What happens when an oilfield injury occurs? Working in the oilfield is undoubtedly one of the most hazardous jobs in the United States. Workers face daily risks, such as exposure to heavy machinery, toxic chemicals, explosions, and fires. The potential for serious accidents is high, and when things go wrong, the consequences can be devastating, including severe scarring, loss of limbs, or even death.
What are the ramifications for workers who are injured on the job? How can they get compensated for the damages and losses they incur? These are critical questions, and understanding your legal rights and responsibilities can be complex and confusing. As an injured worker, you deserve answers, and that’s where experienced legal guidance comes in.
The Ramifications of an Oilfield Injury
Injuries on the job in the oilfield can have long-lasting effects. Aside from physical trauma, workers often experience financial strain due to medical bills and lost wages. These expenses often continue to grow, especially when workers are unable to return to work for an extended period. As the situation becomes more dire, workers wonder who will pay these bills? How will I be compensated for what happened to me?
Determining Who Is Responsible for Your Oilfield Injury
One of the first challenges injured workers face is determining who is responsible for their oilfield injury. The oilfield worksite is often a busy, complex environment where multiple contractors, subcontractors, and third parties work together. Sorting out who is at fault and who can be held accountable for the accident can be difficult.
In Texas, if your employer has purchased workers’ compensation insurance, they are generally shielded from lawsuits related to workplace injuries. However, if the employer’s actions were grossly negligent, you might have grounds to sue them. In these situations, proving gross negligence—such as a clear disregard for safety—can be difficult, but it is not impossible.
Understanding the Grand Bargain: Worker’s Compensation Insurance
More than a century ago, worker’s compensation insurance was introduced as a concept known as “The Grand Bargain.” This bargain protected companies from lawsuits in exchange for guaranteeing immediate medical care and compensation for workers injured on the job. As a result, in most Texas oilfields, it is common for operators and service companies to carry workers’ compensation insurance.
However, as beneficial as workers’ compensation is for injured employees, it makes it more difficult to sue the employer directly, except in cases of gross negligence. For this reason, understanding whether your employer carries workers’ compensation insurance is a key step in determining how to proceed with your claim.
Beyond the Employer: Identifying Other Responsible Parties
While it can be challenging to sue your employer, other parties may share responsibility for your oilfield injury. They might be liable if other contractors, subcontractors, or companies contributed to your injury—whether through faulty training, improper supervision, or inadequate equipment maintenance. This is why it is essential to identify all parties involved in your work process, including those who trained or supervised you or maintained the machinery with which you were working.
In many cases, oilfield injury attorneys will investigate these factors through depositions, discovery requests, and a review of contracts between the parties involved on-site. By doing so, they can determine who else may be responsible for the accident and hold them accountable.
What to Do Next: The Importance of Legal Representation
If you have been injured in the oilfield, the next step is crucial: obtaining legal representation. A skilled oilfield injury attorney can help navigate this complex terrain, identify potential responsible parties, and investigate the relevant contracts and insurance policies. They will also be able to determine what insurance coverage is available to cover your damages.
For instance, even if your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance shields them from a lawsuit, your employer may have signed contracts with other companies—such as “Big Oil Company Number One”—which may bear responsibility for your injury through their insurance policies.
Let Us Help You Get the Compensation You Deserve
If you have been injured in the oilfield, do not try to go through this process alone. You deserve compensation for your injuries, and my team and I are here to help. With years of experience in oilfield injury cases, we are dedicated to investigating the facts, determining liability, and ensuring you receive the financial support you need to recover.
Visit our website today to schedule a consultation. We will be there to guide you every step of the way, working tirelessly to fight for your rights and secure the compensation you deserve.