If you are injured in an oilfield accident in Texas, the most important thing you can do is get immediate medical attention. If you’re physically able, documenting the accident by taking photos is helpful, as is reporting the accident and your injuries to your supervisor as soon as possible.
If you need compensation, our lawyers can identify your damages and bring a timely claim on your behalf. You may be able to file a third-party injury lawsuit against someone other than your employer for an oilfield accident, like a product manufacturer. You may also be able to sue your employer if they have opted out of Workers’ Compensation in Texas and do not have coverage.
For a free case review from our Austin personal injury lawyers, call Cap City Injury Attorneys at (512) 612-3110.
What Should You Do Immediately After an Oilfield Accident in Texas?
Your response to being injured while working on an oilfield may impact your access to compensation, so make sure to follow certain steps immediately after an accident.
Get Medical Attention
Oilfield accidents such as explosions, fires, vehicle accidents, and others cause burns, lacerations, limb loss, fractures, disfiguring injuries, and other life-altering injuries. Any of these requires immediate medical attention. You may even need to call 911 so paramedics can take you to the hospital.
Keep documenting your injuries over the following days, weeks, and months, or for as long as your physical recovery takes. These medical records will be vital evidence in a future compensation claim.
Inform Your Supervisor
Also, prioritize informing your supervisor of the accident. Immediately after, you may only be able to report it verbally if at all, as you may have to go straight to the hospital. We can help you make a written report in the days that follow to ensure your supervisor is aware of the accident and your injuries.
Document the Scene
Any fallout from an oilfield accident will be cleaned up quickly for other workers’ safety, so your only chance to preserve the scene is by taking photos. You may not be able to do this if you are very badly injured, so feel free to ask peers and any other eyewitnesses to help you take photos. Try to commit the scene to memory, noting any debris or other visible fallout.
Who Can You Sue if You Are Injured in an Oilfield Accident in Texas?
Third-party lawsuits are more common after oilfield accidents in Texas, as Workers’ Compensation typically shields employers from employee lawsuits, with exceptions.
Negligent Third Parties
A negligent third party could be the company that designed and produced defective oilfield machinery and equipment, or the party that produced safety gear that failed to protect you as expected. Contractors and other third parties can be held liable, and you will have two years to file your oilfield accident injury lawsuit in Texas. Third-party work injury lawsuits are more common, as employers in dangerous industries generally maintain Workers’ Compensation.
Grossly Negligent Employers
When an employer exhibits gross negligence and a worker dies, Workers’ Compensation may no longer protect the employer from a wrongful death lawsuit in Texas. Don’t take your loved one’s employer at face value if they tell you Workers’ Compensation stops you from suing them, as that may not be the case.
Uninsured Employers
If your employer opts out of Workers’ Compensation, you may sue them for an oilfield accident and injury. Oilfields are exceptionally dangerous work sites, so companies often have Workers’ Compensation coverage, despite it not being mandatory for employers in Texas. We can see if a Workers’ Compensation policy limits you regarding who you can hold liable for damages.
FAQs About Oilfield Accidents and Injuries
What if You Don’t Document Injuries After an Oilfield Accident?
If you don’t document injuries after an oilfield accident, you may be unable to connect your injuries and damages to a specific incident, making a full financial recovery much harder. Document injuries by getting medical care, taking photos, and monitoring your physical recovery.
Should You File a Lawsuit for an Oilfield Accident?
You may file a third-party oilfield accident lawsuit against a manufacturer or supplier who made or distributed defective products or equipment. You may be able to sue your employer if they don’t have a Workers’ Compensation policy in place or if they intentionally hurt you.
What if a Victim Suffers Fatal Injuries in an Oilfield Accident?
If a victim suffers fatal injuries due to equipment failures or another accident on an oilfield in Texas, our lawyers can help their survivors pursue damages in a wrongful death claim. The wrongful death statute of limitations is also 2 years.
What Are the Top Oilfield Accident Injuries?
The following are some of the top oilfield accident injuries in Texas:
- Amputations
- Brain injuries
- Burns
- Crushing injuries
- Eye injuries
- Fractures
- Hearing loss
- Lacerations
- Spinal cord injuries
What Damages Should You Track if You Are Injured in an Oilfield Accident?
If you are injured in an oilfield accident, our Georgetown, TX personal injury lawyers will track all economic and non-economic damages stemming from the injury. This includes medical expenses, lost wages, and intangible damages like pain and suffering. You might lose track of your damages if you try to track them yourself.
Do You Need to Get a Lawyer After an Oilfield Accident?
You should get a lawyer after an oilfield accident to see if you can file a third-party lawsuit and get full compensation for your injuries. If you don’t, you risk missing the filing deadline, agreeing to a subpar settlement, or failing to present a strong enough case to win a lawsuit that goes to trial.
For Help with Your Texas Oilfield Injury Case, Call Our Lawyers
For a free case review from Cap City Injury Attorneys, call our Pflugerville, TX personal injury lawyers at (512) 612-3110.