Representing Victims of Oilfield Injuries

Working in the oil & gas industry can be a dangerous job, with oilfield workers exposed to a variety of hazards that can result in serious injury. If you or a loved one has been injured while working in the oilfield, you need an experienced oilfield injury attorney who can help you get the compensation you deserve.

At Morrow & Sheppard LLP, we have extensive experience representing clients who have been injured in oilfield accidents. We understand the unique challenges that these cases present and we have the knowledge and resources to help you get the compensation you need to cover your medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages.

Request A Free Case Consultation Today!

When the insurance company calls, do not speak to them! They are after their own interests, and it can hurt your case. Act now to protect your legal rights.

Complete the form below and we will reach out momentarily. We are available 24/7.

We Get Results

0

Maritime Lawsuit

0

Traumatic Brain Injury – Oilfield Injury

0

Oil & Gas Burn Injury

View More Results

What Our Clients Are Saying

Mr. Daniel Sheppard is a Great Attorney! He helped me with an Accident Claim & Won my Case for Me. I was Very Pleased with him, Except it took 2 yrs. before my Case was Won, but if you need a Great Attorney, Daniel is the one to call! Thank you Daniel for your help! I would recommend him to... anyone that needs an Attorneyread more

Danielle C.

1682197987

They were very professional and understanding. The have patience and do their job well. If I had to return I would with no hesitation

Cassandra M.

1681919608

4 months agoI am Extremely Happy with Morrow & Sheppard Lawfirm. I worked closely with Nick Morrow end Laura on my case With the rest of his staff. They were diligent in handling my law case matter to resolution. Laura end Nick would keep me up to date with the status of my case … More , They... fought for me to get the best settlement possible.. I am happy with the outcome Thank you Nick and the staff Of MORROW END SHEPPARD LLPread more

Juber M.

1679949677

Chris West is an excellent addition to the Morrow & Sheppard team. His skill set, dedication, and overall reliability he brings to the firm and clients are uncanny. You will not be disappointed.

Candace M.

1662510836

I highly recommend the Morrow & Sheppard to anyone. They are an incredible group that did an outstanding job to make sure I got the highest settlement for my case. Attorney Daniel and his staff are all outstanding professionals with some serious case law knowledge and skill. His group went the... extra mile for me and because of that, my life has forever changed. Thank you Attorney Daniel and everyone that’s a part of his firm that worked so hard. I really appreciate you!read more

Melis R.

1661459761

I am Extremely Happy with Morrow & Sheppard Lawfirm. I worked closely with Daniel Sheppard and Chris on my case. They were diligent in handling my law case matter to resolution. Daniel would keep me up to date with the status of my case and Chris would also ensure all my paper work was submitted... in a timely manner. I am Very Happy with the Outcome! Thank you Daniel and Chris. I highly recommend their services and would not hesitate to use them again.read more

D P.

1657208615

Very strong and courageous law firm I recommend to anyone who has suffered a injury from companies who need to be held responsible for lack of safety and security, my family is set for life and with these lawyers never backing down and fighting for truth behind every case and seeking the best... future for our family has given our family a second chance at being able to make it in life and holding companies accountable lifting burdens off our lives, very proud and beyond blessed to have had them fight the fight and have a tremendous outcome for our future. Along with a great and kind staff we HIGHLY recommend this law firm.read more

Nikki L.

1652483519

I was a client for 2.5 years after a car accident in 2019 and represented by Patrick McGinnis. He was knowledgable, compassionate, and level headed.His assisting paralegal, Ramona Anaya, was reliable, knowledgable, and kind in all our interactions.They went above and beyond to help me navigate... everything that unfolded after my car accident. They were able to secure a favorable settlement before trial.I’m very happy to have had Morrow&Sheppard Firm represent me.read more

Marceline A.

1647777263

Professional and knowledgeable with years of experience.

angel martinez J.

1646769860

I had a accident and I chose morrow&sheppard they was great from the start to the finish Chris was real informative and helpful was the whole process and got me a fair settlement they really care about there Clients if you in a car accident call them

Richard L.

