Based in Tyler and assisting clients throughout Smith County, attorneys at Negem & Worthington zealously represent drillers, wire-line operators, tool pushers, and others who have been injured working in the East Texas oilfields, which extend into Smith, Upshur, Gregg, Cherokee, and Rusk counties.
Smith County emerged as the regional center of the oil and gas industry in the 1930s, and oil production remains an important aspect of our community’s economy and identity. As attorneys born and raised in Texas, we understand how the oil industry operates, and the importance of protecting those who risk life and limb working in the field.
Oilfield labor is particularly dangerous work, and when injuries or deaths are caused by the negligence or wrongful acts of others, Texas law provides for recovery based on personal injury or wrongful death. Common oilfield accidents result from:
Parties responsible for such mishaps may include employers and also third parties not directly connected to one’s employer. Oil companies rarely own the property that they drill on; rather, they enter into leases or deeds with property owners that temporarily allow companies to occupy land and seek oil. Therefore, oilfield workers are often injured on property that is not owned by their employers. If a property owner fails to inspect his or her premises for dangerous conditions, fails to make repairs, or neglects to provide adequate warning to others, he or she may be liable to persons injured on the unsafe property. Our attorneys possess the requisite knowledge of the law and personal injury claims to identify every potentially liable party.
Due to the hazardous work environment, replete with heavy machinery and inherently dangerous tasks, oilfield injuries may be catastrophic and life changing, such as:
For experienced, aggressive representation from attorneys who understand Texas’ oil industry, contact Negem & Worthington today for a free case review. We help clients in Smith County and throughout the state.