Who’s to Blame for Your Oilfield Accident Injury?

Oilfield work can be extremely rewarding, but it comes with a high risk. Whenever an oilfield accident injury occurs it can lead to a lifetime of pain and debilitation. And there are usually several parties that bear responsibility.

Identifying Possible Negligence

Employers and third parties often contribute to accidents through negligent acts or unsafe policies. For example, an employer may force an employee to work exceedingly long hours without proper break time. Or, it may be negligent by failing to provide a safe working environment.

Third parties such as equipment manufacturers, suppliers or contractors may contribute to an oilfield accident through negligence as well. For example, a contractor may have installed faulty equipment on a jobsite that malfunctioned and caused an accident. The manufacturer and/or designer of that defective equipment may be partially responsible as well.

Companies that manufacture oilfield equipment are legally obligated to provide safe products that have easily accessible shutoff mechanisms, and to warn users of any potential risks. If they failed to meet those obligations and you suffered an oilfield accident injury as a result, you may be able to take legal action.

Significant Challenges

But if you are planning to file an oilfield injury lawsuit, you need to be aware of the fact that you will very likely face stiff resistance. This could come from your employer’s insurance provider or the equipment manufacturer’s legal defense team. That’s why it will be so important for you to have a skilled, experienced attorney working on your side.