Questions About Oil And Gas Accidents

If you have been in an accident on an oil field, it is important to understand your rights and the options available to you. Accident and injury litigation in the context of employment on an oil field involves the intersection of numerous areas of law, so it is critical to work with an experienced legal team after an accident to protect your interests.

At The Law Offices of Tyler & Peery, we are here to fight for you. Our lawyers have been handling all types of workplace injury claims for years, including oilfield cases, in San Antonio and the surrounding Texas area. We know how to walk you through the legal process and fight to get you the compensation you need.

What types of injuries are most common?

Some of the types of accidents on oil fields are like any type of premises liability accident case. Other accidents are specific to the industry.

Our attorneys handle oil field accidents and life-changing injuries that include:

  • Traumatic brain injury and other head injuries
  • Paralysis
  • Neck injuries
  • Broken bones
  • Burn injuries from explosions and fires
  • Crush injuries
  • Amputations
  • Internal injuries and illnesses caused by Chemical exposure

This is a short list of types of injuries. Our attorneys are prepared to help you obtain compensation for any type of injury sustained in your work on an oil field.

Can I sue my employer if I am injured on an oil field?

In many cases, yes, but not always.

A lot of this depends on whether or not you obtain workers’ compensation benefits or accept a settlement offer. Part of the rule with workers’ compensation insurance is that you cannot sue your employer if you receive these benefits. Similarly, if you accept a settlement offer from your employer or its insurance company, the offer will almost certainly include an agreement that you won’t bring a lawsuit.

However, if your employer does not have workers’ compensation and you have not accepted a settlement offer, you can bring a lawsuit for injuries that occur as part of your employment on an oil field.

Are there parties besides employers who may be held liable?

Yes.

Even if you accept a settlement offer or workers’ compensation benefits, you can bring what’s called a third-party liability claim. This is a claim against parties other than your employer and coworkers who may have contributed to the accident that caused your injuries.

Does it matter whether a big petrochemical operator is self-insured?

On paper, it shouldn’t matter, but in reality it does. When a company like this is self-insured, it means that their own risk-assessment people will determine the response to injury claims rather than an independent third-party insurer.

In practice, dealing with self-insured petrol companies makes it even more important to work with a lawyer who has experience fighting the major companies and their insurance departments to get you the compensation you deserve.

Should I accept a settlement offer?

Settlement offers are complicated. Some settlement offers are worth taking. In fact, we often help our clients get great settlement offers in the course of our litigation work.

However, most initial offers that oil companies and their insurers make to injured parties are woefully inadequate. They are trying to get away with paying the least amount possible; their highest priority is not to make sure you are adequately compensated.

Especially since accepting an offer means forfeiting your opportunity bring a lawsuit for compensation, it is critical to talk with an attorney before accepting an offer.

Contact Our Lawyers Today

Schedule a free initial consultation with an experienced attorney from The Law Offices of Tyler & Peery. Call us at 800-281-3188 or fill out our online contact form.