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Thousands of oil workers are injured at drilling sites and in oil fields every year. Roughnecks and derrickhands face the highest risk of injury, but other workers and administrators can also be injured in catastrophic accidents like oil fires and explosions. If you or a loved one was injured in an oil field accident, it is vital to talk to an attorney about your case to discuss filing a personal injury lawsuit and seeking compensation for your injuries.
Oil workers have the right to reject workers’ compensation coverage, which can help them protect their right to sue after a serious workplace injury. After an oil field accident, consider taking your case to our Flower Mound oil field injury attorneys at The Queenan Law Firm. Our attorneys have decades of experience handling injury cases on behalf of victims across Texas, and we may be able to help you and your family as well. To schedule your free, confidential consultation, contact our law offices today at (817) 476-1797.
Can You Sue for Injuries After an Oil Field Accident in Texas?
If you or a loved one was injured at an oil field, your right to sue will depend on who was responsible for your injuries and whether or not you rejected workers’ compensation coverage at your job. Injured employees in Texas can sue their employer for injuries if they reject workers’ comp., but even with workers’ comp., you may retain your right to sue in cases where someone other than your employer is responsible.
When you start working at your oil drilling job, you have 5 days to reject workers’ compensation coverage. This coverage is designed to make it easier to collect lost wages and medical expenses after being injured at work, but it also means giving up certain damages and your right to sue. The benefits from this coverage only cover around 2/3 of your lost wages and cover medical expenses, but you lose the right to claim 100% of your lost wages and the right to request pain and suffering damages.
When you sue instead of taking your case through workers’ comp, you open access to all damages you might be entitled to. In a lawsuit, you can claim damages for the medical expenses you face because of the injury, the wages you miss while you are too injured to work, the pain and suffering you face because of the injury, and any other financial harms the injury caused you. To get this compensation, you must be able to prove that your employer was at fault, and you must be able to prove the damages you faced.
Even if you are covered by workers’ comp., you may still be able to sue in cases where you were injured by a third party or by intentional actions. If your employer physically attacked you or caused you intentional harm, workers’ comp. does not restrict your right to sue. The same is true if you were injured by a third party, such as a co-worker or the manufacturer of dangerous or defective equipment.
Common Types of Oil Worker Injuries
Oil workers are typically injured in one of a few different accident types. If you were injured in one of these accidents or any other accident your employer allowed to happen, you may be entitled to file a lawsuit against them:
Oil Fires
The most iconic accident oil workers might face is a fire or explosion on an oil rig. These are often caused by blowouts and massive equipment failure combined with negligence. Though people commonly think of these accidents on oil rigs, these accidents are much less common than other accident types.
Falling Accidents
Falls off ladders and other high places, as well as common slip and fall accidents, occur frequently on oil rigs. The injured workers may have a case against their employer if they failed to provide proper safety gear, like harnesses and safety lines; failed to properly train your co-workers to spot people on ladders; or if they allowed dangerous conditions on the property to go unrepaired.
Mechanical Problems
If you were injured while operating a drill or another part of the rig, or while using any tools, you might be able to take your employer to court for their negligent equipment upkeep or maintenance. Failing to provide safety gear or replace old equipment is another common cause of these types of injuries. Even common, everyday machinery like trucks and vehicles may be too dangerous to keep in service, and your employer puts your safety at risk by continuing to use old or dangerous machinery.
Call for a Free Consultation on your Flower Mound Oil Injury Case
Any time you or a loved one is seriously injured while working in the oil industry, you may be able to file a lawsuit to seek compensation for lost wages, medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other harms. To discuss your case with our Flower Mound oil worker injury lawyers, contact The Queenan Law Firm today. Our attorneys have decades of experience helping derrickhands, roughnecks, and other oil workers get compensation after disastrous accidents. To schedule your free, confidential legal consultation, contact our law offices today at (817) 476-1797.