Texas Oilfield Third-Party Injury Claims: When Can Injured Workers Sue?

Oilfield workers are essential to Texas’ economy, but when things go wrong, that critical work can leave victims exposed to serious hazards, including malfunctioning equipment, chemical exposure, and more. If you or someone you love has recently been injured while working on an oilfield in Texas, you may not know that you have the right to pursue compensation. Connecting with the right attorney can make all the difference in your ability to get the money you deserve.

The Texas work injury attorneys at Carabin Shaw are here to help victims and their families get the justice they deserve. Read on to learn about who can be held responsible in oilfield work accident cases, and contact us online or call toll-free at 1-800-862-1260 to schedule your FREE case review today.

In Texas, private companies are not required to carry workers’ compensation. If your claim involves a negligent employer who did not carry workers’ comp insurance, you may be able to pursue them for compensation. When businesses do carry workers’ comp, many injured employees assume that they cannot file an additional claim. That is not always the case, though, and speaking with an experienced workplace injury lawyer after an oilfield injury is vital to assess your particular claim.

State labor codes also allow employees to seek additional damages from a third party if another individual or company’s negligence caused the injury. A third-party lawsuit might involve another company operating at the same oil field, an equipment manufacturer, a subcontractor, a trucking company, or any other business whose negligence may have contributed to the incident.

An experienced Texas oilfield injury lawyer will investigate the circumstances of your accident and identify any potentially liable parties.

Before a comprehensive investigation, many injured workers wonder whether their case qualifies as an oilfield injury claim in Texas. While the exact circumstances of each case are unique, here are a few examples of legally actionable conduct that might allow you to file a claim:

• A contractor failing to maintain equipment properly
• A trucking company employing an unsafe or negligent driver
• A manufacturer selling defective oilfield equipment
• A subcontractor creating an unsafe work area
• Another company failing to provide appropriate warnings about hazardous equipment

Because oil field operations frequently involve multiple employers and contractors working around the same equipment and facilities, any or all of these parties can be subject to a suit from your lawyer. But these cases are complex, and many victims don’t receive all the compensation they are entitled to.

A third-party personal injury claim can potentially provide restitution beyond the payments offered by Texas’ workers' compensation system. The value and availability of damages depend on the specific circumstances of your accident, but in general your lawyer can ask for damages including:

• Medical expenses, including the anticipated cost of future care
• Mental anguish, pain and suffering
• Loss of income due to time off work or a reduced working capacity
• Punitive damages for particularly neglectful or egregious behavior
• Wrongful death damages for surviving family members

Due to the complexity of oil field injury cases and the many categories of compensation available, an inexperienced Texas oilfield accident attorney can leave money on the table, so you and your family get less than you deserve. Don’t settle for the rest. Work with the best by partnering with Carabin Shaw.

The experienced attorneys at Carabin Shaw have a proven track record of success in oil field cases. To make our services accessible to all, we offer a free case review before we begin working together—and you pay nothing unless we win your case.

Read our law firm’s client reviews to learn more about how our team of English and Spanish-speaking legal professionals have helped clients just like you get the justice they deserve.

If you’re ready to fight back after an oilfield injury, the time to act is now. Contact us online or call our toll-free number at 1-800-862-1260. Our phone lines are always monitored, and someone is available to speak with you 24/7.

For more information:

• Benefits of Oil & Natural Gas
• Texas Department of Insurance
• Texas Statutes 417