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Accidents on oil fields are rarely minor, typically leaving victims with incredibly expensive, painful, and emotionally distressing injuries for which they need compensation.
Defective machinery and safety violations pose some of the biggest risks of injury to oil field workers in Fort Worth. Employers not shielded by Workers’ Compensation can be sued when their negligence causes or contributes to victims’ injuries, and we can help plaintiffs prepare strong claims by obtaining witness statements, incident reports, medical records, and footage to use as evidence. We can also file timely complaints, negotiate settlements, or argue cases at trial so that victims get the appropriate compensation for their likely life-altering injuries.
Call the oil field accident lawyers of The Queenan Law Firm at (817) 476-1797 to set up a free case discussion.
Biggest Risks of Injury on Oil Fields in Fort Worth
There are many potential causes of accidents and injuries on oil fields in Fort Worth. If any of the equipment workers must use is defective or poorly maintained, it could explode or malfunction and harm them. Employers who ignore crucial safety regulations could be responsible for the damages their employees suffer, and our lawyers can help victims take the necessary steps to recover compensation.
Defective Machinery
Safety on oil fields and rigs largely depends on the equipment workers utilize and rely on for their roles. Drills, pumps, oil transportation vehicles, and other equipment could malfunction if not made properly or appropriately maintained. Defective machinery that sparks or catches fire could cause devastating explosions on oil fields the closer they happen to wells. Workers could suffer horrible burn injuries because of defective machinery on oil fields, possibly needing skin grafts or reconstructive surgery as part of their physical recoveries. Explosions could cause debris to strike and seriously injure workers as well, potentially causing them deep lacerations or head injuries.
Safety Violations
Employers who do not uphold Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations for oil extraction and gas production could cause bad accidents and be liable for workers’ damages. Common OSHA violations on oil rigs and fields include a lack of fall protection on drilling platforms and respiratory protection to prevent workers from inhaling toxic chemicals and gases. Employers who do not maintain sites properly could be liable for falling or tripping accidents due to unnecessarily hazardous conditions. There are numerous safety violations that could make employers liable for workers’ injuries from oil field accidents, and our lawyers can confirm if you have a cause of action when reviewing your case.
Insufficient Training
Working on an oil field in any capacity is very dangerous, and employers must ensure workers have the proper experience and training to complete their jobs safely. Failure to do so could make employers liable for accidents due to a lack of experience or training, and we can help you navigate this type of case if necessary.
Vehicle Accidents
Fort Worth is in the Barnett Shale oil system, which saw 20,674 vehicle accidents in 2023, largely due to trucks used in oil production sharing the road with passenger cars in the area. Of those accidents, 271 were fatal and over 1,000 victims suffered serious injuries. Accidents could be most severe when vehicles are transporting flammable or toxic substances. Vehicles or machinery toppling over could cause crushing or amputation injuries to victims, and our attorneys can help them prepare and submit timely claims while they recuperate.
Organizing Evidence for Fort Worth Oil Field Accident Lawsuits
When oil field accident lawsuits go to court, our lawyers must prove defendants’ negligence to juries. This will require a combination of evidence, including witness statements, incident reports, medical records, and video footage.
Witness Statements
Often, victims’ fellow workers witness oil field accidents and might even suffer injuries themselves because of an employer’s negligence. Obtaining statements from other workers concerned about employer retaliation can be challenging, and our oil field accident lawyers can explain the importance of your financial recovery and subpoena witness statements if necessary, like from site managers who may be hesitant to get involved. Witnesses can help us confirm an accident’s details, particularly if the victim is still recovering in the hospital at the beginning of their case.
Incident Reports
Oil drilling and production companies typically have procedures for reporting and documenting accidents because of the high risk of injury in the industry. Our lawyers can obtain all incident reports and other materials regarding the accident from your employer, like pictures of damages to the worksite. This will show us how they responded to the accident and if that response was appropriate. We can also see if the incident report cited cause aligns with our assessments after reviewing other evidence. If the accident was severe enough to involve local law enforcement, we can also obtain and review any police reports.
Medical Records
We will also need all medical records detailing your injuries and required treatment. Using records from paramedics, the emergency room, hospital stays, and all subsequent care, we can show a clear timeline of your physical recovery and medical damages. We not only need your medical records to prove you were severely injured in an oil rig accident, but we also need them to show your exact financial losses from treatment. We can handle organizing this information on your behalf so that you can focus on physically recovering from a traumatic oil field accident in Fort Worth.
