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Sustaining a serious injury while working on an oil field can put you out of work for a prolonged period, making it difficult to afford medical bills and support yourself or your family. The Queenan Law Firm’s experienced Plano oil field lawyers have been helping injured oil workers and their families for decades, working to get them compensation to cover their needs and support their families while they recover from serious injuries.
If you were injured anywhere in Texas while working on an oil rig or drilling at an oil field, our attorneys may be able to take your case and get you the compensation you need. For help understanding your potential case and to schedule a free consultation with our attorneys, call us today at (817) 476-1797.
Common Causes of Injury for Oil Workers
Injuries on oil rigs and in oil fields commonly occur because of negligence. In many cases, accidents come down to your employer’s failure to provide or maintain the proper equipment, to properly train your co-workers, or to otherwise protect their employees. In cases of serious accidents like oil fires, this negligence might be apparent – but in more common, everyday injuries, it may be difficult to tell how your employer could be responsible for the injuries. The following are all examples of common errors that lead to injury, all of which your employer may be responsible for:
On-the-Job Drug Use
If your co-workers arrive to the job drunk or on drugs, this can pose serious risks to you. Many oil workers stay at the rig or the drilling site for a long period, and they may cope by turning to drugs or alcohol, sometimes even on the job. If your employer fails to screen for drugs or take people off shift if they were drinking on the job, they could seriously injure other workers. This could ultimately be your employer’s fault for negligent security, screening, and hiring.
Failing to Train Workers
Oil workers have a right to be properly trained to do their jobs in a language they understand. If your employer fails to properly train workers on safety protocols or tool use, or if they train them in English and they only speak Spanish, that untrained worker could be a serious safety risk to others at the drill site.
Lack of Maintenance
Many of the tools and equipment at your job require regular upkeep and maintenance. Even things as simple as trucks and cars for transportation need to be properly maintained, or workers could be seriously hurt. More complex systems, like the drilling rig itself, need more substantial care to keep things safe.
Dangerous Property Defects
When you stay at the drilling site for an extended time, all of the property upon which you eat, sleep, and work is usually owned by your employer. It is the property owner’s responsibility to keep their property free from hidden dangers and defects. Things like slippery puddles or loose wires can provide serious risks for mundane accidents, and your employer is responsible for ensuring these kinds of accidents never happen.
Other serious problems can also cause injuries. Talk to a lawyer if you were injured by one of these causes or through any other accident at an oil field.
Suing for Oil Field Injuries in Texas
As a Texas oil worker, you face some of the highest risks of injury out of any job in the United States. Texas law provides workers with an option to accept workers’ compensation insurance, but this insurance may actually hurt a workers’ rights. When you start working at your oil job, you should reject workers’ compensation coverage if you want to retain your right to file a lawsuit after serious injuries.
If you have workers’ compensation in Texas, your rights are limited. Instead of filing a lawsuit for injuries and receiving complete damages for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering, you may be limited to receiving only 66 2/3% of your lost wages. Although your medical expenses might be covered, you may miss out on damages for your full lost wages, decreased earning capacity going forward, and substantial damages for your pain and suffering.
Talk to an attorney about your injury case to understand your right to sue and what your case might be worth. Each case is unique, and you may be entitled to sue under certain circumstances, even if you have workers’ compensation.
Oil Field Accident Attorneys Offering Free Consultations in Plano, Texas
After a serious accident on an oil drilling rig, it is vital to talk to an attorney about your case. Our Plano, Texas oil field injury lawyers offer free consultations to help injured workers and their families understand their right to sue and the damages they may be entitled to. For help with your case, call The Queenan Law Firm today to set up a free, no-obligation consultation with our attorneys. Our number is (817) 476-1797.