Houston Oilfield Accident Lawyer
Working on an oilfield in Houston, Texas, is an inherently dangerous job. Despite safety regulations, oilfield accidents are a common occurrence. Resulting injuries can be catastrophic – or deadly. If you’ve been injured or suffered the wrongful death of a family member in an accident on a Houston oilfield, call Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers. You have rights, and our Houston oilfield accident lawyers can help you make the most of your fight for compensation.
We are a nationally recognized personal injury law firm dedicated to helping injured oilfield workers in Houston stand up to powerful oil and gas companies when they’ve been injured on the job. Our team includes a Board Certified Civil Trial Specialist and award-winning attorneys whose collective experience spans more than 45 years.
We’ve helped clients win tens of millions in benefits packages, private settlements, and jury awards. Now, we’re prepared to help you get the compensation you need after a devastating oilfield accident in Houston, too. Contact our Houston law office at (713) 500-5000 to set a time for a free consultation to learn more.
How Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After an Oilfield Accident in Houston, TX
Don’t trust the oil company or its insurer to put your interests front and center after an accident on a Texas oilfield. Even though you may have the right to take legal action, they’ll actively work to limit how much – if any – compensation you’ll be able to get.
Force the oil and gas company to take your case seriously by trusting our Houston personal injury lawyers to fight for you.
Choosing our law firm means working with award-winning Texas trial attorneys recognized across the country for excellence in personal injury law. When you ask for our help, we won’t let the oil and gas company call the shots. They’ll have to negotiate fairly, honestly, and with the intent to make things right or take on our top-rated litigators at trial.
Focus on your physical health and emotional well-being while our acclaimed legal team handles all aspects of your oilfield accident case:
- Review the results of investigations conducted by your employer, federal regulatory agencies, or other parties
- Conduct a prompt independent inquiry into your oilfield accident to fully understand how it happened, how it could have been avoided, and who’s at fault
- Identify all potential sources of compensation for you as you recover
- Gather and evaluate key pieces of evidence, such as medical records, equipment maintenance and inspection records, proof of OSHA violations, employer hiring and training policies, witness statements, property damage, surveillance footage, and more
- Represent your best interests during settlement negotiations
- Enlist experts in the oil and gas extraction practices, rehabilitation specialists, accident reconstructionists, medical professionals, and other areas of specialty to consult on your case
- Reject settlement offers that don’t cover the full extent of your financial losses and emotional distress
- Bring your oilfield accident lawsuit to a Harris County jury, if necessary
We advocate for injured oilfield workers in Houston on a contingency fee basis. Our fees depend entirely on the outcome of your case. If we don’t win money for you, we don’t get paid. End of story.
Call our law office in Houston to discuss the details of your oilfield injury claim today. Your initial case assessment is absolutely free.
What Causes Most Oilfield Accidents?
Several large oil shales are located in the Lone Star State – including the Eagle Ford Shale, the Haynesville Shale, the Permian Basin, and the Barnett Shale. Not surprisingly, Texas produces more than 40 percent of the nation’s oil through its onshore and offshore oil operations.
Oil extraction, processing, and transportation are incredibly dangerous occupations. State and federal laws regulate extraction industries to ensure oilfield operations are as safe as possible. Despite this, accidents on Texas oilfields are still a common occurrence.
Some of the most commonly reported causes of oilfield accidents include:
- Fires and explosions
- Well blowouts
- Chemical exposure
- Falling equipment
- Equipment malfunctions
- Failing to check equipment levels before use
- Negligent training
- Failing to provide workers with appropriate protective equipment
- Falls
Many accidents on Texas oilfields are deadly. Between a recent five-year period, 470 oilfield workers were killed on the job across the nation. During this time, Texas led the nation in oilfield fatalities with 219.
How Can I Recover Compensation if I’ve Been Injured in a Houston Oilfield Accident?
As a worker in the State of Texas, you have rights. This includes the ability to seek compensation when you suffer an injury on the job. Depending on your employment status and other factors, you may have several legal options available to you.
The two most common ways to recover compensation after an oilfield accident are filing a claim for workers’ compensation benefits and filing a personal injury lawsuit.
