Anderson Alexander
San Antonio Oilfield Injury Lawyers
Fighting for Injured Oilfield Workers in San Antonio
An oilfield accident can change your life in a matter of seconds. A fall, equipment failure, explosion, fire, or other worksite accident can leave you facing serious injuries while also wondering how you will support yourself and your family if you cannot return to work. And when multiple companies, contractors, and pieces of equipment are involved, figuring out who is responsible can be just as complicated as recovering from the injury itself.
If you were injured in a oilfield accident in San Antonio, don’t assume workers’ compensation is your only option. Depending on the circumstances, you may have additional claims against your employer or another party whose negligence contributed to your injuries. Understanding those options early can make a difference in protecting your right to pursue compensation.
At Anderson Alexander (A2X), we represent injured oilfield workers and their families and take a thorough look at what caused the accident, who may be responsible, and how the injury has affected your life. If you’re unsure what your case may be worth or whether you have a claim beyond workers’ compensation, contact A2X today. We can help you understand your legal options and fight for the maximum compensation available under your circumstances.
What Causes Oilfield Injuries?
Oilfield accidents can take many forms, from equipment failures, explosions, and fires to falls, vehicle collisions, chemical exposure, and other hazardous worksite incidents. OSHA identifies vehicle incidents, struck-by and caught-in hazards, explosions and fires, falls, confined spaces, high-pressure equipment, and machine hazards among the risks associated with oil and gas extraction.
But negligence is often the underlying factor in many oilfield injury cases. An accident may happen because a worker wasn’t properly trained, equipment wasn’t properly maintained, safety procedures were ignored, or a known hazard wasn’t addressed. With multiple companies, contractors, and subcontractors often operating on the same site, determining who created or failed to prevent a dangerous condition can require a thorough investigation.
Injuries Sustained in Oilfield Accidents
Oilfield accidents can cause serious, life-changing injuries. Workers in San Antonio may be exposed to heavy machinery, high-pressure equipment, hazardous chemicals, flammable materials, elevated work areas, and other dangerous conditions. Oil and gas workers can also face health hazards involving hydrogen sulfide, silica, noise, diesel particulate matter, and extreme temperatures.
When an accident occurs, the resulting injuries can include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken or crushed bones, burns, amputations, internal injuries, nerve damage, and other catastrophic conditions. Some injuries may require months or years of medical treatment and rehabilitation, while others may permanently affect a person’s ability to work, care for their family, or live independently.
For an oilfield worker, the impact of a serious injury can extend well beyond the initial medical bills. If you can no longer perform the physically demanding work you trained and built your career around, you may face reduced earning capacity, a change in your career, or an uncertain financial future. You may also require ongoing medical care or have difficulty participating in activities and responsibilities that were once part of your everyday life. At A2X, we look at the full impact of an oilfield injury, not just the immediate costs. When evaluating a claim, we consider the treatment you have already received, the care you may need in the future, how your injuries have affected your ability to work and earn a living, and the physical and emotional effects of the injury. Our goal is to understand how the accident has changed your life and pursue the maximum compensation available under the circumstances of your case.
What to Do If You or a Loved One Are Hurt While Working on an Oil Rig
After an oilfield accident, your first priority should be getting the medical attention you need. Even if an injury seems minor at first, some serious conditions may not be immediately apparent. Seeking prompt medical care can also help document your injuries and establish a record of the treatment you received, which may be important when pursuing a workers’ compensation or personal injury claim. Be sure to follow your healthcare provider’s recommendations and keep records related to your treatment and recovery.
You should also report your injury as required and preserve information about what happened. Texas generally requires an injured employee to notify the employer within 30 days of the injury and to file a workers’ compensation claim with the Division of Workers’ Compensation within one year. However, exceptions can apply depending on the circumstances.
If possible, preserve photographs, communications, accident reports, witness information, and other incident-related documentation. Be cautious about giving recorded statements or signing documents about your rights without first understanding what they mean.
It is important that you don’t try to navigate the aftermath of an oilfield accident on your own. Contact A2X as soon as possible. These cases can involve complicated questions about workers’ compensation, negligence, multiple employers or contractors, and other potential sources of compensation. Our team can investigate what happened, help determine who may be responsible, and explain your legal options. The sooner you reach out, the sooner we can begin protecting your rights and pursuing the compensation you may be entitled to recover.
