Oil is big business in Oklahoma. The oil and natural 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 due to the high stakes involved. 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. Additionally, if a family member loses a loved one due to negligence in the industry, they may need legal assistance to seek justice and compensation. Hire an oil field accident lawyer in Tulsa from Abel Law Firm to help with your case.

At Abel Law Firm, our oil field accident attorneys in Tulsa advocate for injured Oklahoma 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. Consulting with experienced attorneys is important to handle these complex cases and ensure maximum compensation.

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 injury 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 lawsuit? It can be challenging to understand your rights and legal options. A Tulsa oil field accident attorney 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. They will also help you recover damages for your injuries, ensuring you receive the full compensation you deserve. Consulting an experienced legal team is crucial for handling complex oilfield injury claims effectively.

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. We offer a free consultation to discuss your legal options and strategies for pursuing compensation. Our firm has extensive expertise in handling oilfield injury claims, ensuring that our clients receive the justice they deserve.

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 in 2023 showed that 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 oil industry, combined with negligent safety procedures and practices, safety violations, poor worker training, and other issues, make accidents all too common. OSHA plays a crucial role in regulating occupational safety standards to mitigate these risks. Oil fields are extremely dangerous places due to various hazards, including exposure to toxic chemicals and heavy equipment mishaps.

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, which can lead to serious injuries or even death
• Toxic chemical exposure
• Inadequate safety gear
• Insufficient safety measures
• Inadequate training or supervision
• Inadequate equipment or pipeline maintenance
• Drilling accidents
• Incidents on oil rigs
• Failure to adhere to safety standards
• Faulty equipment
• Human error
• Poorly maintained equipment

What Can Our Lawyers Do?

Oilfield workers face unique hazards, particularly exposure to toxic substances. Identifying liable parties is essential in oil field accident cases to ensure proper compensation. Oilfield 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. Health administration oversees safety regulations and protocols to protect workers.

Legal representation is crucial for oilfield accident victims to navigate the complexities of their cases and secure rightful compensation. Oil field work is one of the most dangerous jobs globally, and the legal implications following an oilfield accident are significant. Oklahoma oilfield accidents highlight the importance of workplace safety to prevent serious injuries or fatalities at drilling sites in this dangerous industry.

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, including oilfield injury cases, cause life-altering changes to a person’s health and quality of life, requiring extensive, ongoing, and expensive medical treatment. Gas industry workers face significant risks, including explosions and fires, which necessitate specialized legal support for those injured on the job. The necessity of workers comp and medical care for oil field workers who suffer injuries cannot be overstated, as it often involves surgeries, rehabilitation, and other critical treatments.

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 severe injuries can lead to significant challenges, such as being unable to work and the necessity for legal help to ensure rights are protected and appropriate compensation is secured. 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. Additionally, workers can pursue compensation through third-party lawsuits for emotional distress and other intangible losses, especially if another party caused the accident. Pursuing a personal injury claim can be complex, but it is a viable option for those seeking justice and compensation not covered by workers’ compensation.

Worker’s Compensation

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. Oil and gas companies are often involved in these claims due to the nature of the industry.

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.

Responsible Parties

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 responsible 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

Negligent employers in the oil and gas industry often prioritize profit over the safety of their workers, leading to various safety neglects that can cause accidents. Holding these employers accountable is crucial for the well-being of the workers.

Understanding what benefits you deserve and your legal options for recovering fair compensation for your injuries from other parties 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. Consulting an experienced attorney is particularly important for navigating oil field injury claims effectively.

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.

Workers’ compensation also provides wage-loss benefits to offset lost income due to temporary or permanent disability, highlighting the importance of financial recovery for affected workers.

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
• Funeral costs
• Wrongful death claim

Medical bills are a critical factor in both workers’ compensation claims and personal injury lawsuits against negligent parties, highlighting the ongoing financial burdens faced by injured workers.

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 occurred:

• 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.

Handling a lawsuit or workers’ compensation claim can be challenging. Hiring a law firm experienced in handling an oil field accident case in the gas extraction industry is crucial to navigate the complexities and ensure you receive the compensation you deserve. An attorney can help keep your claim on track and advocate for you so you get maximum compensation and benefits for your injuries. Many law firms offer a no obligation consultation to discuss your case and provide legal advice without any pressure to commit.

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. Often, an oil company’s negligence in ensuring worker safety can be a significant cause of these accidents. Energy companies, prioritizing profit over safety, may also be responsible for inadequate training and poor maintenance practices that lead to hazardous conditions.

At Abel Law Firm, we have successfully represented clients in oil field accident cases and 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, our law firm have the skills and resources to pursue fair compensation for oilfield accident victims. Worker safety is our top priority, and we are committed to holding negligent parties accountable. Call our Tulsa personal injury lawyers today at (918) 777-7046 or contact us online and set up a free case review.