Oil Field Accident Lawyer in Tulsa, OK

Oil is big business in Oklahoma. The oil and gas industry makes up a significant portion of the state’s economy and provides thousands of residents with jobs that support countless families and other local industries. Unfortunately, work in the Tulsa oil fields can be exceptionally dangerous and lead to life-altering injuries or illnesses. When a worker is seriously injured, it can feel like the accident victim and their family have to bear the brunt of the physical, financial, and emotional consequences of the accident.

At Abel Law Firm, our oil field accident lawyers advocate for injured Tulsa oil field workers, protecting their legal rights and helping them pursue every avenue possible for recovering meaningful compensation for their injuries. Our legal team excels at managing complex oil field accident cases and unraveling the legal complications that can stall claims or prevent injured people from receiving the money they deserve.

Call (918) 777-7046 or contact us online today to arrange a free legal consultation with a Tulsa personal injury lawyer. Let’s discuss strategy and how our aggressive legal team can help you during this challenging time.

How Can a Tulsa Oil Field Accident Lawyer Help?

Tulsa oil field accident cases can be complex, and there may be more than one way to seek compensation for your injuries. Should you file a workers’ compensation claim or a third-party personal injury lawsuits? It can be challenging to understand your rights and legal options. A Tulsa oil field accident lawyer will work with you to find personalized legal solutions to your situation and will fight to recover maximum compensation for your injuries, which may be life-changing.

At Abel Law Firm, our service and commitment to delivering results for our clients set us apart from other Tulsa law firms. Our firm worked on a case that resulted, at the time, in the state’s largest jury verdict for an injured oil and gas worker. Our client and his family were awarded $15 million, but tort reform laws in Oklahoma limited those damages to just $350,000. Attorney Luke Abel appealed the tort reform damage cap and argued that those laws that limited gas and oil companies’ liability were unconstitutional.

The fight against this unjust law reached the Oklahoma State Supreme Court. After a lengthy appeal process, Luke Abel was victorious in winning the overturn of Oklahoma’s tort reform damage limits. Today, negligent companies must compensate injured oil and gas workers thanks to the tireless work of the legal team at Abel Law Firm. We don’t give up on our clients and are always willing to fight for you.

Common Causes of Oil Field Accidents in Tulsa

While Texas remains the most dangerous state for oil field workers, Oklahoma is not far behind. Reports show 48 deaths occurred in the oil and gas industry in Oklahoma between 2014 and 2019.

The oil and gas industry remains one of the most hazardous industries in the nation. The inherent dangers of the industry, combined with negligent safety practices, safety violations, poor worker training, and other issues, make accidents all too common. Some of the frequent causes of Tulsa oil field accidents include:

Transportation accidents
Explosions and fires
Slip and fall accidents
Falls from heights
Equipment failure
Defective equipment or machinery
Toxic chemical exposure
Inadequate safety gear
Insufficient safety measures
Inadequate training or supervision
Inadequate equipment or pipeline maintenance

Oil field accidents can result in immediate, significant, and catastrophic injuries. They can also lead to occupational illnesses and diseases that may impact a worker long after they’ve left the Tulsa oil fields.

Types of Injuries Caused by Tulsa Oil Field Accidents

Accidents, injuries, and occupational diseases can give oil field workers physical and emotional scars that remain even after they’ve left the industry. Many oil field injuries cause life-altering changes to a person’s health and quality of life, requiring extensive, ongoing, and expensive medical treatment.

The most common injuries and illnesses associated with oil field accidents include:

Traumatic brain injury
Paralysis
Other neck and spine injuries
Amputations
Broken bones
Thermal burns
Chemical burns
Organ damage, especially lung damage
Cancer
Vision loss
Hearing loss
Soft tissue injuries
Lacerations
Contusions
Abrasions

These types of traumatic injuries can also lead to mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. Post-traumatic stress disorder is also common following oil field accidents.

Legal Options for Injured Oil Field Workers

Depending on the circumstances, injured oil field workers may have several options for pursuing compensation for their injuries. The first and most common avenue for seeking fair compensation after a workplace injury is filing a workers’ compensation claim.

