According to the United States Energy Information Administration (EIA), there were 29 operating petroleum refineries in Texas in 2018 producing more than 5.7 million barrels of oil a day. The workers in these job sites often perform very tough and exhausting labor in grueling conditions.

Accidents at refineries can frequently result in workers suffering catastrophic injuries. In some cases, workers may be diagnosed with injuries or illnesses after repeated exposure to certain chemicals or dangerous repeated routines.

While many injured workers are eligible to file state compensation claims, the benefits in such cases are subject to statutory limits. Refinery employees may struggle to recover benefits that are equal to what they were previously earning.

For this reason, you should not delay in seeking legal representation when you or your loved one has been injured in a refinery accident. Depending on your case, you could have a legal claim against a negligent party who is liable for your injuries, aside from your employer.

Did you or your loved one suffer serious injuries in a refinery accident caused by another party’s negligence? You will want to contact the Law Office of Richard Schechter, P.C.

Our firm will review your case, answer your legal questions and explain your rights, when you call (800) 734-5612 or submit an online contact form to receive a free consultation.

Refinery Injury Attorney in Houston, TX

Injured workers understandably believe they are victims and often feel they are entitled to recover benefits for the injuries they suffer in accidents caused by another party’s negligence. Unfortunately, the insurance companies these victims deal with have a goal of paying as little as possible to resolve these claims.

In some cases, an insurer may want to negotiate a lump-sum settlement to resolve your case. Many refinery accidents involve devastating injuries that require several months or even years of costly rehabilitation that insurance companies may not factor into a proposed settlement.

A claim may be called into question or denied when a victim does not have sufficient medical documentation to support their claim.

You should avoid attempting to negotiate any settlement on your own. Contact the Law Office of Richard Schechter, P.C. We will conduct an investigation and begin negotiating a settlement. If the insurance company does not extend a satisfactory offer, we will file a lawsuit on your behalf.

Common Causes of Refinery Injuries

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there were 2,400 nonfatal injury and illness cases for drilling oil and gas wells in 2003, 4,700 in 2005, and 4,200 in 2007. The BLS reported 120 fatal work injuries in the oil and gas industry in 2008, with the 41 in Texas being the highest of any state.

The BLS stated that the three most common events in these cases were:

• Traffic accidents
• Contact with objects or equipment
• Fires or explosions

In addition to the frequent causes listed above, other common causes of refinery accidents include, but are not limited to:

• Failure to properly train employees
• Prolonged heat exposure
• Slip and fall accidents
• Defective or malfunctioning equipment
• Failure to provide fall protection
• Exposure to toxic substances
• Electrocutions
• Unsafe scaffolding
• Crane accidents
• Forklift accidents
• Impure chemicals
• Other unsafe working conditions

Liability in these types of cases can be extremely complex. One of the most important reasons for you to quickly contact the Law Office of Richard Schechter, P.C. is that our firm can immediately commence an exhaustive, independent investigation into the cause of your accident.

Our firm will not only obtain all of the important evidence relating to your case, but we will also be able to identify all potentially liable parties. Several parties besides your employer could be responsible for your injuries.

Even if a person is eligible for state compensation insurance, actions against negligent third parties can help provide additional recovery. If the employer is deemed a “non-subscriber” in terms of compensation coverage, then the investigation helps hold both the employer and all other negligent parties liable in a civil action.

Types of Refinery Injuries

Whenever any worker is injured in a refinery accident, he or she should make sure the first thing he or she does is seek medical attention. This is true even when a person does not think he or she was seriously hurt, as many severe injuries involve delayed symptoms.

Furthermore, it is beneficial to have a medical record created as soon as possible after any accident. Insurance companies often claim any delays in treatment are evidence that injuries are not as serious as claimed.

Refinery accidents frequently result in injuries that often carry lifelong implications for victims. Some of the most common kinds of injuries stemming from these types of accidents include, but are not limited to:

• Fractures
• Sprains/Muscle strains
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
• Spinal cord injuries
• Internal organ injuries
• Amputation
• Eye injuries or vision loss
• Hearing loss

Cases involving diseases that are diagnosed after exposure to certain chemicals or toxic substances can be especially complicated.

The statute of limitations on most workplace injury claims in Texas is two years from the date of the accident that caused a victim’s injuries.

Damages for Refinery Injuries

State compensation coverage usually provides medical, income, and death benefits, but these amounts are subject to certain limits under state law. Limitations generally do not apply to lawsuits filed against non-subscribers and third parties.

In most injury actions in Texas, victims can recover such damages as:

• Medical expenses
• Lost income
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional anguish

The families of workers killed in refinery accidents may be able to file wrongful death lawsuits against parties whose negligence caused the deaths of their loved ones. Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 71.004 establishes that a wrongful death action is for the exclusive benefit of the surviving spouse, children, and parents of the deceased, although the deceased’s executor or administrator is allowed to bring a claim when none of the entitled individuals begins an action within three months of the death.

Contact a Houston Refinery Injury Lawyer

If you sustained severe injuries or your loved one was killed in a refinery accident in Texas, it is in your best interest to immediately retain legal counsel. The Law Office of Richard Schechter, P.C. represents clients in communities all over Texas.

Our firm will work hard to make sure that you receive the compensation you are entitled to. Call (800) 734-5612 or contact us online to have our attorney provide a complete evaluation of your case during a free consultation.