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Free Case Evaluation

  • Call 405-232-1212 now or fill out the form above to receive a free confidential consultation.

Oklahoma City Oil Field Accident Lawyers

Experienced oil field injury and fatality attorneys fighting for full compensation

The oil and gas extraction industry is an inherently dangerous field. The constantly moving heavy industrial equipment, the danger of fire and explosion, the heights, and physically strenuous work - all contribute to a dangerous environment. Oil field accidents include blowouts, drilling accidents, transportation accidents, and toxic chemicals that are inhaled or get on a worker’s skin.

We know that the oil fields are a necessary part of our economy – but that doesn’t mean you deserve anything less than the best possible representation if you get hurt in the patch. If you or your loved one are hurt while working on an oil rig, a platform, or in oil fields, the Oklahoma City attorneys of Cunningham & Mears have the experience and knowledge to help show who is responsible, why they’re responsible, and what compensation you deserve.

Free Case Evaluation

  • Call 405-232-1212 now or fill out the form above to receive a free confidential consultation.

How do Oklahoma oil field accidents happen?

In September 2023, it was reported that an Oklahoma oil field worker died at work due to inhaling fumes inside an oil tank. In another Oklahoma oil field accident, a worker was killed after he was pulled into a cable winch drum while working at an oil rig.

At Cunningham & Mears, our attorneys have 105 years of combined experience handling personal injury claims. We have the skills and resources to help you obtain workers’ compensation benefits or personal injury compensation for workplace injuries caused by all types of accidents in oil fields and on oil rigs in Oklahoma including:

  • Oil rig explosions
  • Collapsed rigs
  • Fires and explosions
  • Well blowouts
  • Falls
  • Being struck by objects
  • Being caught between machinery or equipment

What types of oil field claims can employees and non-employees file?

If you were injured in Oklahoma oil fields or on an oil rig while on the job, compensation is generally provided by your employer or employer’s insurer through workers’ compensation to cover the costs of your medical bills, lost income due to temporary or permanent disability, and disfigurement. If you lost a loved one in an oil field accident, workers’ compensation also pays death benefits.

Although workers’ comp is the typical form of recovery for injured oil field workers, you may be entitled to recover compensation in a personal injury lawsuit if the negligence of a third party caused your injuries.

In many cases, it is difficult to determine the responsible party because of the number of contractors and subcontractors working in oil fields. Our lawyers analyze the details of your case to discover the liable parties and determine the best method of recovery for you. If we cannot provide you with the assistance you need, we refer you to attorneys who can.

Can manufacturers be held liable for defective oilfield machinery, equipment, and tools?

Workers in the oil and gas industry use heavy equipment, hand tools and machinery such as drills, forklifts, cranes, and other types of machinery every day. If one of these pieces of equipment malfunctions, is defective, or is not properly maintained, a worker can suffer a grave injury or even death.

With an injury caused by defective equipment, the injured worker may be able to file a third-party product liability claim against the equipment manufacturer and recover far more in damages than they would receive from a workers' compensation claim. With a product liability claim, the injured worker might also recover compensation for his/her pain and suffering (which workers’ compensation doesn’t pay) and 100% of his/her wage losses (instead of the 70 percent workers' compensation usually pays). Both employees and non-employees can file product liability claims.

What are the common causes of oilfield accidents in and near Oklahoma City?

There are countless causes of workplace accidents in the oil and gas extraction industry. Some of the common causes of workplace injuries for oil and gas workers include:

  • Inadequate training
  • Inadequate maintenance
  • Improperly stored chemicals
  • Insufficient inspections
  • Poor communication
  • Worker fatigue due to long hours

Transportation accidents

Many trucks and other vehicles are used at Oklahoma oil field sites to bring in materials, do work at the site, and then transport the energy products and debris away from these sites. The truck drivers and their employers may be liable for any truck accidents that occur due to speeding, distracted driving, fatigue, bad roads, unskilled drivers, or any violations of Oklahoma’s traffic laws or the oil and gas industry safety standards.

Vehicle accidents can also happen because the workers and equipment need to travel long distances to reach the sites. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) states that nearly four in 10 oil and gas industry workers who are killed died due to a highway vehicle accident.