Video Footage
Some oil rigs might have video cameras for safety purposes. If that is true in your case, we can quickly subpoena footage before it is deleted. Negligent employers might attempt to erase video footage that could prove their liability, so preserving this evidence is paramount after oil field accidents.
Deadline to File Injury Lawsuits After Oil Field Accidents in Fort Worth
Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003 gives victims hurt during oil field accidents two years to prepare and file complaints with the court. Victims who do not file before the deadline may lose their opportunity to get compensation, which could be devastating to those with costly injuries.
In all likelihood, you will have two years from the date of your accident to file a lawsuit. Though this may seem like ample time, that is not always the case for victims who may be reeling from disfiguring burn injuries, multiple surgeries, and the emotional toll of their injuries. These understandable distractions could delay victims’ claims, making them risk missing the filing deadline.
We can ensure your case gets filed on time by immediately identifying who is liable for your injuries. If your employer does not have Workers’ Compensation or you opted out when hired, you can file a lawsuit against them if their negligence caused your injuries. Furthermore, someone other than your employer, like a negligent equipment manufacturer, could be responsible, in which case our lawyers would name them as the defendant in your case.
Despite having the full amount of time provided under the law to sue, our oil field accident lawyers will aim to file lawsuits much sooner than the two-year deadline. This can lead to faster financial recoveries for victims, who may be struggling to cover medical bills after an accident leaves them unable to work in any capacity, let alone on an oil field.
Preparing for Oil Field Accident Lawsuit Settlement Negotiations in Fort Worth
Because oil field accident victims often suffer catastrophic injuries, they typically need compensation fast so they do not face additional financial distress. Unfortunately, this could compel some victims to accept poor settlement offers, which our attorneys can prevent from happening.
We must know your lawsuit’s value to prepare for settlement negotiations properly. This will require us to monitor all damages from medical treatments, lost wages, and other out-of-pocket expenses. For example, after suffering a permanent spinal cord injury from falling off a drilling platform, a victim may be unable to drive and could require transportation to and from doctor appointments. Our lawyers can consider expenses that may seem small compared to medical costs but are great when viewed accumulatively.
We can also have experts evaluate your diminished earning capacity because of your injuries. If you can never return to work at the same earning level, we can seek to cover the difference in your lawsuit. We can also seek compensation for all lost wages you have incurred while physically recovering and unable to work.
Placing a monetary value on victims’ pain and suffering from oil rig injuries is challenging. Not only are explosions, falls, and other major accidents on these sites traumatic, but the injuries they cause are often life-altering. Victims could experience considerable changes to their quality of life, as they may be unable to engage in activities or hobbies they once enjoyed. We can work with mental health experts to quantify and assert your non-economic damages, using their statements as leverage during settlement negotiations to get the opposing side to increase their offers.
Proving Liability for Fort Worth Oil Field Accident Injuries
Our attorneys are experienced in preparing lawsuits capable of meeting the standard of proof for civil injury claims. We can do the work necessary to prove the defendant owed you a duty of care that they breached, causing your injuries and damages, so you get the compensation you deserve in Fort Worth.
Duty of Care
If your lawsuit is against your employer, our lawyers can show that, as your employer, they owe you a duty of care to consider your safety on the oil field while working. An employer’s duty in this capacity is expansive and includes a responsibility to follow OSHA safety regulations, provide the proper training and access to safety equipment, and ensure the worksite and equipment are properly maintained, among many duties.
Breach of Duty
The second element we must prove is the breach of duty. This would be how the defendant was negligent. For example, if your lawsuit is against your employer, we must cite and provide evidence of the specific safety violation or negligent act that preceded the accident. This is where eyewitness statements and video footage can be invaluable, so we will aim to preserve such evidence early on in your case.
Causation
It is not enough to prove the defendant breached their duty of care; we must also prove that their breach of duty caused your injuries. Again, eyewitness statements can be useful on this front, as can victims’ medical records from immediately after accidents confirming the date, time, and manner in which they were injured.
Damages
Finally, we must prove you incurred real damages from the accident. We can accomplish this by presenting bills for each hospital visit and doctor appointment and statements from experts who can support requests for future economic and intangible damages. Juries award compensation based on victims’ proof of damages, so submitting the necessary documentation is crucial.
Call Our Attorneys in Fort Worth to Talk About Your Recent Oil Field Accident
Call our oil field accident lawyers at (817) 476-1797 for help with your case from The Queenan Law Firm.