OILFIELD ACCIDENT ATTORNEYS

IF YOU OR A LOVED ONE SUFFERED INJURIES IN THE OILFIELD WHILE WORKING, YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION.

LAWYERS FOR OILFIELD INJURIES

There is a real potential that you or a loved one who was hurt in an oilfield accident is dealing with significant wounds. It is in your best advantage to hire a trial lawyer with experience in the oil and gas sector, preferably one from a company that has a track record of successfully representing injured employees across America. Workers in oilfields are susceptible to catastrophic injuries from negligent coworkers and employers.

We are all too familiar with the injury risks for oil and gas workers throughout the U.S. We have advocated for countless injured workers whose suffering was made worse by missed pay, skyrocketing medical costs, and the inability to lead fulfilling lives. With years of trial experience and millions recovered on behalf of injured victims, we have the knowledge and expertise needed to obtain the compensation you deserve for injuries suffered on an oilfield. We are versed in worker’s compensation and personal injury laws, as well as safety regulations for the oil industry.

Our first goal will be to get you as much compensation as possible. To speak with a knowledgeable lawyer about your situation, please call (888) 907-MORE to set up a FREE consultation. You do not owe anything unless we win for you.

The Permian basin, which covers western Texas and parts of New Mexico, accounts for half of U.S. oil production. While many call the region home, with nearby oil fields providing livelihoods, employees rely on safe working conditions free from malpractice. A 400-mile stretch of southern Texas known as the Eagle Ford Shale is abundant in both oil and natural gas resources. The local economy, and subsequently the rest of the nation, can benefit from these in-demand resources.

However, when economic potential eclipses workplace safety, it causes harm.Although most people imagine Texas when they think of oil production, the Bakken shale is thought to contain between 1.3 and 7.4 billion barrels of undiscovered oil. Covering parts of North Dakota, Montana, and Canada, the Bakken Shale has proven to be one of the most extensive oil shales in the country. The potential value and the general size of the Bakken Shale have created the need to enhance safety on the job.

Our oilfield trauma attorneys will battle to get you the recompense you deserve across America, from southern Texas to northern Dakota.

Oil and gas production from the Permian basin has skyrocketed over the last eight years. Since August 2011, Permian production has increased fourfold. At one point, 4 million barrels a day were produced from the area. Growth might have recently slowed down in the Permian basin, but it is still Americas leading oil and gas producer.

The ongoing activity in drilling, mining, and production impacts residents in Southwest Texas and Southeast New Mexico and across the country. As a result, oilfield workers are exposed to dangerous conditions on the job and the risk of devastating accidents daily. In addition, roads across the region are unsafe for workers and private motorists.

The Texas Department of Transportation reports that 11% of all vehicle deaths occurred in the Permian basin in 2017. There were also 1,457 major injuries that year in this region. Oilfield mishaps can, of course, differ greatly from one incident to the next. But in these cases, we have seen several similarities, especially concerning the denial of responsibility by the oil and gas companies and insurance companies pushing for payment of less than claims are worth.

By working with an oilfield personal injury attorney, you have someone who can take a critical look at your situation and inform you about your rights. For example, you might have a workers’ compensation claim through which you could receive health care and earnings benefits. The possibility of suing the third party gives you the chance to seek further recompense. With offices across the U.S., we can help you seek compensation via insurance claims or litigation.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulates the health and safety of working environments nationwide. There are several OSHA safety requirements that oil and gas workers and employees must follow. Not doing so is a legal violation and increases your risk for workplace accidents, injuries, and deaths. OSHA’s safety regulations are industry-specific and worksite-specific.

When you are hurt in an oilfield accident, you can seek compensation through the worker’s compensation system or a personal injury lawsuit. If you discover that you are covered under worker’s compensation, you can file a workers comp lawsuit. However, your employer does not provide worker’s comp coverage.

This is known as an uninsured loss. You are an independent petroleum contractor, not covered under worker’s compensation. A liable person or company is a person who is not part of your employer. This is known as a third-party liability claim.

Texas and New Mexico allow for punitive damages, also known as exemplary damages if you can show that the offending party acted unconscionably, intentionally, or maliciously. New Mexico does not limit how much punitive damages you can get, but Texas does. In Texas, the jury can award you up to twice your amount in economic damages plus a sum equal to all the uneconomic damages, not to exceed $750,000; or $200,000.

Texas allows the surviving spouse, children, parents, or personal representatives to bring wrongful death claims and seek damages on behalf of those surviving relatives. Texas also enables survival claims, which are causes of action that occurred during an individual’s life and survived the person’s death. If a loved one’s injury lawsuit survived his death, a family member, their estate, or his legal representative might carry on this lawsuit to seek damages. This is a separate lawsuit from a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family.

New Mexico allows a personal representative for a relative’s estate to bring a wrongful death suit for the survivor’s spouse and children and to pursue damages. If your loved one did not leave behind a spouse or children, the parents or siblings would receive the compensation. Also, if your loved one was covered under worker’s compensation, speak to an oilfield trauma attorney about filing a survivor benefits claim.

You might be entitled to reimbursement for the cost of a funeral and burial and lost future income. After being injured or losing a loved one to a pipeline accident, it is crucial you identify who is at fault. In some circumstances, knowledge of the responsibility does not allow for the pursuit of compensation.

If the co-worker or employer is at fault, and you are covered under worker’s compensation coverage, then your only recourse is to file a workers’ compensation claim. You cannot sue your employer for negligence. However, if someone outside your employer causes you injury, you may be able to bring a third-party liability lawsuit, regardless if you have workers’ compensation insurance. If you do not have worker’s compensation coverage, the law allows you to take the case against your employer.

If your oilfield accident occurred in Texas, you have two years to file suit. If it took place in New Mexico, you have three years. These time limits are known as the statute of limitations, which begins to apply on the day your injuries occur.