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Oil workers handle heavy machinery in their jobs, and these machines can cause serious injuries if workers come into contact with the moving parts. Workers in the oil industry may be entitled to file personal injury lawsuits against their employers and other responsible parties for the damages they face after a serious injury. Especially if you were injured by heavy machinery at an oil field, these damages could be substantial.
For a free legal consultation, call The Queenan Law Firm today. Our Pecos, Texas oil field and machinery injury lawyers may be able to take your claim to court to seek compensation for lost wages, medical expenses, and pain and suffering. To discuss your case and set up your free legal consultation, call our law offices today at (817) 476-1797.
Suing Your Employer for Oil Drilling and Machinery Injuries in Texas
If you were injured at work, your right to sue your employer depends on a few important factors. First, you must be eligible for a lawsuit against your employer under workers’ compensation rules. If you rejected workers compensation coverage when you started your job, you should be able to use Texas’ personal injury laws to sue your employer for any injuries they cause. Otherwise, you may be required to file your case through workers’ comp. unless you fall into certain exceptions, such as when your employer fails to get workers’ comp. coverage, you were injured by intentional acts, or you are suing a third party (e.g., an equipment manufacturer).
When you file your case in court against your employer, you must also be able to prove that your employer was responsible for the injuries. Employers owe their workers various duties under Texas law and federal laws and regulations. These laws typically require your employer to work to keep you safe on the job by properly equipping you with the training and safety gear necessary for your job.
If your employer violated regulations intended to keep you safe on the job, this is good evidence that they were “negligent” and contributed to your injuries. Alternatively, if your employer acted unreasonably or failed to use the proper care or skill which led to your injuries, you can also sue them for negligence.
Damages in a Lawsuit for Machinery or Oil Drilling Accidents
The damages you face in your workplace accident depend heavily on the injuries you sustained. Injuries have different levels of effect on your life. For instance, you may make a full recovery from broken bones or cuts. Moderate burns from ignited oil or a hot machine manifold may leave scars but could allow you to return to work after recovering. Other injuries, such as traumatic amputation, traumatic brain injury, or spinal cord injury can affect you for the rest of your life.
The first piece of compensation you file for in your case should be the medical expenses. You would never have had to pay the medical bills for your injury if your employer or the other at-fault party prevented the injury, so they should be responsible for paying the full value of the medical bills you face because of the injury.
On top of the financial burden of the medical expenses, you may face serious pain and suffering. These damages can be compensated directly. Even though it is difficult to put a monetary value on the injuries you faced, you can still claim direct compensation from the at-fault party to cover the reduced enjoyment of life and activities in your life as well as to compensate you for the physical pain and mental suffering of the injury. This can be one of the highest damages in your injury case and is typically higher for more severe or life-altering injuries.
You may also claim damages for the wages that you missed because of the injuries. If you will eventually recover and return to work, you may be entitled to the wages you missed in the meantime. If your injury is severe enough to cause a physical disability or ongoing physical limitations, you may be entitled to lost future wages if your injury interferes with your ability to work and provide for yourself and your family.
It is vital to talk to a lawyer about what your case is worth. Attorneys who work with these kinds of cases are experienced in evaluating your case and calculating the damages you might be entitled to. If there is an insurance policy or workers’ comp. policy that is supposed to cover your injuries, it may be too low to cover the full value. The same is true for settlements: your employer may offer a settlement that fails to fully cover your expenses after a serious injury case.
If you have a family member that was killed while working in the oil industry in Pecos, you may be entitled to file a lawsuit for their wrongful death. The damages from this lawsuit can cover your expenses related to the accident, such as funeral and burial costs and the ongoing damages you suffer (e.g., lost wages for your family).
Call Our Pecos Oil Injury and Heavy Machinery Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation
If you or a loved one was injured or a family member was killed in an accident involving oil drilling or heavy machinery at a drilling site, call the Pecos oil injury and heavy machinery lawyers at The Queenan Law Firm today. Our attorneys offer free legal consultations to help you understand what your case is worth and how to proceed. For your free consultation, call our law offices today at (817) 476-1797.