1646331335

After a car accident last year I went to Morrow & Sheppard for assistance. Jose and Chris were exceptionally accommodating and handled my case with professionalism. They're primary concern was my well being and they went above and beyond to ensure I would receive the best settlement possible. A... very efficient and dedicated team!read more

Amanda W.

1645042828

I've been in the legal field for a while now and not only do I know John Sheppard & Nick Morrow, I have attorney friends that have worked with them throughout the years. This is a great firm and great people that work at Morrow & Sheppard. I have been reading the reviews on here and it makes me... happy to see that their clients think as highly of them as I do.read more

Susan L.

1644884255

‹

›

View Our Testimonials

Common Causes of Oilfield Accidents

There are many causes of oilfield accidents. Some of the most common include:

Falling objects – everything from tools to equipment and even parts of buildings can fall on someone as they work
Struck by objects – a heavy pipe or piece of scaffolding, for example, may fall onto someone working below it
Electrocution – when electrical systems or equipment fail and cause an electric current to pass through a human body

Other accidents may occur as a result of negligent actions taken by others, such as the following:

Failure to provide proper safety training
Improper maintenance and inspection of equipment
Lack of adequate safety procedures and protocols
Inadequate supervision of employees
Misrepresenting the hazards associated with working in an oilfield environment

The Texas legislature defines “negligence” as failure to use reasonable care. An employer cannot rely on others to ensure safety in the oilfield industry. Instead, they are responsible for taking precautions against hazards and accidents.

No Fee Unless We Win

At Morrow & Sheppard LLP, we understand the hardships of trying to heal and make sense of an accident. That is why we work on a contingency fee basis, which means no fee unless we win the case. Our fee is a percentage of the verdict or settlement we obtain for you.

Common Types of Oilfield Injuries

There are many oilfield injuries, but most fall into two categories: bodily injury and loss of life. These categories can be broken down further, but the basic idea is that there are many ways for an oilfield worker to get injured or killed on the job.

Bodily Injuries

The most common type of oilfield injury involves bodily harm. This can range from simple cuts and bruises to more severe damage, such as broken bones or partial amputations. There are many ways for a worker to get hurt on the job, but the most common include:

Falls from heights
Getting hit by heavy equipment or vehicles
Being struck by lightning
Exposure to toxic chemicals or gases
Electrocution
Drowning in open water wells

In some cases, an injured worker may be able to file workers’ compensation claims against their employer. These claims will help cover medical expenses and lost wages after the accident.

Loss of Life

The second most common type of oilfield injury is fatality. The oilfield’s most common cause of death is a fall from heights. This can happen when someone is working on a rig or derrick, but it also happens when workers work on the ground below one. Other common causes of fatality include exposure to toxic chemicals and gases, electrocution, and drowning. If you are injured in an oilfield accident, you should seek medical attention immediately. You will also want to report the accident to your employer and file a workers’ compensation claim against them. Family members may have recourse through wrongful death lawsuits if someone dies due to injuries.

The Process of Filing a Claim

The process of filing a claim can be complex, and victims and their families may benefit from having a qualified and experienced oilfield injury lawyer by their side to guide them through the process. The following are the key steps involved in filing a claim:

Gathering evidence: The first step in filing a claim is to gather evidence to support the victim’s case. This may include photographs of the accident scene, eyewitness statements, medical records, and other relevant documents.
Filing a report: The victim or their family should report the accident to their employer as soon as possible. This will trigger the insurance claim process and start the process of filing a claim.
Notifying insurance companies: The next step is to notify the insurance company that the victim intends to file a claim for compensation. The insurance company will then initiate an investigation into the accident.
Negotiating with insurance companies: The oilfield injury lawyer will negotiate with insurance companies on behalf of the victim to ensure that they receive fair compensation for their losses. This may involve negotiations over the amount of compensation, the type of compensation, and the timeline for payment.
Filing a lawsuit: If negotiations with the insurance company are unsuccessful, the victim may need to file a lawsuit to seek compensation for their losses. The oilfield injury lawyer will represent the victim in court, making arguments and presenting evidence on their behalf.

