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.
How can we help?
- How do Oklahoma oil field accidents happen?
- What types of oil field claims can employees and non-employees file?
- Can manufacturers be held liable for defective oilfield machinery, equipment, and tools?
- What are the common causes of oilfield accidents in and near Oklahoma City?
- What types of injuries do oil field workers suffer?
- Do you have an Oklahoma City oil field accident lawyer near me?
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:
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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:
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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:
- Motor Vehicle Safety (OSHA)
- Motor Vehicle Safety (NIOSH)
- Work Zone Traffic Safety (OSHA)
- Work-Related Roadway Crashes: Prevention Strategies for Employers (NIOSH)
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.
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:
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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.
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