If you were injured while working for an oil company, such as in an oil field, you should get a lawyer to help you immediately. The oil company might want to settle the case quickly, but it wawill likely not offer you a good settlement. At least, not at first. Our team can help you counter an injury settlement, so you get the compensation you need and deserve.
If the oil company offers a paltry settlement, we can reject it and come back with a counteroffer for greater compensation. When we do this, we should be prepared with evidence of your injuries, damages, and the oil company’s liability. They might try to claim that they should not have to pay because you caused the accident. Again, we need evidence to prove otherwise. The key is standing your ground. When the oil company realizes we will not back down, they might relax and offer a better settlement.
Get a free, confidential case assessment from our Texas oil field injury lawyers by calling The Queenan Law Firm at (817) 476-1797.
Countering Settlement From an Oil Company After an Accident in Texas
If you are injured in an oil field accident or an oil company is otherwise responsible for your injuries, they may offer a settlement. You do not have to accept, and our Texas oil field injury lawyers will help you negotiate.
If the settlement offer is not good, you may reject it, and we can present a counteroffer. This is often how settlement negotiations proceed. Both sides will present offers and counteroffers until they come to an agreement.
Before making a counteroffer, we should research your injuries and damages. We must have an accurate idea of what your claims are worth to negotiate for a fair settlement effectively.
It is often a good idea to counter with an offer that is higher than what you actually need. This is because the oil company will likely negotiate to reduce the settlement. Ideally, we should land on a final settlement that adequately meets your needs and covers your costs.
Countering an Oil Company’s Settlement Offer with Evidence
To counter a settlement offer from the oil company, we must have evidence of your injuries and costs. If anything, a settlement should cover your actual economic damages. Having receipts, invoices, and other official documentation of your costs will help us get you the best settlement possible.
We should also have evidence of settlements from similar cases. If someone else had previously been injured because of an oil company and received a much larger settlement, we can use this information to your advantage.
Countering a Texas Oil Company Settlement Offer with Future Costs
Your injuries might be severe, and you might require long-term medical care. In many cases, medical treatment is expected to last long after the case is complete. As such, you might continue racking up medical bills after damages have been paid.
We may need to come prepared with medical information and evidence to demonstrate that your medical costs are likely to increase over time. A good settlement should include damages for the cost of future medical care. For some, this may mean a lifetime of doctors’ visits and hospital stays.
The oil company might push back on this, but we can present evidence from doctors and even submit to medical evaluations. It may be difficult for the oil company to refuse medical evidence from knowledgeable doctors and medical professionals.
Using the Oil Company’s Negligence to Counter an Injury Settlement
Sometimes, a defendant’s behavior is so bad that they would much rather settle privately than risk a humiliating defeat in a court of law. This might be the case if the oil company’s failure to protect you from harm is especially egregious.
If the oil company were grossly negligent, it may be more inclined to settle to avoid a public trial. We can use this information to counter an insufficient settlement offer from the oil company. They can either offer more financial compensation or risk a public scandal in a court of law.
Evidence of gross negligence or other highly shocking behavior might be found by examining safety regulations. Violations of safety regulations that are considered industry standards or imposed by government regulators might be sufficient evidence of gross negligence in some cases.
What Happens if Settlement Negotiations with an Oil company Fall Through?
While a settlement can be a big help to injured victims, and they tend to happen faster than a full trial, they are not always possible. If settlement negotiations fall through, we must be prepared with back-up legal options. One option is to sue the oil company. However, even this is not possible for everyone.
If you work for the oil company and were injured on the job, you might not be able to sue your employer. Instead, you may be eligible for a Workers’ Compensation claim, which is the sole legal remedy, and you may not sue your employer.
However, Texas law allows employers and employees to opt out of Workers’ Compensation. If this is the case, you may be able to sue your employer if settlement talks do not work out.
Know All Your Legal Options Before Negotiating a Settlement with an Oil Company
Before beginning settlement talks, we must review all your legal options. Again, settlements do not always work out, and a trial might not be possible or a good idea for some. Having a plan B is necessary to make sure you get fair compensation.
Again, your case might fall under Workers’ Compensation laws, and you may not take any other legal action. If it does not, we might explore other insurance options. You might have your own insurance to help cover certain costs, and the oil company might also have insurance that covers accidents.
Call Our Texas Oil Field Injury Lawyers for Help with Your Legal Claims
Get a free, confidential case assessment from our San Angelo, TX oil field injury lawyers by calling The Queenan Law Firm at (817) 476-1797