It’s important to keep in mind that the process of filing a claim can be time-consuming and complex, and that victims and their families may benefit from having an experienced oilfield injury lawyer to guide them through the process. The lawyer will work tirelessly to ensure that the client receives the compensation they deserve and that those responsible for the accident are held accountable for their actions.

How an Oilfield Injury Lawyer Can Help in Case of an Accident

Before the injured worker gets medical attention, they must report what happened to their supervisor. If there are any witnesses to the incident, they should also be interviewed by an oilfield accident investigation team. A complete investigation will help determine liability for injuries sustained in an oilfield accident.

An oilfield injury attorney can investigate the circumstances of an accident and hold those responsible accountable for their actions. This includes:

Talking to witnesses and reviewing any records that may be relevant to the incident
Performing a physical inspection of the area where the accident took place
Reviewing any incident reports and photographs of the scene. They may also review its maintenance records if the incident involved a vehicle.
Reviewing any medical reports and statements the injured party provides
Reviewing any safety policies and procedures related to the incident. They may also review training records for those involved in the incident, including supervisors and workers on duty that day.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an oilfield accident, it is important to take action as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the more difficult it can be to gather evidence and build a strong case. To schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our experienced oilfield injury lawyers, contact us today. We will listen to your story, answer your questions, and help you understand your legal options.

Request A Free Case Consultation Today!

Complete the form below and we will reach out momentarily.

Common Questions

How Do I Know If I Have A Case?

There are three main things that go into evaluating a personal injury case:

Deadlines. You have to file your personal injury or wrongful death case in time. This time limit is called the statute of limitations. In most states, the deadline to file a claim is triggered by the date the accident occurred. Below we have listed some deadlines we often see in states where oilfield accidents commonly occur. But different things could make your specific deadline shorter or longer. That’s one of the reasons it is important to consult with an experienced oilfield injury lawyer as soon as possible following an incident, and it is one of the reasons our law firm consults with potential clients, confidentially, for free, 24/7.
Negligence Or Wrongful Conduct. To recover for your oilfield injury, or a loved one’s death, a company or person that was involved in the incident typically has to have done something that was not “reasonable” under the circumstances. Whether someone acted “unreasonably” may not be obvious at first. In many, many cases, our personal injury lawyers (or experts we have hired) uncover a violation of industry standards or defective product that the clients did not know about when they first came to us. That is another reason it is important to consult with lawyers who have handled oilfield cases. You have to know what to look for.
Damages. The third key element in a personal injury case is damages. If there is a wrongful death, amputation, head injury, burn, or broken bone, the damage is obvious. But something like a herniated disc in the back or neck may not be apparent at first, and may get worse over time. The severity of mental injuries such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (“PTSD”) may not be apparent. Other afflictions such as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (“CRPS”) can go undiagnosed and untreated if you do not visit the right doctors and experts. Our oilfield lawyers have seen these things before, and we are experienced in helping clients find the right doctors and experts to make sure such conditions are not missed.

What Is The Deadline To File An Oilfield Case?

The deadline to file your oilfield case is usually referred to as the “statute of limitations.” Below are deadlines we commonly see in oilfield cases. The statute of limitations to bring an oilfield injury claim can depend on the facts and circumstances of your particular case, which is one of the many reasons it is a good idea to contact our oilfield injury lawyers for a free consultation to discuss your legal rights.

State	Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Claims	Source
Louisiana	1 year	Louisiana Civil Code § 3492
New Mexico	3 years	New Mexico Statutes §37-1-8
North Dakota	6 years	North Dakota Code §§ 28-01-16, 28-01-18
Oklahoma	2 years	Oklahoma Statutes §12-95
Pennsylvania	2 years	42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5542
Texas	2 years	Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003
West Virginia	2 years	West Virginia Code § 55-2-12(b)
Wyoming	4 years	Wyoming Statutes §1-3-105(a)(v), (B)

How Much Is My Oilfield Injury Case Worth?

Short answer: While no two cases are the same, because we have handled so many oilfield injury cases, we often can provide a rough estimate of your likely case value relatively early on in the process, after we file your case and secure relevant information. We have handled cases worth more than $20 million for a single client. We have also evaluated potential cases that were not worth anything. There is no guidebook or list that sets out how much your case is worth, but our experience often allows us to give you an educated estimate.

