Worker Fatalities in the Oil and Gas Industry

 Posted on October 05, 2021 in Wrongful Death

The oil and gas industry is consistently cited as one of the most dangerous industries to work in. Between 2013 and 2017 nearly 500 workers were killed on the job. When a worker dies in a work accident, they often leave behind shocked and grief-stricken family members. If your loved one died on a drill site or an oil and gas worksite, you know first-hand the devastation a fatal work accident can bring to a family.

Nothing can make up for your tragic loss. However, there may be legal options at your disposal that can help you recover financial compensation and hold the at-fault party responsible for your loved one’s death.

Negligence Can Cause Preventable Work Accidents

The death of a family member is always heartbreaking, but when the death was preventable, the loss is even more painful. Some oil and gas industry work accidents are caused by negligence. For example, improper storage of corrosive chemicals or hazardous materials can lead to horrible chemical burns and lung damage. Negligent design or manufacture of equipment or supplies can lead to lacerations, broken bones, head injuries, electrocution, and more. Struck-by and caught-between accidents can be caused by a contractor’s oversight. These are just a few examples of how a party’s negligence can lead to a fatal work accident.

Seeking Justice after a Fatal Work Accident

If your spouse, parent, child, or other close loved one died in a refinery accident or another work accident, you may have a few legal options. In Texas, employers are not required to carry workers’ compensation insurance, but many do. If your loved one’s employer carried workers’ compensation insurance, you may be entitled to death benefits. You may be able to recover 75 percent of your deceased loved one’s wages as well as compensation for funeral and burial expenses. If your loved one’s employer did not carry insurance or a third party was responsible for the death, you may be able to bring a wrongful death claim against the employer or third party.

Contact an El Paso Oil Field Injury Attorney

A work accident can leave a family grieving the loss of their loved one and struggling to make ends meet. If your loved one died in an oil and gas industry accident, you may be able to seek justice and financial restitution through a wrongful death lawsuit and/or workers’ compensation claim. Texas personal injury lawyer James B. Kennedy can help you understand your options under Texas law. He can build a strong claim and guide you through the process of pursuing the compensation you and your family need. Call 915-544-5200 for a free, confidential consultation. Se Habla Español.

Source:

https://www.osha.gov/oil-and-gas-extraction