Posted on Tuesday, July 1st, 2025 at 9:00 am
A gas field explosion changes your life in seconds. One moment, you are doing your job; the next, you are dealing with severe burns, trauma, or the loss of a loved one. Oklahoma’s oil and gas industry is a major employer, but the results can be catastrophic when safety fails.
If you have been hurt in an oil or gas rig blast, you may have legal options beyond workers’ compensation. Filing a gas field explosion injury lawsuit can help you recover losses tied to medical bills, missed work, emotional suffering, and long-term disability. Here’s what to know if you are considering legal action after a rig explosion in Oklahoma.
What Causes Oil and Gas Field Explosions?
Gas rig sites are high-risk environments. Fires and explosions can stem from many sources: leaking gas, faulty pressure valves, poor electrical wiring, or broken safety systems. Some of the most common causes include:
- Defective equipment explosion incidents, such as failing valves or ignition sources that spark unexpectedly
- Employer negligence caused a gas explosion, where proper protocols or training were ignored
- Improper handling of flammable substances or failure to detect leaks
- Neglected maintenance or inspections
- Mistakes by subcontractors or other third-party crews
These factors often involve human error, mechanical failure, or both. The fallout can include burn injuries, hearing loss, blunt force trauma, respiratory problems, and post-traumatic stress. In worst-case scenarios, explosions result in death.
Steps to Take After a Gas Field Explosion Injury
What you do after a gas field explosion can seriously impact your health and legal rights. Follow these steps right away:
- Receive medical attention, even if you feel fine. Internal injuries and lung damage may not show up immediately. A complete evaluation connects your injuries to the explosion.
- Report the incident to your employer and follow company protocol to create a documented record.
- Preserve evidence by writing down details while they are fresh and gathering witness names and contact information.
- Do not speak to insurance adjusters alone. They often offer low settlements that do not reflect the full extent of your losses.
- Contact a lawyer experienced in gas field explosions to guide your case and help you pursue fair compensation.
These steps protect your health, your rights, and your ability to recover financially after a serious accident.
Legal Options After a Gas Field Explosion Injury
In Oklahoma, gas field workers injured on the job typically seek recovery through workers’ compensation, a personal injury lawsuit, or both.
Workers’ Compensation
If you are an employee, your Oklahoma employer is most likely required to carry workers’ compensation insurance. This no-fault system provides medical benefits, a portion of your lost wages, and temporary or permanent disability benefits. While it is faster and does not require proving fault, it is also limited. You can’t recover for pain, suffering, or emotional losses.
A Gas Field Explosion Injury Lawsuit
If someone other than your employer contributed to the explosion or if a defective product played a part, you may be able to file a lawsuit. These claims may be based on negligence (like unsafe work practices) or strict liability, such as when faulty equipment causes harm regardless of intent. A lawsuit can help you recover compensation for medical care, lost income, emotional distress, or, in fatal cases, pursue a wrongful death claim.
Choosing the right path—or combining both—depends on the details of your case, which is why it is smart to speak with an experienced attorney as soon as possible.
What You Will Need to Prove
Building a strong explosion injury lawsuit means showing what happened, who is responsible, and how you have suffered.
- You were legally allowed on the site (as a worker, contractor, or visitor)
- The explosion resulted from negligence, equipment failure, or a preventable hazard
- You suffered measurable losses as a result
Your lawyer will gather maintenance logs, OSHA reports, eyewitness testimony, medical records, safety inspection histories, and expert opinions to back your claim. The more detailed your evidence, the stronger your case becomes.
What Compensation Can Cover
Every case is different, but gas explosion injury lawsuits may involve compensation for losses such as:
- Hospital and rehabilitation expenses
- Surgery and future medical treatment
- Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
- Emotional trauma and psychological therapy
- Scarring, disfigurement, or physical limitations
- Loss of companionship or quality of life
In fatal incidents, survivors may seek compensation for funeral costs, the deceased’s lost future income, and emotional pain through a wrongful death claim.
How Long Do You Have to File in Oklahoma
Timing matters. In Oklahoma, most personal injury lawsuits—including those from oilfield blast injuries—must be filed within two years of the explosion, under Oklahoma Statutes Title 12, § 95(A)(3). For workers’ compensation claims, the deadline is usually one year from the date of injury or six months from when benefits stopped. In wrongful death cases, family members generally have two years from the date of death.
Waiting too long can bar you from recovering anything. If you are unsure whether you still have time, speak with an attorney immediately.
Why You Need an Explosion Injury Lawyer
Oilfield accidents are rarely simple. These are not routine car accidents—they involve deep investigations, expert testimony, and multiple insurance companies. A skilled attorney can:
- Uncover the root cause of the explosion
- Identify all at-fault parties
- Handle aggressive insurers or corporate defense teams
- Build a case backed by objective evidence and expert witnesses
- Pursue full recovery of your financial and emotional losses
Injury victims in Oklahoma often benefit from legal teams that collaborate with engineers, safety consultants, and medical experts to build strong, evidence-backed cases. With the right support, it is possible to hold negligent parties accountable and pursue meaningful compensation after a catastrophic event.
Get the Legal Support You Deserve
The legal team at Abel Law Firm stands ready to help. If you were hurt in a gas field explosion anywhere in Oklahoma, we can guide you through your legal options with clarity, compassion, and strength.
Call (405) 239-7046 today or reach out through our contact page to get started.
Let us help you pursue accountability—and get your life back on track.
