Suffering from an accident while doing dangerous work on an oil rig often causes disfigurement, emotional distress, and permanent life-changing injuries.
Unfortunately, oil rig workers face hazardous working conditions every day. Your injuries may drain your finances as your inability to work creates a burden on you and your family.
If you have suffered an injury on an oil rig, contact a West Texas oil rig accident lawyer to get the compensation you deserve.
Common Oil Rig Accidents in West Texas
Oil rigs are often the site of extreme injuries and accidents. The most common types of oil rig accidents include the following:
- Chemical leaks or explosions;
- Gas leaks;
- High-pressure malfunctions;
- Negligent worker error;
- Exposure to toxic chemicals;
- Slips and falls;
- Equipment malfunction;
- Improper use of equipment;
- Block or cable breaks;
- Improper maintenance of equipment; and
- Drilling blowouts.
Despite what your company may promise you after an accident, never accept an offer without first speaking to a West Texas oil rig accident lawyer.
While any compensation helps after a catastrophic oil rig injury, an initial settlement offer may not adequately compensate you for all your damages and losses.
What Should I Do After an Oil Rig Accident in West Texas?
After an oil rig accident, there are multiple steps to take in order to protect your rights, including filing a lawsuit for your injuries.
Notify Your Employer
After an oil rig accident, notify your employer immediately. Failure to report an accident may negatively affect your opportunity to receive fair compensation.
Additionally, your employer may terminate your employment for failure to report the accident.
Employers generally must report workplace accidents to the Division of Workers’ Compensation in Texas within eight days of your job site injury, which prompts an investigation into the events.
Before speaking with any insurance adjusters or accepting settlement offers, speak with a West Texas oil rig accident law firm.
Seek Medical Attention
Oil rig accidents often result in particularly catastrophic injuries. Seek medical attention immediately.
In addition to helping you get the treatment, you need, obtaining a complete medical evaluation shortly after the oil rig accident creates a clear connection between your injuries and the accident.
Your attorney uses this record to negotiate for recovery of your past and future medical expenses. For many, medical expenses and treatment may be ongoing for months and even years.
Contact a West Texas Oil Rig Injury Attorney
You may feel pressure to settle your case with insurance companies for less than your case is worth.
While it may be tempting to alleviate your financial stresses, accepting an offer without first consulting an attorney is a grave mistake.
An initial settlement offer may fail to adequately cover the costs of your medical expenses and medical treatment. Additionally, acceptance of an initial offer usually prohibits you from seeking more money later.
How Can an Attorney Help Me?
West Texas oil rig accident lawyers work tirelessly to protect your compensation rights after an accident.
The attorneys practicing in this field of law understand the complexities of oil rig accidents and injuries and know how to prepare these claims to maximize recovery.
Depending on the circumstances of your accident and whether your employer has workers’ compensation insurance, you may need to file a workers’ compensation claim, a lawsuit, or both.
Oil rig accident cases can require investigators, expert witnesses, and extensive trial preparation.
Additionally, your attorney handles all communication, including negotiations and settlement discussions, between all parties, including your employer and insurance companies.
Contact Us
At Armstrong Lee & Baker LLP, we believe that the relationship between our firm and our clients represents a sacred trust. We never view our clients as a case but as individuals who have been wronged or lost loved ones.
We work tirelessly to help our clients move on and obtain the best possible results on their behalf.
Contact our office today for a free consultation to discuss the facts of your case and how we can help you.
Joshua Lee believes in aggressive, tough advocacy and a client-centered approach to every case. Joshua draws from a wide body of experiences and a robust understanding of the law. Joshua graduated from the New York University School of Law in New York City, which is considered among the best law schools in the world.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely nothing. At Armstrong Lee & Baker LLP, our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. This means that you owe us nothing unless we win your case, whether that’s in the form of a settlement or a judgment. We offer a free consultation to anyone who thinks they might have a personal injury case.
We suggest speaking with an attorney as soon as possible after your injury. Something to keep in mind is that all personal injury cases need evidence, and that evidence often degrades over time. As a result, many jurisdictions have a strict statute of limitations (or time limit) for filing a claim. In Texas, most victims have only two years from the date of injury to file, so it is important to start building your case immediately.
In the state of Texas, employers have the option of filing for workers’ compensation insurance. This policy covers them in case an employee suffers an injury on the job. However, some employers choose to be non-subscribers, which means they opt out of this coverage and lose certain legal protections. This means that if an injured employee sues them after a work injury, they may end up paying more damages. In addition, they may be liable for pain and suffering, punitive damages, and medical benefits. Learn more about non-subscriber injuries here.
The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) keeps track of employers that report their non-subscriber status. Currently, you can find a spreadsheet of every reported non-subscriber business in Texas under TDI’s workers’ compensation insurance coverage verification page. This includes the business address, business name, and filing dates. Learn more here.
There are a few different ways to manage your bills while waiting for your case to settle. For medical treatment, it is common to arrange a lien with the doctor’s office or hospital. A medical lien is essentially an agreement to pay back your treatment costs with a portion of your potential settlement. Another option for miscellaneous bills, such as rent, utilities, or other essential expenses, is lawsuit funding. Much like a lien, you pay these loans back with a portion of your settlement or judgment. However, these loans have high interest rates and fees, so be sure to discuss this option with your attorney.