OSHA and NIOSH (The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) have numerous rules to regulate motor vehicle safety at oil field sites including:

Cunningham & Mears has experience with these types of claims. In one illustrative case, we obtained a settlement for a confidential amount on behalf of a 16-year-old who was driving on a dirt road when the teenager was hit head-on by an oil-field service truck causing the amputation of the teenager’s leg above the knee even though the teenager was cited for crossing the center line. We proved that the oil field service truck driver had been drinking, and that it was the oil-field truck driver who had crossed the center line.

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What types of injuries do oil field workers suffer?

Because of the dangerous nature of oil fields, serious and fatal accidents are all too common. If you suffered injuries in an oil field accident, it is important to obtain the services of attorneys who work with doctors who understand what injuries you have, all the types of medical care you’ll need (including surgeries and rehabilitation), the full extent of your medical costs, and how any injuries, permanent disability, disfigurement, or loss of function will affect your life.

We have significant experience and a record of impressive settlements and verdicts (including numerous million-dollar-plus and $100,000-plus results) helping clients maximize their compensation for all types of oil field injuries including:

  • Neck injury
  • Shoulder injury
  • Broken bones
  • Crush injuries including internal organ damage
  • Repetitive stress injuries
  • Hearing loss
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Do you have an Oklahoma City oil field accident lawyer near me?

Cunningham & Mears meets oil field accident victims and families at our two offices located in Oklahoma City. Our first is located at 5104 N Francis Ave., Suite 102 - just minutes from Penn Square Mall with plenty of nearby parking for your car. Our second is located at 9428 Westgate, Suite 102B, in the Brookhaven West part of Oklahoma City - just a short walk from Resurrection Cemetery not far near the Northwest Expressway.

You can reach us by public transit. If you are sick or immobile, we will meet you at your home or in the hospital. We also discuss cases via video conference appointments.

We understand how scared you are about your health, your finances, and your job. We’ll assert your rights and fight for all the damages you deserve.

Seek assistance from a seasoned oil field injury attorney in Oklahoma City

Have you been injured in an oilfield accident? At Cunningham & Mears, our Oklahoma City oil field accident lawyers will explain what type of claim you can file against the oil field owner and all other responsible parties. We are respected by former clients, insurance companies, and defense firms across Oklahoma City for our preparation, negotiation skills, and courtroom advocacy. To discuss your rights, call us or complete our contact form to schedule a free initial consultation.

Related Oil Field Accident Articles

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Dangerous Jobs in the Oil and Gas Industry

By Ryan Y. Cunningham | October 29, 2019

The oil and gas industry provide good paychecks for many employees and contractors. This is, in part, due to the risks of death and serious injury in these demanding jobs. Employees who are injured on the job normally file a workers’ compensation with their employer. In workers’ compensation cases, there is no need to show…

Why the Oil and Gas Industry is Concerned about the New Methane Emissions Rollbacks

By Ryan Y. Cunningham | September 25, 2019

The current EPA administration recently proposed rolling back methane emission regulations. The rollbacks are part of the current discussion about the impact of these gases on climate change. While it was anticipated that climate scientists would oppose the rollbacks, the noteworthy news is that even some of the oil and gas companies that might have…

Oil Field Workers and Heat Stroke

By Ryan Y. Cunningham | July 23, 2019

Oilfield workers in Oklahoma are particularly vulnerable to suffering heat stroke during the hottest months of the year. The risk for heat stroke is higher under direct sun and hot conditions which are commonly found at these oil field operations, according to the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA). Although heat stroke is one of…

Hand Injuries Pose Great Risks to Oil and Gas Workers

By Ryan Y. Cunningham | May 21, 2019

Anyone who has ever sliced open a knuckle, or broken or sprained a finger, understand just how difficult it is to navigate the world when one of your hands isn’t working the right way. For oil and gas workers, however, the types of hand injuries they face are far more severe. In some cases, the…

The Consequences for Construction and Oil Field Workers Exposed to Electric Shock

By Ryan Y. Cunningham | April 2, 2019

Electric shocks in the construction and oil field sector are all too common. They’re often deadly. Electric shock in its simplest term is human contact with electricity. The more electrical voltage there is, the more the worker is likely to die or suffer severe life-changing injuries. Most households have voltage that ranges between 110-220 volts.…

Severe Injury Rates Among Oil and Gas Workers Remain High

By Ryan Y. Cunningham | January 29, 2019

The oil and gas extraction industry has one of the highest severe injury rates in the nation, according to an E&E News report detailing workplace injury data. According to some measures, the industry leads the pack among all industries in this category. When examining available recorded data, more severe injuries occur in oil and gas…