Every oilfield client wants to know how much their case is worth. Every good lawyer will hesitate to answer this question. And they should. The whole purpose of the lawsuit and claim process is to figure out how much each case is worth. No two cases are the same, and it is impossible to know how much your case is worth without going through at least some of the process.

With that being said, our oilfield injury lawyers have handled enough cases to spot the things that companies and insurance carriers look for when they evaluate personal injury and wrongful death cases. These factors include how bad the defendants’ conduct was, how severe (and obvious) your injuries are, the amount of your past and future medical bills and lost wages, what juries typically award in the court where your case is assigned, and the strength and track record of the lawyers involved.

When you consult with us, we will gather as much information as we can. Our experienced oilfield injury lawyers will be able to compare your case to others we have handled, as well as databases of cases that have been handled in the area where your case will be filed. When we have this information, we may be able to give you a rough estimate of the value of your case.

As your case proceeds, we will continue to refine and adjust our evaluation, because (again) the whole point of the lawsuit process is to get the information needed to value your case.

How Much Will It Cost For Me To File An Oilfield Lawsuit?

Short answer: Generally, you do not have to pay anything out of pocket to our oilfield injury attorneys.

In most cases, we represent personal injury and wrongful death clients on contingency fee. That means our law firm advances all the costs and attorneys’ fees of bringing your oilfield injury case, and we only recover our fees and expenses if you win. Clients on contingency fee do not pay our injury lawyers out-of-pocket.

You can learn more about contingency fees and our “no fee” promise here.

To better understand your rights, we respectfully suggest that you take advantage of the free and confidential consultations with one of our oilfield attorneys, who are available 24/7 to evaluate your potential case.

How Do Oilfield Personal Injury Lawyers Figure Out Who Was At Fault?

Short answer: To figure out who was at fault, our personal injury lawyers typically conduct a detailed and through investigation, which will usually include things like an analysis of industry standards, hiring experts in the field, serving document subpoenas and freedom of information requests (FOIAs), and conducting witness interviews.

Because we have handled so many oilfield injury cases, our law firm can often quickly figure out who was at fault for an incident. It may be a company man who gave improper instructions, a drilling crew who improperly assembled a rig that collapsed, or a service company that negligently operated a piece of machinery that crushed or burned someone.

Other times, the cause of an oilfield accident or explosion may be more subtle. It may have been unreasonable for a company to use a particular piece of equipment, because a newer, safer version existed. Workers on the ground—including the injured people—may not have even known about the safer alternative, because management didn’t tell anyone, usually because management was not yet ready to spend money on the alternative, even though it was safer.

We look for these sometimes hidden, contributing causes by consulting with industry experts from around the country. As an example, we have hired NASA scientists, safety experts who used to work in the oilfield, industrial hygienists who have designed safety programs for large companies, OSHA experts, and even ex-military personnel who have special knowledge about a particular product design or safe work practice.

We also consult with a library and database of industry standards and information we have at our law firm. This includes things like industry standards put out by the American Petroleum Institute (“API”), International Organization for Standardization (“IOS”), and American National Standards Institute (“ANSI”). In many catastrophic oilfield cases, we have discovered oilfield workers were violating standards they didn’t even know about, because management and corporate safety departments failed to pass along the information. That may be hard to believe in this day and age, but it happens more often than you think.

If this kind of investigation sounds expensive and difficult, that’s because it is. But it is not your burden to bear. In a standard oilfield injury or wrongful death case, we work on a contingency fee, which means we front the costs to hire such experts. You do not have to come out of pocket for these costs. We take the risk because we believe in your case, and we believe you should get justice.

How Does The Claim Process Work, And How Long Does It Take?

Short answer: Most oilfield injury cases we have handled take 6 months to 3 years to resolve or get to trial, depending on the types of things outlined below.

Sometimes our personal injury lawyers are able to make a demand and negotiate a settlement before a lawsuit is even filed. But most times, oil companies, service providers, and product manufacturers will not admit fault without a fight.

