Posted on Sunday, June 8th, 2025 at 9:00 am
Working in Oklahoma’s gas fields can be dangerous. Accidents are a real risk with heavy equipment, explosive gases, and nonstop activity. Most injured workers know they can file for workers’ compensation. Still, not everyone realizes that more help might be available through a third-party gas field injury claim, which can provide additional expectations regarding compensation.
If someone other than your employer caused the accident, you may be entitled to additional compensation through a third-party gas field injury claim. An attorney can help determine who can be held liable if you’re injured in an oil field, ensuring no responsible party is overlooked in an oil rig.
What Is a Third-Party Gas Field Injury Claim?
When you get hurt, you usually file a workers’ comp claim with your employer. This helps pay for basic needs like medical treatment and some of your lost income. What happens if someone other than your employer caused the accident?
That’s where a third-party claim comes in. A third party is anyone who isn’t your direct employer or a coworker but still played a role in the accident. This could include:
- A subcontractor who ignored safety rules
- A company that made or repaired a defective machine
- A property owner who failed to fix dangerous conditions
- A truck driver who crashed into your work area
When you file a third-party claim, you start a civil gas field accident lawsuit against the person or company that caused the harm. This opens the door to a wider compensation range than what workers’ comp usually provides.
Please read more about personal injury claims here: What Is the Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Claims in Oklahoma?
What Compensation Can You Get from a Third-Party Claim?
A third-party claim isn’t limited to just medical bills and partial wages. It can include much more, like:
- Full Medical Expenses – including long-term rehab, surgeries, or specialized care
- Lost Income – not just what you’ve missed so far, but future earnings too, if you can’t go back to your old job
- Pain and Suffering – for the physical pain and emotional toll of the injury
- Mental Health Support – therapy or counseling after trauma
- Punitive Damages – extra money a court might award if the other party was seriously reckless
That’s why many injured workers file a workers’ comp claim outside and a third-party claim if they’re eligible. The added compensation can be life-changing.
Common Scenarios That Lead to Third-Party Claims in Gas Fields
Not every accident qualifies for a third-party lawsuit, but many do. Here are a few examples that might sound familiar:
Defective Equipment Injury
Maybe a pipe valve exploded or a drill jammed and shattered, injuring you. If that equipment was poorly designed or repaired, the company that made or serviced it might be liable. These failures often result in severe burns, crushing injuries, or toxic exposure that could have been prevented.
Contractor Negligence Injury
Suppose a subcontractor caused an explosion by ignoring safety procedures or rushing a job. In that case, you might be able to sue the subcontractor for gas field injury and seek justice that way. Their negligence can put everyone on the site at risk, especially when they ignore clearly posted rules or fail to coordinate with other crews.
Vehicle Collisions On-Site
Trucks and machinery are always moving on a gas field. If a driver from another company crashes into you or your work zone, that’s a case for Third-Party Negligence. These crashes can cause broken bones, head injuries, or even death, depending on the force of impact and the type of equipment involved.
Unsafe Conditions On Someone Else’s Land
If your employer doesn’t own the site, and the third party that owns the property failed to fix broken stairs, loose wiring, or fire hazards, you could have a non-employer liability case. These hazards often go unnoticed until someone gets seriously hurt, making property owners responsible for keeping the area safe, a critical concern in the oil and gas industry.
Proving a Third-Party Claim in Oklahoma
You still may qualify for oilfield worker injury compensation through your employer’s insurance in all these cases. Still, you may also be able to file a personal injury suit for additional recovery. With workers’ comp, you don’t need to prove fault. But a third-party claim is different. You must show that the other person or company was negligent to win. To build your case, you’ll need solid proof, like:
- Photos of the accident scene
- Records of broken equipment or ignored safety procedures
- Witness statements
- Video footage, if available
- Medical records that show how you were hurt
- Reports from specialists who can explain what went wrong
It might sound like a lot, but that’s where an oil company and gas industry injury attorney can help. They know what to look for and how to create a case showing the other side’s fault.
How Third-Party Claims Work with Workers’ Compensation
In most cases, victims who pursue third-party legal claims after being hurt in gas field accidents are still able to pursue workers’ compensation. You can still file a workers’ comp claim for immediate help with medical costs and partial wages while also starting a third-party lawsuit to recover the rest of your damages.
If you win or settle your gas field personal injury claim, part of the money may go back to the workers’ comp insurance to cover what they already paid you. But the rest is yours, and it can cover far more than workers’ comp ever would.
Since these two systems overlap, working with someone who understands both is important. A lawyer can help you correctly handle a workers’ comp vs. third-party lawsuit, so you don’t miss out on the support you deserve.
Contact Our Gas Field Injury Attorney in Oklahoma Today
Gas field injuries can genuinely change the lives of victims. If someone outside your employer caused the accident, you might be entitled to much more than what workers’ comp offers. A third-party liability gas field case could help cover what you’ve lost and support you moving forward.
At Abel Law Firm, we help injured workers figure out their gas site injury legal action and fight for the best possible outcome. Whether you need help filing a gas site injury compensation claim or want to explore a third-party lawsuit, we’re here to help you every step of the way. Call (405) 239-7046 now for a free consultation with our team, a skilled and compassionate Oklahoma gas field injury attorney.