Lawsuit Claims Oil Company’s Effort to Save Money Led to Five Worker Fatalities

By Ryan Y. Cunningham | October 30, 2018

According to a recent lawsuit filed in District Court, attorneys for the family of a man killed in a drilling rig explosion in January 2018 claim that the operator of the oil well at the site of the accident utilized a risky drilling method in order to save money. In that accident outside of Quinton,…

Why Extinguishing Well Oil Fires Requires Years and Years of Experience

By Ryan Y. Cunningham | October 16, 2018

Station KGOU (an Oklahoma NPR affiliate) recently conducted an interview with Sarah Terry-Cobo, a senior reporter for the Journal Record, about her story on a special group of oil field workers, known as “Hellfighters.” Hellfightersare frequently called in to handle well explosions. Ms. Terry-Cobo explained that a great deal of training is required to respond…

The Dangerous Business of Oil Field Drilling

By Ryan Y. Cunningham | September 18, 2018

The practice of onshore and offshore oil extraction is a dangerous business in Oklahoma and other parts of the nation. The risks associated with tasks performed in and around oil drills are considerable. The work involves heavy equipment, combustible materials, and intense pressure. According to information gathered by OSHA, workers in the oil and gas…

Five Workers Unaccounted for after an Oklahoma Oil and Gas Field Explosion

By Marcus P. Mears | August 13, 2018

Reuters news service reported in January 22, 2018, that five workers were missing after an explosion occurred in an eastern Oklahoma oil and gas drilling site. Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. was drilling the well for Red Mountain Energy. Gas from the well was feeding the fire preventing a full search of the area. The fire was…

New Tariffs Could Threaten Oil Production in Oklahoma

By Ryan Y. Cunningham | June 26, 2018

President Trump recently announced he is going forward with his plan to apply tariffs on imported steel and aluminum—25 percent and 10 percent, respectively. When he announced his initial plan in March, U.S. allies Canada, Mexico, and the European Union were to be exempt, but the most recent announcement includes all three. The plan has…

What Is an Oil Well Blowout?

By Ryan Y. Cunningham | June 12, 2018

An oil well blowout is an uncontrolled release of crude oil. Blowouts occur when pressure release systems fail. They can also occur if a spark or flame contacts the oil or for other reasons. Oil well blowouts cause death and catastrophic injuries to workers near the scene of a blowout. Prior to the 1920s, according…

Oil Rig Explosion Injures Two in Wewoka

By Ryan Y. Cunningham | May 8, 2018

An oil rig caught fire and exploded in Wewoka, about an hour outside of Oklahoma City, and injured two workers. The explosion occurred on April 2 while workers were installing an oil and gas pumping unit near Highway 56. Two workers were injured in the accident. One was evacuated by helicopter to a hospital in…

Court Ruling Allows Oil Workers to Sue Well Operators

By Marcus P. Mears | April 17, 2018

Injured oil-field workers can sue well operators for injuries suffered on a drilling rig, the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled in a unanimous decision on March 13, 2018. In December 2013, an oil field worker was hurt on a rig near El Reno and filed suit. That lawsuit led to a State Supreme Court ruling that…

Oklahoma Oil Rig Explosion Claims the Lives of Five Workers

By Marcus P. Mears | April 3, 2018

On Monday January 22, 2018, five workers died in an explosion on an oil drilling rig in Oklahoma, which is being considered the deadliest oil and gas accident since the Deepwater Horizon disaster in 2010 which claimed 11 lives. The oil rig that exploded is owned by Patterson-UTI, a Houston-bases drilling and hydraulic fracturing company…

The Dangers of Oil and Gas Extraction: Avoiding Falls

By Ryan Y. Cunningham | March 14, 2018

Every workplace carries with it some degree of risk of injury for workers, but some industries, such as oil and gas extraction, are more dangerous than others. PBS News reports that, on average, one oil field worker dies about very six weeks on the job in the Bakken fields, which tend to get a lot…

Danger in the Field

By Ryan Y. Cunningham | March 22, 2013

In 2010, the offshore oil rig, Deepwater Horizon, exploded off the coast of Louisiana.  Over one hundred people escaped the catastrophe, but eleven people did not. Land or sea, drilling is dangerous work. In April of this year, an oil field accident in Oklahoma City took the life of a 45-year-old man pinned beneath a…