Workers in the oil and natural gas industry work with heavy machinery and dangerous, flammable substances every day. These workers are likely to face an injury on the job at some point in their career. Hopefully, many of these injured workers will suffer only minor injuries that do not stop them from working, but many workers will face much more catastrophic or even deadly injuries while drilling for oil or natural gas.
If you or a loved one received serious injuries working at an oil field or natural gas field, contact The Queenan Law Firm today. Our Pecos, TX oil and natural gas field injury lawyers represent injured workers and their families and fight to get them compensation from negligent employers through lawsuits. For a free legal consultation on your injury case, call our law offices today at (817) 476-1797.
Suing for Personal Injury at an Oil or Natural Gas Field
Accidental injury at an oil field or natural gas field can come from a variety of circumstances. No matter how the injury occurred, you may be entitled to compensation if someone else was responsible for your injuries. In some cases, filing a claim with a court of law can get you the compensation you deserve for your injuries or the injuries a loved one sustained at work.
In Texas, workers can opt out of workers’ compensation. When you start a job in the oil or natural gas industry, it is important to opt out of workers’ compensation if you want to protect your right to sue. If you do not opt out, you may be blocked from filing a lawsuit for your injuries and may need to file your case with workers’ comp. instead. Our lawyers can help you determine whether you properly opted out of workers’ comp. and whether your case fits into exceptions for intentional harm, injuries from a third party, or other exceptions that allow you to take your injury case to court.
If you do sue for injuries in court, you may be entitled to substantial damages that are often higher than the damages awarded through other types of claims.
Damages for an Oil or Natural Gas Injury Lawsuit
If you take your injury case to court, you can claim any financial damages that resulted from the accident. Many injured oil and natural gas workers will face injuries that require medical care, and the damages for medical expenses are often a crucial part of the compensation you claim. In addition, you may also claim damages for any wages you lost because of the injury. This can include both damages for the wages you missed during your recovery, but also any wages you will miss going forward if your injury keeps you from going back to work at your full capacity.
In addition to these economic damages, you can also receive damages for any other compensation you need. This can include other financial harms you suffered because of the injuries, such as the cost of hiring someone to help you around the house if necessary.
In a lawsuit, you are also entitled to claim damages for the pain and suffering the injury caused you. Many people have initial difficulty understanding how pain and suffering damages work. These damages are separate from the medical expenses or lost wages you face, and they reimburse you directly for the physical pain and mental suffering the injury caused you.
Because these damages cannot be calculated by looking at financial records or bills, calculating pain and suffering damages is something you will likely need your lawyer to help you with. Your attorney can compare your injuries to other cases and examine the damages awarded in those cases to help you understand what your injury might be worth. Moreover, the ways that the injuries affected your life and the limitations they created in how you enjoy activities you used to love can also factor in to what your injury is worth in court.
Common Oil and Natural Gas Injuries and Accidents
The ways you can be injured working in an oil field or natural gas field are quite varied. Many of these injuries, however, result from your employer’s negligence. Employers are responsible for training their workers and ensuring that they hire safe workers. If your employer does not train your co-workers, they could seriously injure you by mishandling heavy machinery or failing to follow safety protocols. If your employer fails to screen out dangerous employees or allows someone to come to work intoxicated or high, it could also mean serious injuries for you.
Other injuries are caused because of a lack of safety gear. Your employer is required to provide you with adequate safety gear to protect you on the job, according to local, state, and federal regulations. If they fail to do so, they could be held liable for any injuries you faced because of the lack of safety gear.
Other parties may also be liable for injuries. For instance, a coworker who injures you by accident or through intentional workplace violence could be liable for the harm you suffered. Additionally, harm from negligent products or safety gear used at the site could be claimed against the equipment manufacturer.
Lawyers for Oil and Natural Gas Injuries in Pecos, TX Offering Free Consultations
If you or a loved one was injured working at an oil or natural gas field, call The Queenan Law Firm today. Our attorneys represent injury victims and their families in claims against their employers and other negligent parties. Our attorneys have decades of experience handling oil worker injury claims, and we may be able to put that experience to work for you in your case. To schedule a free legal consultation with our Pecos oil and natural gas field injury attorneys, call The Queenan Law Firm today at (817) 476-1797.