What does this “fight” entail? After we file a lawsuit on your behalf, your case usually enters the discovery phase. This is when we work to figure out what happened. We demand documents from the companies we believe may be responsible. We take sworn testimony or “depositions” from witnesses who were present when the incident happened, or who may know about policies and procedures that relate to an incident. We hire experts who are familiar with the work going on and the equipment involved, and will testify on your behalf. We may also hire medical experts who will establish your injuries were caused by the incident, economists who to figure out your lost wages and earning capacity, and lifecare planners to figure out how much your future medical care will cost.

When the discovery process is complete, your lawsuit will typically go to a mediation. That is when a former judge or lawyer who is not involved in the case tries to help both sides come to an agreement on your compensation.

If mediation and negotiations are unsuccessful, your case will go to trial. We have had cases settle during trial. Other times, we have to get a jury verdict, and after that, sometimes there is an appeal.

We have had cases settle in less than 6 months. Other cases can take a few years. The court your case is assigned to, the strength of your case, and your (the client’s) wishes and expectations can be important factors in how long a case takes to resolve. We do our best to push cases forward to verdict or settlement as quickly as we can, and make sure you are supported along the way.

Based on our clients’ experiences and feedback, as well as the large recoveries and settlements we have obtained for our clients, we believe our approach works. We would be privileged to make our method work for you and your family.

My Husband Died In An Oilfield Accident. How Am I Going To Make Ends Meet?

The second most common type of oilfield injury is fatality. The oilfield’s most common cause of death is a fall from heights. This can happen when someone is working on an oil derrick, but it also happens when workers are on the ground below. Other common causes of fatality include exposure to toxic chemicals and gases, electrocution, and burns from fires or explosions.

In the old days, a person’s personal injury claim died along with them. Now, most states have passed “wrongful death” statutes. These laws entitle the surviving family members or executor of a dead workers’ estate to bring claims for compensation on behalf of the worker who has died. For example, the following states have wrongful death statutes that may provide compensation to the wives and family members of oilfield workers who die on the job:

Louisiana. § 2512.2 of the Louisiana Civil Code.
New Mexico. New Mexico Statutes Section 41-2-1.
North Dakota. North Dakota statute Section 32-21-01.
Oklahoma. Oklahoma Statutes § 12-1053.
Pennsylvania. 42 Pa. C.S.A. Section 8301.
Texas. Chapter 71 of the Texas Civil Practices & Remedies Code.
West Virginia. WV Code §§ 55-7-5; 55-7-6.
Wyoming. Wyo. Stat. § 1-38-101.

You can learn more about wrongful death actions on our website. For legal advice, and to better understand your rights, we encourage you to consult with one of our attorneys, confidentially and without any cost to you.

Will I Have To Go To Trial?

Short answer: Typically not, unless you decide to.

Over 90 percent of personal injury and wrongful death cases settle. The ultimate decision whether or not to settle is up to the client.

If a settlement offer is made, we will give you our advice. Sometimes we may recommend turning down an offer, either because we think you should hold out for a better offer, or because we think your case should go to trial. Sometimes we may believe an offer is acceptable and recommend that you take it. In either case, you ultimately decide whether or not to accept a settlement offer, within reason.

A case can settle at any point. Some cases settle early within the first 6months or even sooner, before a lawsuit is filed. Some cases take years to wind themselves through the trial and appeal process. More often than not, clients have a say in how long the process takes, because clients decide whether or not to accept the settlement offers that are made.

Cases that involve millions of dollars typically take longer to resolve than small cases. Clients who want top dollar in large cases typically have to hold out for longer. In catastrophic, multi-million-dollar cases, corporations and insurance companies often dangle less than fair value early on, and right up until the bitter end, hoping that injured people will become desperate. Our oilfield injury lawyers do our best to support our clients in such cases, make sure they understand what is going on, and prepare them to do what is necessary to get full and fair value for their cases, which in serious injury cases often means millions of dollars.

Recovering Lost Wages To Get Back On Your Feet

Many oilfield workers who are injured assume that workers’ compensation insurance will take care of them if an injury occurs. They are rightfully disappointed when they learn that, instead, workers’ compensation only pays a small portion of their lost wages.

