Victims of oilfield accidents face long and complex recovery processes, if they get the opportunity at all. At Galloway Jefcoat Injury Attorneys, our oilfield accident lawyer in Lafayette is your advocate and resource for getting answers and holding those who caused your injury accountable.
Our Lafayette personal injury lawyers have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients since our founding in 1996.
Why You Need an Oilfield Accident Attorney in Lafayette
Oilfield accidents change the course of a person’s life. You need a Lafayette personal injury lawyer. Galloway Jefcoat Injury Attorneys partner and co-founder Rusty Galloway worked in the oil industry and has been representing oilfield injury victims for more than 20 years.
Our firm has secured millions for our clients, and our lawyers have detailed knowledge of the laws that apply to oilfield workers. Hiring an attorney offers several core benefits:
- We make sure you know what your legal rights are after an accident. That includes your right to seek medical care and get compensation for your injuries. Your employer, if hurt on the job, has no legal ability to terminate your employment or hold it against you for getting that help.
- You have the right to ongoing support if you are unable to go back to work, especially if you have permanent injuries from your accident. We make sure you receive truly fair compensation.
- Insurance companies are not there to help you. They are going to prioritize profits. You need a trusted advocate to remain by your side throughout your case.
An initial consultation is free of charge and comes with no obligation to hire our firm. That means there is no risk in meeting with us.
If we determine you may have a case and you decide to hire our firm, there are no upfront fees while we work on your case. Review our FAQs to learn more.
"I have used Galloway Jefcoat a few times and have always been very satisfied. Furthermore, all of the people who work there are very professional, nice, and courteous."
Determine if You Have a Valid Claim for Compensation
There are various factors we must consider about whether you may have a case. For example, was your injury caused by negligence? If you are covered by The Jones Act, we need to prove negligence to have a chance of recovering compensation.
However, if you are covered by the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA), we do not need to prove negligence. We simply need to show that you suffered a work-related injury.
While your employer may be at fault, there may also be third parties that bear liability for what happened. Our attorneys may be able to file separate claims against them to pursue compensation for damages.
With the guidance of a Lafayette oilfield accident attorney, you will have clarity on whether you have a case and what your claim may be worth. Our legal team can provide you with hands-on support to gather evidence, build your claim, and seek compensation from all parties responsible for your losses.
"Galloway Jefcoat are amazing professionals who are very client focused. They will guide you thru all the details to help get your litigation solved. I was involved in a crash that ultimate required a knee replacement"
Types of Claims We Are Ready to Pursue
There are many ways a victim can suffer injuries on an oilfield, and it is our goal, as your oilfield accident lawyer in Lafayette, to ensure you get the legal support necessary. We handle all types of claims on these sites, including those for workers injured on the job and others who were injured at the site.
Our experienced attorneys are prepared to pursue claims involving many types of oilfield accidents, such as:
- Slip, trip, or fall accidents – Oilfield workers often work on elevated surfaces, which means falls can cause severe or fatal injuries. Sometimes these accidents are caused by a lack of fall-prevention measures. Oil and other substances can get on walkways, making them slippery and increasing the risk of falls.
- Crane accidents – Cranes are necessary for many tasks, both onshore and offshore. When accidents occur, they are often catastrophic. Our firm has significant experience handling cases involving crane operator accidents on oil rigs.
- Fires and explosions – Accidents caused by fires and explosions are an ever-present risk at onshore and offshore drilling rigs. Friction, heat, sparks from welding tools, lit cigarettes, static, and open flames all increase the risk of fires and explosions. These accidents often involve oil pipelines.
- Motor vehicle accidents – This is one of the leading causes of death for oil and gas workers. Accidents often happen when workers or equipment are being transported to remote areas. Drivers and workers are often exhausted, which greatly increases the risk of a crash.
- Stuck/caught between accidents – Oil and gas workers work around and with a lot of heavy equipment and machinery. An accident could cause a worker to be pinned between equipment or between equipment and a walkway or railing. Examples of heavy equipment include cranes, derricks, forklifts, high-pressure lines, and rotating wellhead equipment.
These and other oilfield accidents are often caused by factors such as worker fatigue, inadequate training, negligent supervision, and insufficient safety equipment. In some cases, old or malfunctioning equipment may be to blame.
In addition, violations of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations may be to blame, such as failing to conduct regular safety inspections or failing to have fire extinguishers where appropriate. Watch our videos for more information.
"As a client of Galloway Jefcoat for over two years I want to take a minute to say how much I appreciate the team handling my case."
Benefits of Hiring an Experienced Oilfield Accident Attorney in Lafayette
The last thing injured workers want to deal with is the complex legal process. Workers may not even know where to begin or much about their rights or options. Employers and their insurance companies may be looking to pay out as little compensation as possible, and injured workers often do not know how much their claims may be worth.
These are all reasons why talking to an attorney after an oilfield injury can be so important. While there may be many other parties involved, an attorney is probably the only one focused on your best interests.
The Lafayette oilfield injury attorneys at Galloway Jefcoat Injury Attorneys have in-depth knowledge of the laws that apply to these cases and how to pursue compensation for injured workers.
We have the resources to investigate an accident and build a strong case as we pursue maximum compensation for your damages. Our co-founding partner Rusty Galloway has experience in the oil industry and knows how devastating oilfield injuries can be.
There are no upfront fees before we take your case or while we represent you. We are here to answer your questions and explain how we can assist you.
