attention to your case, using all available resources to build your claim.

Call 512-328-5333 or contact us online to get started before it’s too late to file your claim. It does not cost you anything to speak to an oil field accident attorney, and you pay nothing unless you win your case.