Workers’ Compensation and Personal Injury Claims After an Oilfield Accident
Texas has specific laws governing workers’ compensation, and the benefits available to an injured worker can depend on whether their employer carries workers’ compensation coverage. While workers’ compensation may provide medical benefits and certain income benefits for a covered workplace injury, those benefits may not account for every loss caused by a serious oilfield accident. Depending on the circumstances, an injured worker may have a separate personal injury claim when another party’s negligence contributed to the accident. Oilfield worksites often involve multiple companies, contractors, subcontractors, equipment providers, and other parties, which means the person or company responsible for an injury may not always be the worker’s direct employer.
For example, an oilfield accident could result from defective equipment, negligent maintenance, inadequate safety measures, an unsafe worksite, or another contractor’s actions. If a third party contributed to the accident, that party may be held responsible for the resulting injuries and losses.
Whether you can bring a claim against your employer depends in part on whether the employer provides workers’ compensation coverage. Texas generally does not require most private employers to carry workers’ compensation insurance. Employers that choose not to provide coverage are commonly referred to as non-subscribers, and different rules apply to claims involving those employers. If your employer is a non-subscriber, you may be able to pursue a personal injury claim against the employer for injuries caused by its negligence. If your employer does carry workers’ compensation coverage, however, different rules generally apply to lawsuits against the employer. That is why determining your employer’s workers’ compensation status is an important first step in evaluating your legal options.
Even when workers’ compensation is involved, your employer may not be the only party whose actions contributed to your injury. A third-party claim may be possible when someone other than your employer is legally responsible for the accident. Oilfield operations can involve numerous companies working together, so a third-party claim could potentially involve another contractor, subcontractor, property owner, equipment manufacturer, maintenance company, or other business. For example, if defective equipment caused your injury or another company’s negligence created an unsafe condition at the worksite, you may have a claim against that party.
These cases require a careful investigation into what happened and who may be responsible. A2X can examine the worksite, the companies involved, the equipment and safety procedures, and the evidence surrounding the accident to determine whether you may have a claim beyond your workers’ compensation benefits.
What Compensation Can Look Like After an Oilfield Accident
The compensation available in an oilfield injury case depends on the nature of the accident, the severity of the injuries, who may be responsible, and the applicable legal claims. Depending on the circumstances, A2X may pursue compensation for medical expenses and future medical care, lost wages, reduced or lost earning capacity, physical pain, mental anguish, physical impairment, disfigurement, and other losses resulting from the injury. For a catastrophic injury, the financial impact can extend far beyond the initial hospital stay. A worker may need ongoing rehabilitation, additional procedures, assistive equipment, or long-term care. They may also be unable to return to the same occupation or earn the income they once expected. Our goal is always to understand the full impact of your injury and pursue the maximum compensation available under the circumstances of your case.
What If an Oilfield Accident Results in Death?
Losing a loved one in an oilfield accident can leave a family facing an unimaginable loss, often while also dealing with difficult financial and legal questions. The sudden loss of a spouse, parent, child, or other loved one can affect every part of a family’s life, from emotional well-being to financial security. Depending on the circumstances, surviving family members may have a wrongful death claim or other legal options. These cases can involve complicated questions about what caused the accident, who may be responsible, the worker’s employment and workers’ compensation status, and the losses the family has suffered as a result of their loved one’s death.
At A2X, we understand that no legal claim can undo the loss of someone you love. Our role is to help your family understand its rights, investigate what happened, and pursue any available compensation. During such a difficult time, you can rely on our team to handle the legal process while you focus on your family and begin to move forward.
San Antonio Oilfield Injury Lawyers Fighting for Injured Workers
If you were injured while working in the San Antonio oilfield industry, the decisions you make after an accident can have lasting consequences. Reporting your injury and pursuing workers’ compensation benefits may be important, but those steps do not necessarily determine the full extent of your legal rights.
A2X represents victims of negligence and fights to hold responsible parties accountable. We can investigate your accident, evaluate the circumstances surrounding your injury, and pursue the compensation you may be entitled to recover. If you or someone you love has suffered an oilfield injury in San Antonio, contact us today to learn more about your legal options and how our trial lawyers can help.