Further, in some cases, workers’ compensation attempts to force injured workers to treat with doctors in the workers’ comp “system” who tend to under-diagnose injuries to save the corporations and insurance carriers money.

To recover lost wages, and be made whole, most oilfield workers have to file a personal injury lawsuit. This is often only possible if a “third party” is responsible for the incident, because in most cases, a worker cannot sue the employer that provides the workers’ compensation insurance.

The good news is that, in the oilfield, a “third party” is often at least partly responsible for the incident. An oilfield services company, oil company, or equipment provider may have been onsite and made a bad decision. A safety company may have prepared inadequate policies and procedures which contributed to an incident. A piece of equipment may have been defectively designed or manufactured. In such cases, oilfield workers and their families are often entitled to recover lost wages and earning capacity from these “third parties.” To calculate lost wages and earning capacity, our oilfield lawyers typically will retain an expert economist, who will take into consideration things like your past earnings, the rate of inflation, and U.S. Department of Labor statistics regarding work-life expectancy.

Importantly, you may not immediately recognize that a “third party” was responsible. That is why it is important to consult with our experienced injury lawyers, who have handled many oilfield injury and explosion cases, so that we can help you spot a potential responsible party. That may be the only way to help your family get back on their feet.

Medical Bills – What About The Future?

In a serious injury case, such as those involving brain injury, amputation, burns, paralysis, and spine (neck and back) injuries requiring surgery, an injured oilfield worker may need medical care for the rest of their lives.

How do you make sure the medical care for those injures is provided for? Our oilfield injury attorneys will frequently consult with experts whose job it is to figure out what treatment is necessary, and estimate how much it is going to cost.

Here are a few examples. If an oilfield explosion or chemical spill has caused you burn injuries, you may need to consult with a burn expert, often a plastic surgeon who works in a burn hospital. On the other hand, an oilfield worker struck by a piece of falling equipment who is paralyzed or partially paralyzed may need to consult with a neurologist or physical rehabilitation doctor familiar with the future medical needs of such patients. A person who has had a limb caught in between pieces of moving equipment or a falling rig structure may have limbs amputated, and they may need to consult with experts who specialize in cutting-edge prosthetics, including what may be coming on the market in the future, and how much the prosthetics are likely to cost. An oilfield head injury victim may need to have a neuropsychologist evaluate and determine what kinds of rehabilitation and future attendant nursing care will be needed. An oilfield worker with a neck or back injury requiring surgery may need a spine surgery expert who can analyze what follow-up procedures may be needed down the road.

After those consultations are done, and recommendations are made by the field experts, our oilfield injury lawyers often retain a lifecare planner to estimate the likely cost of the future treatment. Those costs are then submitted to the defense (and, if there is a trial, to the jury) to evaluate, and ultimately award compensation. In a serious injury case, it is often critical to have these issues evaluated, to make sure that you are able to get the care you need going forward. Our oilfield injury attorneys have years of experience finding and retaining medical experts. We have consulted with hundreds of doctors and lifecare planners, and we have identified those who (we believe) are most qualified to give the opinions needed to maximize our clients’ recovery, and ensure their needs are met. We generally work on contingency fee, which means in most cases, we front the costs of retaining these experts, and we only recoup those costs when we win your case. We work hard to make sure your medical needs are estimated by the right experts, and that your future is provided for.

Common Causes Of Oilfield Accidents

We have handled and evaluated countless oilfield accidents. Cases that have resulted in large compensation awards include:

Equipment failure and malfunction. Examples include pumps, hoses, piping, fittings, forklifts, control panels, chiksans, casing, tubing, well control equipment (including blowout preventers or “BOP”s), and solids control equipment such as de-gassers, centrifuges, and de-sanders
Failure to follow policies and procedures
Inadequate training
Lifting and hoisting injuries
Dropped and falling objects
Electrocution and electric shocks
Poor maintenance practices
Metal fatigue and corrosion
Overuse of equipment, including use beyond the manufacturer’s recommended useful life for a product
Design, manufacturing, and warning defects
Failure to lockout/tagout equipment
Welding defects, including improper welds and old welds
Failure to have a spotter or lookout during a hazardous operation, such as a crane or winch operation
Negligent operation of a piece of moving equipment, such as a forklift accident, backhoe accident, or power tong issue
Failure to conduct necessary safety meetings including job safety analysis (JSAs), job hazard analysis (JHA), safe to perform (STP), permit to work (PTW), and hot work permits
Oilfield truck accidents including winch trucks and vacuum trucks, which are known causes of oilfield explosions

These are just some of the common causes of oilfield accidents.

