As Featured In
Working in an oil field is not an easy job, and workers face various work-related risks. Machinery might malfunction, or someone might be exposed to hazardous chemicals and become seriously injured. If you or a loved one was hurt working in an oil field in Longview, our legal team might be able to help you get fair compensation.
Numerous accidents are possible in an oil field, including malfunctioning machinery or tools, exposure to hazardous or toxic materials, and even seemingly simple slip-and-fall accidents. Considering the risky work environment, it is no surprise that oil field accidents often lead to severe injuries and lifelong medical complications for victims. To support your claims, we need evidence. Coworkers who saw the accident may be needed to testify, and we should review certain business records to get to the bottom of what went wrong. Speak to your attorney as soon as possible since you have only 2 years to file your claims in court, and you may need all the time you can get to prepare.
Get a private review of your case for free when you call The Queenan Law Firm, P.C. at (817) 476-1797 and talk to our oil field accident lawyers about your injuries.
How You Might Be Injured Working on an Oil Field in Longview, TX
People who work in oil fields often work under somewhat dangerous conditions. As such, employers must make sure that the work environment is as safe as possible. If an employer allows the workplace to become unsafe and a worker is hurt, the employer might be held responsible. However, you should review your case with our oil field accident lawyers, as other people or parties might be implicated in the case.
Hazardous Materials
People working in oil fields often participate in extracting and processing crude oil, which can be very dangerous. Employees routinely work with hazardous, toxic, or flammable substances, gases, and materials. If a worker is exposed to these materials in an unsafe way, they might be hurt or become very sick. Employers should provide safety gear and training to hopefully reduce the risk of unsafe exposure, but accidents can still happen.
People exposed to hazardous chemicals in oil fields might be badly burned if the material is flammable. Alternatively, they might inhale toxic or dangerous gases and fumes, leading to serious lung damage and other medical complications. If you were exposed and became injured or sick, a lawyer can help you get fair compensation.
Heavy Machinery
Machinery is a necessary component of oil field work. Employees should be properly trained, and machinery and tools should be in safe working order. If machinery, tools, or safety gear is damaged or defective, workers might be very seriously injured or even killed, and employers may be held liable for the injuries and damages.
Crushing injuries are not unusual in fields of work dealing with heavy machinery. You might be caught between heavy equipment because of a negligent coworker or a defect in the machines. Crushing injuries are quite severe, and you might need extensive medical treatment. A malfunctioning drilling rig or a shale shaker might instead injure you. If some part of the machinery on your job caused you to become injured, your employer and possibly the manufacturer of the machinery might be responsible.
Slip-and-Falls
Accidents involving falls are sometimes brushed off as no big deal, but victims often sustain very severe and painful injuries. The risk of a slip-and-fall may be especially serious in oil fields as small oil spills and messes can make the work area extremely slick. Depending on where you work and the nature of your job, you might fall from a great height or even fall into some heavy machinery or hazardous materials. Almost any fall should be reported to your employer, and you should get medical attention if you feel injured.
Evidence We Need to Support Your Claims in a Longview, TX Oil Field Accident Case
Building a strong case requires strong evidence. Some of the strongest evidence may come from the location of the accident and your employer. Obtaining this evidence may be challenging, especially if your employer is not cooperative.
We should first consider the location of your accident. Were there security cameras in the area? It is not unusual for oil fields to be monitored by cameras for security purposes. If cameras were nearby, they might have recorded the accident, and the videos might shed light on what happened and why. Even if there were no cameras, you might have taken your own pictures. For example, you might have snapped a few quick pictures of the damaged machinery that injured you to show your boss. Those pictures might be very helpful when we go to prove your claims in court.
Next, we should consider people with personal knowledge about the accident. Eyewitnesses might include coworkers who were with you or nearby when the accident happened. They might have seen everything and can testify about what they know.
Even if coworkers were not around, they might have personal knowledge about the unsafe conditions that caused the accident. For example, if you were injured because your safety gear was inadequate, your coworkers might testify that inadequate safety equipment has been an ongoing problem, and your employer has yet to do anything about it.
When to File Your Oil Field Accident Claims in Longview, TX
Most people need some time to think before they initiate legal action, especially if they are still recovering from painful injuries. While you should take the time you need, do not take too long to decide what to do, as your time is limited. The statute of limitations imposes a strict limitation for legal claims. If you do not file your case within the limitation period, you may be barred from filing it at all. According to Tex. Civ. Prac. & rem. Code § 16.003(a), you have only 2 years from the day of the oil field accident to file your case. This is a very tight limitation period, and you should speak to a lawyer for help as soon as possible.
Call Our Longview, TX Oil Field Accident Lawyer
Get a confidential assessment of your case for free when you call The Queenan Law Firm, P.C. at (817) 476-1797 and talk to our oil field accident attorneys about your injuries.