In more than 30 years of serving injury victims in Louisiana, we have built a reputation for providing personalized, dedicated, and aggressive legal service. Know that our team is here to fight for your rights.
"Great experience, from day 1 I felt like I finally had someone on my side and that feeling didn't leave me for 1 single moment."
Risks and Dangers in Oilfield Jobs
Oilfield jobs pose a high level of risk and require highly skilled professionals. Employers maintain responsibility for keeping employees safe.
Some of the most common risks resulting in injuries include:
- Long-term health issues due to exposure, causing cancer, loss of vision, or other complications
- Explosion-related risks, including permanent loss of mobility and disfigurement
- Crushing accidents from equipment failures or falls
- Extreme conditions leading to spinal and head fractures
- Falls from heights are often due to improper safety standards
If you are hurt in an accident like these or any other, focus on your injury recovery while we work on your case. Our oilfield accident attorney in Lafayette provides comprehensive legal guidance to help you secure financial compensation for your losses. Set up a consultation with us now to learn your rights.
Determining Eligibility for Workers’ Compensation and Other Claims
Workers who perform services related to the exploration, development, production, or transportation of minerals are exempt from coverage by Louisiana’s workers’ compensation system. Oil and gas are generally considered minerals because they occur naturally in soil or geological formations.
As an injured worker, this can seem worrisome. You may be unsure of your rights to pursue financial compensation. We can help you. Once you set up a consultation with our oilfield accident lawyer in Lafayette, we will explore legal strategies.
Oilfield accidents happen for many reasons. Knowing how to pursue your injuries requires careful consideration of the various laws available to you. Federal laws provide compensation to workers injured in oilfield accidents, whether onshore or offshore.
Claims Using The Jones Act
Do you spend at least 30% of your time working offshore, such as on an oil rig? If you suffer an injury caused by another’s negligence, you may be able to seek compensation for medical expenses, daily living expenses, and personal injury damages, like lost enjoyment of life and pain and suffering. Proving negligence can be complicated, as it requires a detailed investigation.
Give Galloway Jefcoat Injury Attorneys a call to schedule a free consultation with a Lafayette oilfield injury attorney and see how he or she may be able to help you build a case under The Jones Act. Read our client testimonials to see how we have helped others like you.
Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA)
If you work onshore, you may be covered by the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA). Technically, the law does not mention oil and gas production, but coverage is provided through an extension of the LHWCA, the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act. The LHWCA provides for workers’ compensation benefits for injured workers.
That means injured workers may be able to obtain compensation for medical expenses and disability. For example, if you have a temporary total disability, you may be eligible for two-thirds of your average weekly wage for as long as you are unable to work.
The LHWCA also provides compensation for vocational rehabilitation, including job placement, counseling, skills testing, and modifications to a previous job. It is important to understand how even small errors could hurt your chances of recovering compensation under the LHWCA.
That is why injury victims should strongly consider hiring experienced legal representation. If your claim is denied, an experienced lawyer should be able to help you go through each step of an appeal.
Our oilfield worker injury lawyers in Lafayette have extensive knowledge of the LHWCA and other relevant laws, including how they may apply to oilfield accidents.
Filing a Claim Within the Time Limits
There is limited time to seek compensation, which is why contacting a lawyer right away is so important. The attorneys at Galloway Jefcoat Injury Attorneys are here to answer your questions, determine if you have a case, and determine the deadline that may apply. For LHWCA claims, you must tell your employer about the injury within 30 days, and claims must be filed within one year.
For Jones Act claims, lawsuits must be filed within three years. If you miss the deadline, you are likely to lose the opportunity to pursue compensation. Browse our case results to learn about our history of success in helping clients.
Regulation of the Oil and Gas Industry
This is an important question in many oilfield accident cases because it may provide insight into the cause of the accident. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has various regulations governing oil and gas extraction designed to keep workers safe.
These regulations cover things like:
- Maintenance
- Design and construction requirements for exit routes
- Rope descent systems
- Stairways
- Scaffolds
- Head protection
- Flammable liquids
- Portable fire extinguishers
- Employee alarm systems
- And more
If you have reason to believe these or other safety regulations were violated and these violations contributed to your accident, you may have a valid case for compensation.
The licensed attorneys at Galloway Jefcoat Injury Attorneys have the resources to thoroughly investigate an accident to determine if any safety violations occurred. We may also be able to investigate whether OSHA violations are common at the location where your accident occurred.
Steps to Take After an Oilfield Accident
Getting medical treatment is one of the most important steps you can take after any type of workplace accident. Immediate treatment may help prevent an injury from worsening or putting your life at risk. Immediate treatment is also important because it helps to show a strong connection between the accident and your injury.
Waiting to get your injuries treated may make your employer suspicious about your motives. Even if you have a strong claim, they may say you must have been injured outside of work. This could make it harder to recover fair compensation.
Notify your employer about your injury as soon as possible. While employers usually learn about injuries that occur on their watch, that is not always the case.
Call a Lafayette Oilfield Accident Lawyer Today
Explosions, slip and fall accidents, toxic chemical exposures, and other oilfield accidents can cause life-changing injuries. That is why it is so important to recover as much compensation as possible to help secure your and your family’s future.
At Galloway Jefcoat Injury Attorneys, our Lafayette oilfield accident attorney is committed to seeking maximum compensation for your injuries and damages.
Our firm has been representing injury victims in Lafayette and throughout Louisiana for more than 30 years, and we have a track record of success.
"Galloway Jefcoat helped me at a time when I felt lost and taken advantage of by my employer."