My Employer Has Workers’ Comp. Does That Mean I Am Barred From Bringing An Oilfield Claim?

Generally, the answer is no.

Our oilfield injury lawyers regularly handle cases for injured workers who receive workers’ compensation from their employers. These workers cannot bring claims against their employers, but they are able to bring “third party claims” against other companies who may be partly or wholly at fault for accidents that occur in the oilfield. Bringing these third party claims is critical to oilfield families, because most workers’ compensation insurance programs pay only a fraction of what is needed to make ends meet.

In the oilfield, several contractors typically work alongside the oil company (operator) that owns the well. An injured worker typically cannot bring a lawsuit against his or her direct employer, the company who purchased the workers’ compensation insurance. However, the worker is often entitled to recover from the other companies who were involved in the incident, or from a company that is involved in providing a piece of equipment that fails or is defective. Our firm has found that the at-fault party may not be obvious at first, which is why consulting with an oilfield injury lawyer who handles oilfield injury cases is important, and in many cases can be critical.

Here’s an example. You work for a wireline contractor at a drillsite. You are inured because of a bad decision or mistake made by an employee of a different company, such as the drilling contractor, mud company, cement company, water truck hauler, or even the oil company. In most states, you are entitled to make a claim and recover damages from the other company’s insurance. Also, you may not know that the equipment involved in your injury did not meet industry standards, was defectively designed, or was provided by a rental company that knew the equipment had problems. In such a case, the product manufacturer or rental company may be legally responsible for making you and your family whole.

In these cases, you may be entitled to bring a third party claim. If your injuries are serious or catastrophic, hiring an experienced oilfield injury attorney who is skilled at identifying these third party claims can mean the difference between living a comfortable life, and having no food on the table.

Common Oilfield Injuries

The hazards and dangers in the oilfield can lead to a variety of injuries when proper safety protocols are not followed. The most common oilfield injuries our oilfield injury lawyers see include:

Neck and back injuries, including strains, herniations, and fractures along the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar parts of the spine.
Paralysis and partial paralysis, including paraplegia and quadriplegia. Paralysis can result from things like falling objects, falls from height, and high velocity impact.
Amputation of arms, fingers, toes, and legs. This often results from crush injuries as well as limbs being caught between pieces of moving oilfield equipment.
Burns of different severity, including first, second, and third-degree burns. In the oilfield, burns can be caused by fires and explosions, as well as chemical exposure (even cement used in drilling casing can cause severe burns.)
Head injuries, including closed head injuries as well as open fractures. Most commonly, head injuries are caused by falling objects, although our oilfield attorneys have also handled cases in which head injuries were caused by moving equipment strikes, vehicle accidents, and slips, trips and falls.
Chemical exposure including lung and inhalation injuries.
Broken bones and ligament damage including knees, arms, legs, wrists, and ankles.

Where Do Oilfield Injuries Occur Most Often?

Unfortunately, there have been safety shortcuts, equipment failures, personal injuries, and wrongful deaths in oilfields around the country. In 2022, most active shore-based oilfield activity is going on in the following locations:

West Texas and eastern New Mexico. As many as 50 percent of active drilling rigs are in this region, particularly in the Permian Basin.
South Texas. Approximately 10 percent of active drilling rigs are in the south Texas Eagle Ford oilfields.
East Texas, northwest Louisiana, and southeast Arkansas. Another 10 percent of active rigs are in this region’s Haynesville formation.
Oklahoma. 10 percent of drilling is in the Anadarko formation in Oklahoma.
Wyoming, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, and Utah. Around 5 percent of active rigs can be found here, in the Niobrara formation.
North Dakota and Montana. Another 5 percent of rigs are here, in the Bakken shale.
West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, New York. 10 percent of rigs can be found in the Appalachian formations.