Oklahoma workers’ compensation is a no-fault insurance system that provides medical and wage-loss benefits to employees who were hurt on the job. Permanent partial disability benefits may also be available if a person suffered some sort of permanent impairment to their body that does not prevent them from returning to work. The Administrative Workers’ Compensation Act covers nearly every employee injured in a work-related accident. These benefits are not available to independent contractors.

The situations where workers’ compensation may not apply include when an employee is injured off-site, like in a parking lot, or when drug or alcohol use on the job leads to an injury. Horseplay or other reckless behavior may also prevent a worker from recovering workers’ compensation benefits.

Workers’ compensation benefits cover the medical expenses for injured workers and provide a portion of their lost wages if their injuries prevent them from returning to work while they heal. Accepting workers’ compensation benefits prevents an individual from suing their employer.

Workers may be able to file a third-party personal injury lawsuit if the actions of someone other than their employer or a co-worker caused the accident. Examples of parties that may be partially or wholly liable for an oil field accident include:

Equipment or parts manufacturers
Contractors
Subcontractors
Third-party vendors
Property owners

Understanding what benefits you deserve and your legal options for recovering fair compensation for your injuries can be challenging. It is always in your best interest to speak with a Tulsa oil field accident attorney about your situation so they can guide you toward the legal solutions that apply to your unique case.

Compensation for an Oil Field Accident

Workers’ compensation covers the reasonable and necessary medical expenses required to treat your work-related injury. It may also provide disability benefits if you cannot return to work, such as:

Temporary total disability, paid at 70% of your pre-injury average weekly wage
Temporary partial disability, 70% of the difference between your pre-injury wage and your current wage, if you must return to work that pays less
Permanent partial disability benefits, which are may be paid if the injured worker suffers permanent impairment of some part of their body but can still return to work
Permanent total disability benefits, paid at 70% of the pre-injury wage, paid as long as the worker cannot work
Death benefits, paid to dependent surviving family members.

A third-party personal injury lawsuit can also compensate you for your injuries. Although the overall value of an oil field lawsuit depends on several factors, most injured victims can pursue money for the following:

Medical expenses
Lost wages
Loss of earning capacity
Emotional distress
Pain and suffering

In rare cases of gross misconduct or negligence, the court can also award punitive damages to a victim. Punitive damages do not cover your injuries or losses like compensatory damages. Instead, punitive damages punish a party for egregious negligence or malicious actions by putting more money in your pocket.

What Should You Do After a Tulsa Oil Field Accident?

Workers’ compensation is a no-fault insurance system, which means you can receive benefits no matter who caused the accident. Still, your actions immediately following an accident can jeopardize your ability to collect these vital benefits, potentially allowing an insurer to diminish or deny your claim. To protect yourself and your legal rights, consider taking the following steps after an oil field accident:

Report the incident to a manager or supervisor as soon as possible.
Seek immediate medical attention.
When possible, document the accident scene with pictures and videos.
Make notes about who witnessed the accident.
Explicitly follow your employer or insurance carrier’s guidance when choosing a medical professional to treat your injuries.
Follow up with your employer to ensure they report the accident and file a timely workers’ compensation claim.
Contact a Tulsa oil field injury attorney for help.
Avoid providing a recorded statement to insurance without legal representation.
Do not post anything on social media.
Follow your doctor’s advice and post-injury instructions.

Navigating a lawsuit or workers’ compensation claim can be challenging. An attorney can help keep your claim on track and advocate for you so you get maximum compensation and benefits for your injuries.

A Tulsa Oil Field Accident Attorney Is Ready to Fight for You

An oil field accident can derail your career, financial stability, and life. Getting the compensation you deserve is not easy. The process can feel stressful, demoralizing, and time-consuming.

At Abel Law Firm, we will advocate for you and fight to recover the benefits and compensation you need. Whether hazardous working conditions, OSHA violations, or equipment failure, or something else caused the accident, we have the skills and resources to pursue fair compensation for you. Call our Tulsa personal injury lawyers today at (918) 777-7046 or contact us online and set up a free case review.