Oil field accident attorneys

Complimentary Personal Injury Consult

Request Free Consultation

Full Name

Email

Phone Number

Service

Grimes & Fertitta, P.C. | Oilfield Accident Attorneys

Relentless Advocacy for Injured Texas Oil & Gas Workers and Their Families

Dedicated Representation for Catastrophic Oilfield Injuries

The oil and gas industry powers Texas, but working in the oil patch carries extreme risks. Between heavy machinery, high pressure, combustible fumes, and tight operational deadlines, safety standards are too often compromised in the name of speed and profit.

When a blow-out, explosion, or machinery failure occurs, the physical, emotional, and financial consequences for workers and their families are life-altering. At Grimes & Fertitta, P.C., we provide aggressive, personalized legal representation to oilfield injury victims across Texas—including the Permian Basin, Eagle Ford Shale, and Gulf Coast operations.

Having begun our careers defending insurance companies, our partners—Richard M. Grimes and Julian J. Fertitta, III—know the exact strategies corporations and insurance carriers use to deflect fault, limit payouts, and exploit injured workers. We leverage that insider knowledge to fight for the full financial compensation you deserve.

Richard M. Grimes is an experienced litigator who has successfully represented clients in matters involving catastrophic injury, trucking accidents, corporate and partnership disputes, contract disputes, commercial litigation, auto accidents, family law, custody disputes, real estate fraud, medical malpractice, products liability, premises liability, and high net worth divorce. Known for his ability to manage cases from inception through trial, Richard provides clients with dedicated representation aimed at achieving results that safeguard their rights and interests.

Julian J. Fertitta, III has built a distinguished career handling a wide range of legal disputes, including catastrophic injury, trucking accidents, medical malpractice, corporate and partnership disputes, contract disputes, commercial litigation, auto accidents, family law matters, and high net worth divorce cases. His practice also includes real estate fraud, custody disputes, and general litigation. Julian began his trial career managing complex tort actions across Texas and has since established himself as a trusted advocate for both plaintiffs and defendants.

Why Workers’ Comp Isn’t Always the Only Remedy: Third-Party Liability in the Oilfield

Following an on-the-job injury, employers often tell injured workers that workers’ compensation is their only option. In Texas, this is not always true:

Non-Subscriber Employers: Texas is one of the few states where private employers can opt out of the state workers’ compensation system. If your employer is a non-subscriber, they do not enjoy immunity under the Texas Labor Code. Under Tex. Lab. Code § 406.033, non-subscribing employers lose common-law defenses, meaning they cannot claim contributory negligence, assumption of the risk, or negligence by a fellow employee to escape liability.
Third-Party Negligence Claims: Oilfields and drilling pads are multi-employer worksites where multiple companies operate simultaneously (operators, drillers, roustabouts, trucking haulers, and maintenance contractors). If an employee from another company, an outside contractor, or a negligent site operator caused your accident, you can file a third-party personal injury lawsuit under Texas common-law negligence principles while still collecting workers’ compensation benefits.
Defective Rig Equipment & Product Liability: When defective valves, high-pressure lines, blowout preventers (BOPs), or safety gear fail, the equipment manufacturer or maintenance provider can be held strictly liable under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 82 (Products Liability).

Key Legal Frameworks & Regulations in Oilfield Injury Claims

To build a compelling case against multi-billion-dollar oil and gas entities, our legal team investigates violations of state and federal regulatory frameworks:

OSHA General Duty Clause & Oilfield Standards (29 U.S.C. § 654 & 29 C.F.R. § 1910 / § 1926):
Under federal law, every employer is legally required to furnish a worksite free from recognized hazards causing or likely to cause death or serious injury. We examine drilling logs, job safety analyses (JSAs), and lockout/tagout (LOTO) protocols to identify non-compliance.
Texas Railroad Commission (RRC) Safety Rules (16 Tex. Admin. Code § 3.13):
The RRC enforces strict casing, cementing, and well-control standards. Failures to maintain wellbore pressure or properly cap dangerous wells form key evidentiary bases for gross negligence claims.
Proving Negligence & Duty of Care:
Under standard Texas tort law, an injured victim must establish that the defendant owed a legal duty, breached that duty, and directly caused harm (Greater Houston Transp. Co. v. Phillips, 801 S.W.2d 523). In contractor disputes, we examine the lease agreements and Master Service Agreements (MSAs) to establish operational control and liability under the rule set forth in Redinger v. Living, Inc., 689 S.W.2d 415.
Texas Proportionate Responsibility Act (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Chapter 33):
Defendants frequently attempt to blame the worker. Under Texas’s modified comparative fault system, you can recover damages as long as your fault does not exceed 50%. We anticipate and actively dismantle these defense tactics to protect your compensation.
Statute of Limitations (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003):
In Texas, you generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit. Delaying can result in critical evidence being altered or destroyed, and witnesses moving away.

Oilfield Accident Cases We Handle

We investigate and litigate severe oilfield accident claims, including:

Blowouts, Well Fires, and Explosions: Uncontrolled hydrocarbon releases resulting in severe burns, blast-wave trauma, and inhalation injuries.
Heavy Machinery & Struck-By Accidents: Collapsing derricks, malfunctioning iron roughnecks, swinging pipes, and catastrophic crushing incidents on the drill floor.
High-Pressure Line Ruptures: Failures in frac valves, manifold lines, and hydraulic fittings that eject deadly projectiles.
Toxic Exposure: Severe respiratory trauma and chemical burns caused by hydrogen sulfide (H2SH2S) gas or hazardous drilling fluids.
Oilfield Trucking & Transportation Accidents: Collisions involving water haulers, sand trucks, and commercial supply vehicles under Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (49 C.F.R. §§ 390–399).

Representing Grieving Families: The Texas Wrongful Death Act

When an oilfield catastrophe takes the life of a loved one, surviving family members face immediate grief combined with abrupt financial loss.
Under the Texas Wrongful Death Act (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §§ 71.001–71.012), surviving spouses, children, and parents are entitled to pursue compensation for:
- Lost future earning capacity and financial support
  Grimes and Fertitta
- Loss of care, companionship, society, and consortium
- Mental anguish and emotional pain suffered by the family
Additionally, under the Texas Survival Statute (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 71.021), the victim’s estate may recover damages for the conscious physical pain and mental suffering the worker endured prior to passing, as well as funeral and burial expenses.

The Grimes & Fertitta Difference

Former Insurance Defense Experience: We know how corporate insurers structure their reserve funds, delay valid claims, and prepare defenses. We stay one step ahead at every stage.
Direct Access to Your Lawyer: Unlike high-volume “settlement mills,” our partners work directly on your case, keeping you informed and supported from the initial consultation to final resolution.
www.grimesfertitta.com
Extensive Investigative Resources: We collaborate with drilling safety consultants, mechanical engineers, accident reconstructionists, and life-care planners to measure the true lifetime cost of your injury.
Grimes and Fertitta
Contingency Fee Representation: You pay $0 upfront. We advance all investigation, court, and expert costs. We only receive legal fees if we recover a settlement or jury verdict on your behalf.

Take Immediate Legal Action Today

Oil and gas corporations send investigators and adjusters to the site within hours of an incident to protect their bottom line. Make sure you have seasoned advocates safeguarding yours.

Call Grimes & Fertitta, P.C. for a Free, Confidential Case Evaluation:

Houston Office: (713) 224-7644

The Woodlands Office: (281) 882-8488

Richard M. Grimes is an experienced litigator who has successfully represented clients in matters involving catastrophic injury, trucking accidents, corporate and partnership disputes, contract disputes, commercial litigation, auto accidents, family law, custody disputes, real estate fraud, medical malpractice, products liability, premises liability, and high net worth divorce. Known for his ability to manage cases from inception through trial, Richard provides clients with dedicated representation aimed at achieving results that safeguard their rights and interests.

Julian J. Fertitta, III has built a distinguished career handling a wide range of legal disputes, including catastrophic injury, trucking accidents, medical malpractice, corporate and partnership disputes, contract disputes, commercial litigation, auto accidents, family law matters, and high net worth divorce cases. His practice also includes real estate fraud, custody disputes, and general litigation. Julian began his trial career managing complex tort actions across Texas and has since established himself as a trusted advocate for both plaintiffs and defendants.