Companies Involved In Oilfield Injures

There are large and small companies operating in the oilfield. Most are required to have liability insurance to cover personal injury lawsuits.

Large oilfield service companies (both onshore and offshore) operating around the world include:

ABB Group
Abbot Group
Acteon
ADES
Aibel
Aker Solutions
Al Mansoori
Argos Oil Tools
AVEVA
Baker Hughes
Baker Petrolite LLC
Bedrock Petroleum Consultants
BGR Energy Systems
Calfrac Well Services
Canary, LLC (formerly Frontier Energy Group)
CGG
Challenger Limited
China Oilfield Services
Clough Group
Core Laboratories
Coretrax
Cyntech
DCP Midstream Partners
Diamond Offshore Drilling
DOF Subsea
Emerson
Engineers India
ESG Solutions
Eversource Energy
Expro

Fairfield Geotechnologies
Fern Communications
Flowserve
Fluor Corporation
Fugro
GAC Group
Gaia Earth Sciences
Geokinetics
Geophysical Service
Gibson Energy
GlobaLogix
Grup Servicii Petroliere
Gyrodata
Halliburton
Helix Energy Solutions Group
Helmerich & Payne
Hill International
Honeywell
Hunting plc
Huawei
Hytera
ION Geophysical
J&L Supply Co.
Jacobs Engineering Group
KCA Deutag
Key Energy Services
Larsen & Toubro
Lowes Corporation
McDermott International
MODEC

Nabors Industries
Nalco Champion
National Oilwell Varco (NOV)
Neuman & Esser
NESR
Nexans
Newpark Resources
Noble Corporation
Oceaneering International
Odfjell Drilling
OneSubsea
Penspen
Petrofac
Petroleum Geo-Services
PJP4
Polarcus
Precision Drilling
Proserv
Rockwell Automation
Rosneft
Saipem
Sapura Energy
SBM Offshore
Schlumberger
Schneider Electric
Schoeller-Bleckmann
Scomi
Seaboard International
Seadrill
Secure Energy Services

Shawcor
Shelf Drilling
Siemens
Sparrows Group
SPX Flow
Stewart & Stevenson
Subsea 7
Superior Energy Services
Swire
TAM International
TechnipFMC
Tecnicas Reunidas
Tendeka
TiteWater Energy, LLC
Tracerco
Transocean
Trican Well Service
Trinidad Drilling
Valaris plc
Weatherford International
Wasco Energy
Wavefront
Weir Group
Welltec
Wood Group
Worley

Some of the larger oil companies operating in the United States include:

Antero Resources
APA Corporation
Berry Petroleum Company
Blacksands Pacific
California Resources Corporation
Chesapeake Energy
Chevron Corporation
Chord Energy
CNX Resources
ConocoPhillips
Continental Resources
Coterra
Denbury Inc.
Devon Energy
Diamondback Energy
EOG Resources
EQT
ExxonMobil
Greka Energy
Hess Corporation

HKN, Inc.
Koch Industries
Laredo Petroleum
Marathon Oil
Murphy Oil
Occidental Petroleum
Ovintiv
Pioneer Natural Resources
Range Resources
SandRidge Energy
Shell Oil Company
SM Energy
Southwestern Energy
Vaalco Energy
XTO Energy

Recent Oilfield Accidents Blog

What Federal Regulations Protect High-risk Workers?

May 31st, 2023|

Proving a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Texas

May 25th, 2023|

Top 5 Industrial Workplace Hazards and Prevention Measures

April 10th, 2023|

The materials on this website are intended for informational purposes only. The materials on this website are not intended to be, nor should they be interpreted as legal advice or opinion. The reader should not consider this information to be an invitation to an attorney-client relationship, should not rely on information presented here for any purpose, and should always seek the legal advice of counsel in the appropriate jurisdiction.

© 2023 Morrow & Sheppard LLP. All Rights Reserved. Sitemap | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer