Justin Oil Rig & Drilling Injury Attorney

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Oil rig and drilling work near Justin, Texas puts workers in some of the most dangerous conditions in any industry. Denton County sits on the edge of the Barnett Shale formation, and active drilling and well-service operations run throughout the region, from the fields near Justin and Northlake all the way to the sites along Highway 114 and FM 156. When a serious injury happens on one of those sites, you need to know your rights under Texas and federal law, and you need an attorney who will fight for every dollar you deserve. The personal injury lawyers at Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys in Denton, Texas are ready to help injured oil rig and drilling workers in Justin and across Denton County get the justice they are owed. Call us today at (940) 800-2500 for a free consultation.

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Why Oil Rig and Drilling Work in Justin, Texas Carries Serious Injury Risks

Drilling and well-service work is one of the most physically dangerous jobs in the country. Worker fatalities in the oil and gas extraction industry are largely concentrated in Texas, which is the top oil- and gas-producing state with the majority of active rotary rigs and oil and gas extraction workers. That danger does not stay in West Texas. Denton County, which includes Justin, sits above the Barnett Shale, and the area has seen significant drilling and production activity for years.

Denton is home to nearly 200 oil and gas drilling sites, and the area has experienced gas-well explosions and related injuries. The local government even voted to ban fracking within its city limits in 2015, a move that was later overridden by the Texas Legislature. That history shows just how real the risks are for workers in this area.

Common oil rig accident injuries include bone fractures from being struck by objects, chemical or third-degree burns from well blowouts and explosions, head or brain injuries from falling pipes and equipment, paralysis due to falls from derricks and platforms, and limb loss from being crushed by heavy machinery. These are not minor incidents. They change lives permanently.

When you work near Justin, whether your site is off Highway 114, near the Justin Industrial Park, or out along the farm roads running toward Rhome and Boyd, the hazards are constant. Spinning chains, rotary tables, pressurized lines, and heavy pipe create injury risks every single shift. According to OSHA, three out of every five oilfield injuries are caused by a worker being crushed, struck by, or caught between an object. If you suffered one of these injuries, you may have a strong legal claim. Contact Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys at (940) 800-2500 to find out where you stand.

Texas Law and Federal Regulations That Protect Injured Drilling Workers

Multiple layers of law protect oil rig and drilling workers in Texas. Understanding which laws apply to your situation determines what kind of claim you can file and how much you can recover.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets federal workplace safety standards that apply to most land-based drilling operations in Texas. OSHA requires employers to provide workers with a safe workplace free from recognized hazards. OSHA also prohibits employers from retaliating against employees for exercising their rights under the law. That means if you report an unsafe condition on a Justin-area drill site, your employer cannot legally fire you or punish you for it.

For workers on vessels or offshore platforms, the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA), found at 33 U.S.C. Chapter 18, provides a separate federal compensation system. Under 33 U.S.C. § 905(b), if a vessel’s negligence caused your injury, you can bring a third-party action against that vessel even while receiving benefits from your employer. The Jones Act, codified at 46 U.S.C. § 30104, gives seamen the right to sue their employers for negligence. In the landmark case McDermott International v. Wilander, 498 U.S. 337 (1991), the U.S. Supreme Court held that a worker does not need to aid in the navigation of a vessel to qualify as a seaman under the Jones Act, broadening who can bring these claims.

For land-based drilling workers in Texas, the Texas Labor Code and the Texas Workers’ Compensation Act govern most claims. Workers’ compensation in Texas typically covers medical treatment, income benefits (usually 70% of your average weekly wage), and death benefits for families of workers killed on the job. However, the system has real limits, and your employer’s status as a subscriber or non-subscriber changes everything about your options. An attorney at Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys can review your situation and tell you exactly which laws apply to your claim.

How Texas Workers’ Compensation Non-Subscriber Rules Affect Your Oil Rig Injury Claim

Texas is the only state in the country where private employers can legally opt out of the workers’ compensation system. Texas is the only state where workers’ compensation insurance is completely voluntary for private employers. Companies that opt out are called “non-subscribers” and lose important legal protections if employees sue for injuries. This distinction matters enormously for injured drilling workers.

The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) administers the workers’ compensation system through its Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC). Under the Texas Labor Code, private employers who do carry workers’ compensation coverage must report work-related injuries resulting in more than one day of lost time to their insurance carrier. Employers without coverage must report those same injuries directly to the DWC and to the state. If your employer is a subscriber, your primary remedy is a workers’ compensation claim, not a lawsuit, except in cases of gross negligence resulting in a fatality.

If your employer is a non-subscriber, the rules shift in your favor. Non-subscriber employers have no immunity against most employee injury lawsuits. Non-subscribers also lose key defenses, such as contributory negligence, assumption of risk, and co-employee negligence. This means if an employee gets hurt on the job due to any negligence by their non-subscriber employer, the gates open wide for potential claims covering medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, mental anguish, disfigurement, and punitive damages.

In practical terms, a non-subscriber claim can be worth far more than a workers’ compensation claim for the same injury. If an employer does not have workers’ compensation insurance, their employee could not file a workers’ compensation claim in response to a workplace injury, but they could file a personal injury suit against their employer instead. Knowing your employer’s coverage status is the first step. Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys can check that status for you and advise you on the right path forward. Call (940) 800-2500 today.

Third-Party Claims: Suing Someone Other Than Your Employer After a Drilling Accident

Your employer is not always the only party responsible for a drilling injury. Third-party claims are separate personal injury lawsuits filed against companies or individuals other than your direct employer, and they can be filed even if you are already receiving workers’ compensation benefits.

On a typical drill site near Justin, multiple companies operate at the same time. There may be a well operator, a drilling contractor, a casing crew, a wireline company, and an equipment rental company, all working on the same location. Subcontractors hired to perform high-risk tasks like drilling, casing, trucking, and workovers may be responsible for accidents due to inadequate training, equipment failures, or rushed work. If defective or poorly maintained machinery caused the incident, the manufacturer or distributor may be held accountable. When hazardous site conditions contribute to an accident, the landowner or leaseholder may also share in the legal responsibility.

Equipment manufacturers are a common third-party defendant in drilling injury cases. If a blowout preventer, a rotary table, or a pressurized hose connection failed because of a manufacturing defect or a design flaw, the manufacturer can be held liable under Texas products liability law. This type of claim stands apart from your workers’ compensation case entirely.

Chemical exposure is another basis for third-party claims. Hydrogen sulfide gas, drilling muds, and other toxic substances used on drill sites near Justin can cause serious respiratory injuries, chemical burns, and long-term organ damage. If a chemical supplier failed to warn workers about hazards, or if a contractor mishandled hazardous materials, those parties may owe you compensation. The attorneys at Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys know how to identify every responsible party and pursue all available claims on your behalf. Serious injuries like traumatic brain injuries and catastrophic burns often involve multiple defendants, and you should not leave any of them off the table.

What Compensation Can You Recover After a Justin Oil Rig or Drilling Injury?

The compensation available to an injured drilling worker depends on the type of claim, who is responsible, and the severity of the injury. Texas law allows injured workers to pursue several categories of damages in a personal injury or non-subscriber lawsuit.

Economic damages cover the actual financial losses caused by the injury. These include all past and future medical bills, lost wages from time missed at work, and lost earning capacity if the injury prevents you from returning to the same type of work. Drilling and well-service jobs pay well, and the long-term income loss from a serious injury can be enormous. Your attorney should calculate these losses carefully, including the cost of future surgeries, physical therapy, and long-term care.

Non-economic damages cover the human cost of the injury. Pain and suffering, mental anguish, physical impairment, and disfigurement are all compensable under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 41. These damages do not come with a set dollar amount, and they often represent the largest part of a serious injury claim.

Punitive damages, also called exemplary damages under Texas law, are available in cases involving gross negligence. Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 41.003, a plaintiff must prove by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant acted with conscious indifference to the rights, safety, or welfare of others. When an oil company ignores known safety violations, cuts corners on equipment maintenance, or pushes workers to take dangerous shortcuts to meet production deadlines, that conduct can support a punitive damages claim.

The statute of limitations for most personal injury claims in Texas is two years from the date of the injury, under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003. Missing that deadline almost always means losing your right to sue. Do not wait. Call Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys at (940) 800-2500 as soon as possible after your injury so we can protect your rights and preserve the evidence you need.

Why Justin and Denton County Drilling Workers Choose Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys

Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys is a Denton, Texas personal injury law firm that handles oil rig and drilling injury cases for workers in Justin, Northlake, Rhome, Boyd, and throughout Denton County. Our office is close to the Denton County Courthouse on West Hickory Street, and we serve clients across the region, from the neighborhoods near Justin Road to the communities along I-35W.

We handle drilling injury claims on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. There are no upfront costs, no hourly fees, and no financial risk to you for hiring us. We also offer free consultations, so you can speak with an attorney, get honest answers about your case, and decide whether to move forward, all at no cost.

Oil and gas companies have large legal teams and aggressive insurance adjusters who work to minimize what they pay injured workers. You deserve someone in your corner who understands the law and knows how to build a strong case. Past results in any individual case do not guarantee the same outcome in another matter, because every case involves different facts and different law. What we can promise is that we will work hard to understand your situation, identify every legal option available to you, and pursue the full compensation the evidence supports.

If you or a family member was hurt on a drill site, a well-service operation, or any oilfield worksite in the Justin area, contact Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys today. Call (940) 800-2500 or reach out online to schedule your free consultation. The sooner you call, the sooner we can start protecting your rights.

FAQs About Justin Oil Rig and Drilling Injury Claims

What should I do immediately after being injured on an oil rig or drill site near Justin, Texas?

Report the injury to your supervisor right away and make sure it is documented in writing. Get medical treatment as soon as possible, even if the injury seems minor at first. Take photos of the accident scene, the equipment involved, and your injuries if you are able to do so safely. Do not sign any documents from your employer or their insurance company before speaking with an attorney. Contact Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys at (940) 800-2500 for a free consultation so we can advise you on next steps before anything else happens.

Can I file a lawsuit if my employer carries workers’ compensation insurance in Texas?

Generally, if your employer is a workers’ compensation subscriber under the Texas Labor Code, your primary remedy is a workers’ compensation claim, not a direct lawsuit against your employer. However, you can still file a third-party lawsuit against other companies whose negligence contributed to your injury, such as equipment manufacturers, subcontractors, or site owners. In cases where an employer’s gross negligence caused a fatality, a lawsuit against the employer may also be possible. An attorney can review your specific situation and identify which claims are available to you.

How long do I have to file an oil rig injury claim in Texas?

For most personal injury lawsuits in Texas, the statute of limitations is two years from the date of the injury, under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003. For workers’ compensation claims, you must report the injury to your employer within 30 days and file a claim with the Texas Division of Workers’ Compensation within one year of the injury. Missing either deadline can eliminate your right to benefits or compensation entirely. Contact Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys at (940) 800-2500 as soon as possible to make sure your claim is filed on time.

What if the oil company says the accident was my fault?

If your employer is a non-subscriber to Texas workers’ compensation, they cannot use your own negligence as a complete defense against your claim in most situations. Texas law removes several key defenses from non-subscriber employers, including the assumption of risk and contributory negligence defenses. If your employer is a subscriber and you are pursuing a third-party claim, Texas follows a modified comparative fault rule under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 33.001, which means you can still recover damages as long as you are not more than 50 percent responsible for the accident. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault.

Does Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys handle cases for workers who were seriously or permanently injured on drilling sites?

Yes. Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys handles serious and catastrophic injury cases for workers in Justin, Denton County, and surrounding areas. This includes traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, severe burns, amputations, and other life-altering conditions caused by oil rig and drilling accidents. We handle these cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. Call (940) 800-2500 to speak with an attorney about your case at no charge. Every case is different, and past outcomes do not guarantee future results, but we are committed to pursuing the maximum recovery the facts of your case support.

Content on this page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Results in any individual case depend on the specific facts and applicable law. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome in any other matter. Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys is responsible for this content. Principal office: Denton, Texas. Attorney advertising.

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