Oilfield Injury Attorney
Oilfield sites are dangerous places, with several on-site firms setting up and dismantling heavy equipment. This line of employment requires coming into contact with materials and situations associated with bad health effects, such as hydrogen sulfide, silica, excessive noise, diesel particles, and naturally occurring radioactive elements. This dangerous and fast-paced work leaves workers faced with the risk of death or serious injuries daily.
If you or someone you know was injured because of an oil field accident, then contact an oilfield accident attorney to hold the people responsible for the accident accountable for their actions.
We understand the hazards that oil workers encounter. We know you put your life on the line every day to make a living and power the country. We routinely help oilfield workers hurt at work.
Following an oilfield accident, you have certain legal rights, and we will ensure that they are protected. Our oilfield accident lawyer will fight to make sure you receive the compensation that you need and deserve for your lost employment income, medical bills, as well as pain and suffering.
You can contact our oilfield accident attorney 24 hours per day, and seven days per week to receive the experienced and aggressive legal representation that you deserve – call (800) 883-9858 or (713) 529-9377 or complete our form to receive your free initial consultation today.
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I Was Injured at My Oil Industry Job. What Should I Do?
Immediately report the injury to your supervisor and request quick medical treatment. Use a cell phone to photograph and video the scene. Then identify all the eyewitnesses to the accident. Keep a file with all of your medical bills. And don’t sign anything or accept payments from your employer’s insurer until you’ve contacted an oilfield accident lawyer.
Employer’s insurance companies occasionally give oilfield workers a hard time with medical treatment. So that’s why it’s essential to quickly get a personal injury lawyer experienced with handling oil patch injury cases.
You can also pursue damages from a company that caused your injury when you can show they were negligent. You can hold companies responsible for the injuries you have sustained if the company failed to have proper workplace safety standards in place, subcontracted jobs to unskilled workers, or used outdated equipment. Our oil patch injury lawyer will also investigate whether defective machinery caused your injury. If that happened, you could sue the manufacturer of the equipment used in your workplace.
Do I need an Oilfield Injury Attorney?
Generally, the more severe your injuries are, the more you need assistance from a personal injury attorney. The claim process can be complex.
Although it should not be the case, oilfield companies often prioritize profit over people, which results in lots of unnecessary red tape and people treating people unfairly when they do not have the proper legal representation.
Insurance companies are in the business to make a profit. Each claim reduces its profit margin. So they have a great incentive to minimize the amount they pay out on claims.
So how does that happen? There are several different methods that an insurance company can use to avoid paying out on their claims.
They will often try to claim that you were at fault for the accident or it was someone else’s fault. They hold all of the cards at that point. They have the money and resources and what you need is for your claim to be honored by them.
Even when the insurance company or employer investigates the accident, they may suppress any evidence indicating their responsibility or fault.
You can hire an oilfield lawyer who will advocate for your best interests. If you hire a good lawyer, they will conduct an independent investigation to collect evidence to hold people responsible for their actions.
Insurance companies will blame you for the accident is because it reduces the amount of money they may need to pay. Texas is a comparative fault state. Plaintiffs who are 51% at fault or more for the oilfield accident will receive nothing. So the legal battle will focus on whether you or the company is more at fault in the oil patch injury.
How Much Time Do I Have to Call an Oil Field Injury Lawyer?
You have two years to file a personal injury claim. But you should contact an oilfield injury lawyer as soon as you can after your accident occurs.
Time is not on your side. Quick action means you are more likely to remember things. And moving fast gives people who might have a reason to bury evidence or lie less time to prepare their stories.
Do I Need a Lawyer with Specific Experience Dealing With Oilfield Injury Cases?
Yes, you do. It is because oilfield workers work in a very specialized industry and there might be several liable parties. In addition, oilfield companies conduct their internal investigations and you cannot rely on them being accurate. It is critical to have an independent third-party evaluation to determine what caused your oilfield accident.
We have seen many cases where oilfield companies covered up evidence of wrongdoing and falsely blame employees for accidents. We conduct investigations to determine what has occurred and then bring claims against the parties who are responsible for your injuries and damages.
If you don’t have the skills and understanding to protect yourself in an oilfield accident lawsuit, oilfield law may be a nightmare. We feel it is wrong not to be reimbursed if you are hurt on the job.
You shouldn’t have to worry about being able to afford the services of an oil field injury lawyer when you need need them. That is why we work on a contingency fee basis. Unless we settle your case, you will owe nothing for legal services.
Your expenses will be paid out of a share of the settlement won after the litigation. If we are not successful, we will pay all legal costs, so you will owe nothing.
On What Grounds Can My Claim Be Denied By The Insurance Company?
The insurance company’s interest is to avoid liability and pay you and your family as little as possible. Injury settlements from oilfield accidents tend to be large. That is because workers can end up having spine-related injuries, paralysis, amputated limbs, and severe, permanent scarring from their burns. Those injuries can make it hard for you to go back to work. You may lose your ability to support your family and yourself. There are very high stakes involved.
The stakes are very high for the insurance company and your employer. The insurance company can potentially lose a lot of money and the company can be exposed to higher insurance costs, other lawsuits, and potential liability if found to be negligent.
The company’s internal investigation will likely be biased to exonerate itself and blame the person who is hurt. Some companies will force hurt workers to sign contracts that restrict them from recovering damages from the company before paychecks are released.
Common methods used by insurance companies to avoid paying claims after an oil patch accident are:
- blaming the hurt worker for failing to “stop work” or perform a complete JSA or Hazard Analysis before starting the job
- attempting to discredit the injured worker by obtaining conflicting statements from coworkers
- claiming that anything the injured worker or his or her family members post on social media shows you are exaggerating or lying about the injuries.
- hiring private investigators to follow, photograph, and videotape the injured worker and his or her family members
- “misplacing” crucial evidence that proves the company was at fault or that you were not at fault for the accident
- minimizing the severe nature of the worker’s injuries
What are Common Oilfield and Offshore Injuries That Can Result in Legal Claims?
The following are some of the most onshore and offshore oilfield injuries:
- Hand and knee injuries
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Burns
- Broken bones
- Spinal injuries
- Traumatic brain injury
Most injuries that happen could be prevented easily by adequately training employees and implementing safety standards. In most cases, when there is a problem it is because not enough resources were devoted by the oil company to ensure proper safety in the workplace.
Why Do Oilfield Workers Suffer So Many Injuries?
The Texas oil sector is subject to a never-ending cycle of boom and bust. Regardless of the cycle, worker safety is frequently a low concern for oilfield companies. Oilfield workers are seven times more likely to die while on the job compared to other workers. The high number of employees who can become injured at work is for the same reasons. They include the following:
- Outdated industrial equipment
- Lack of safety equipment
- Lack of supervision and proper training
A mix of volatile chemicals, massive and violent machinery, and high-pressure circumstances may result in disastrous or fatal accidents on the oil patch, which is why it is essential that work sites strictly adhere to safety standards. Failure to do so can lead to terrible and catastrophic injuries.
What are some of the Common Kinds of Oilfield Accidents that Result in a Legal Claim?
In our oilfield injury legal practice, we have seen many clients who were injured in the following types of oilfield accidents:
- Well blowouts
- Trucking accidents
- Chemical burns
- Pipe related incidents
- Pipeline explosions
Oilfield workers are also at an increased risk for other types of workplace accidents which include:
- Poorly maintained or malfunctioning maintained equipment
- Falls
- Electrical malfunctions
- Poorly maintained worksites
- Work-related vehicle accidents
Even if your injury does not fall into one of these descriptions, our lawyer can help.
In Oilfield Accident Cases, How Does Legal Responsibility Get Determined?
There are many complexities to determining legal responsibility in an oilfield accident.
If your co-worker or employer is at fault for your injury, you need to determine whether or not workers’ compensation covers your injury. If not, then does your company plan require arbitration? This specific area of law changes quickly since companies are always searching for new ways to increase their profit margins. Find an attorney that understands all of the intricacies involved in your oilfield claim.
In some cases, neither your employer nor you are responsible for your injuries. It may be the result of another third party or defective machinery. In that case, you may be able to file a third-party claim against the party that is responsible.
How Can I Tell If My Oilfield Injury Case Is Strong?
Contacting an oilfield injury lawyer is the best way to tell if you have a strong case. Even when your workers’ compensation claim is honored by your company, you might have grounds for bringing a claim against another party that contributed to or caused your injuries.
If your company does not carry workers’ compensation insurance, in certain cases, you also can file a lawsuit against your company to recover damages. Also, if the equipment that was being used by your company had a faulty design and caused your injury, then you can file a product defect claim against the product’s manufacturer.
However, the best action to take is to consult with an oilfield injury lawyer.
What do your past oilfield injury clients say about you?
Oilfield Injury Lawyer
We have a proven track record successfully litigating oilfield injury lawsuits. Our office has helped many critically wounded clients recover money for amputations, asphyxiations, burn injuries, spinal cord injury, brain damage, death, and other catastrophic disabilities caused by oilfield accidents. David P. Willis is board certified as a personal injury trial law specialist. We’ve put in a lot of effort to get the best results for our clients, and we’ll do the same for you and your loved ones. Call us at 713-654-4040 or 1-800-883-9858.