Workers’ Compensation
Texas does not require employers to carry workers’ compensation insurance. However, many do so to avoid liability when an employee gets hurt on the job. If your employer has workers’ compensation insurance, you can file a claim to recover benefits for injuries you suffered in a work-related oilfield accident.
Workers’ compensation offers limited benefits for:
- Necessary and reasonable medical treatment sought from plan-approved providers
- Temporary disability while you recover from your oilfield accident injuries
- Permanent disability if your oilfield accident injuries prevent you from returning to work in any capacity
- Death benefits if a worker is killed in a fatal oilfield accident in Houston
Wage benefits will only represent a portion of your lost income. Workers’ compensation will also not cover harder-to-value (but very real) damages for the pain and suffering you’ve experienced because of your oilfield accident.
While workers’ compensation can be a lifeline, it’s important to explore other options for getting money for your oilfield accident injuries.
Oilfield Accident Lawsuit
If your employer is a workers’ compensation non-subscriber, or if another party’s negligence caused your oilfield accident, you’ll have the right to file a civil personal injury lawsuit for damages.
Through an oilfield accident lawsuit, you can seek economic damages and non-economic damages for:
- Current and future medical bills
- Lost wages and earnings
- Disability
- Diminished earning capacity
- Nursing assistance
- Rehabilitation
- Funeral expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of consortium
- Chronic physical pain
- Disfigurement
- Reduced quality of life
- Embarrassment
You can also seek punitive damages if your oilfield accident lawsuit goes to trial. Intended to punish an oil company for its reprehensible actions, these are awarded above and beyond any compensatory damages you receive.
How Much Is My Oilfield Accident Case Worth?
Several factors will affect how much money you might be able to recover after an oilfield accident in Houston:
- Whether your employer carries workers’ compensation insurance benefits
- The types of physical injuries you’ve suffered and their severity
- How long you’re forced to miss time at work
- Whether you’re temporarily or permanently disabled after your oilfield accident
- Shared responsibility for your oilfield accident (if you file a civil lawsuit)
- Your age, earning capacity, and life expectancy
- Overall changes in your quality of life
The oil company will actively work to limit your financial recovery. Don’t let them dictate the terms of your case or manipulate you into accepting a lowball offer. Call Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers, and trust our Houston oilfield accident attorneys to help you fight for every cent you need and deserve.
Oilfield Workers Can Suffer Catastrophic Injuries
Whether you’re injured by defective machinery, hurt in an oilfield truck accident, or are involved in an explosion, it’s possible to suffer catastrophic injuries on a Houston oilfield.
At Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers, we’re prepared to help you seek compensation for any injuries you’ve suffered, including:
- Burn injuries
- Broken bones and fractures
- Crushing injuries
- Amputation injuries
- Nerve damage
- Concussion injuries
- Brain injuries
- Neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Quadriplegia injuries
- Herniated disc injuries
- Degloving injuries
- Chest injuries
- Eye injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Leg injuries
- Wrongful death of a family member
Report your accident to your supervisor immediately, then get to the closest emergency room to your worksite for prompt medical care. These steps will be critical when you file a claim for damages in the future.
How Long Do I Have To Seek Compensation After an Oilfield Accident in Texas?
The type of legal claim you file will dictate how long you have to seek compensation.
- Workers’ compensation: one year from the date of your oilfield accident, and you must notify your employer within 30 days
- Personal injury lawsuit: two years from the date of your oilfield accident
- Wrongful death: two years from the date of an oilfield worker’s work-related death
You must file your legal claim before the applicable statute of limitations expires. Once time runs out, so does your ability to seek benefits or damages from a third party.
Schedule a Free Consultation With an Experienced Houston Oilfield Accident Lawyer
Do not struggle with the consequences of a recent oilfield accident in Houston, Texas, on your own. Contact Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers, and discover how our award-winning Houston oilfield accident lawyers can help you fight for the life-changing monetary award you deserve.
We’ve helped clients win tens of millions in damages. Put our 45+ years of collective experience in your corner by calling our Houston law office today. Your initial case evaluation is free.