Undefeated Oklahoma Oilfield Injury Lawyers
Three Oklahoma workers were hospitalized yesterday morning after an oilfield accident near El Reno left them with severe and critical injuries.
Oklahoma Oilfield Accident Triggered by Sudden Pressure Release
The accident occurred at an oilfield located near Highway 37 and South Maple Road in Canadian County, just southwest of El Reno and southeast of Hinton.
According to media reports, the men were hurt when a valve triggered a sudden, high-pressure release, causing a pipe to burst near a pickup truck occupied by the workers. While the force of the release was strong enough to destroy the truck’s bed, officials have since confirmed that there was no explosion.
“There was no fireball or anything like that,” Major Adam Flowers, Canadian County Sheriff’s Office, told local media outlets. “It was a pressure valve that basically released.”
2 Oklahoma Oilfield Workers Critically Burned
Two of the workers suffered critical burns and were airlifted to Oklahoma City hospitals for treatment. A third victim was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance.
So far, authorities in Canadian County have not identified the injured workers or their employer. No other information has been released regarding the nature of their injuries or their current condition.
It’s not clear what caused the El Reno oilfield accident. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating and should release its findings in roughly six months.
What to Do After an Oilfield Accident or Explosion
If you or a loved one were seriously hurt while working on an oilfield, the hours, days, and weeks that follow can be incredibly chaotic for you and your family. But while you’re struggling to understand what happened and make sense of your new reality, the oilfield company and its insurance adjuster are already working to avoid responsibility and limit your financial recovery to the small amount of workers’ compensation benefits you might be entitled to.
If you don’t act soon, they’re going to take control of the narrative, and you and your family might never receive the maximum compensation possible for all your injuries and losses.
- Don’t Wait to Get Medical Care: This is not the time to “tough it out.” Internal bleeding, traumatic brain injuries, and inhalation injuries aren’t always apparent right away, and they can quickly become worse if not addressed immediately. Prompt medical treatment protects your health — and creates a clear medical record tying your injuries to the accident.
- Document the Scene If You Can: If you’re physically able, take photos or video of damaged equipment, work area, warning placards, and your visible injuries. Get the names and phone numbers of coworkers who saw what happened.
- Report the Injury — But Keep It Factual: Notify your employer immediately, so you don’t jeopardize your ability to collect workers’ comp. But be cautious. Provide only a straightforward account of what happened. Don’t speculate on cause or fault, and don’t sign anything without consulting an attorney.
- Preserve Physical Evidence: Keep your clothing, gloves, hard hat, boots, and any damaged tools involved in the incident. Do not wash them. Do not repair them. Store them safely in a clean plastic bag and give them to your attorney.
- Don’t Ignore Your Doctors: Attend all follow-up appointments, complete therapy, and take medications as prescribed. Ignoring your doctor’s instructions will hurt your health and give the insurance company an excuse to question your injuries.
- Keep Every Record: Save medical bills, prescription receipts, travel mileage, pay stubs, and documentation of missed work. Your lawyer will need them to calculate an accurate damage model that accounts for the full scope and impact of your injuries.
- Don’t Assume Workers’ Compensation Will Be Enough: In Oklahoma, as in every other state, benefits cover only medical care and a portion of lost wages, usually for a limited time. They often fall far short of covering a family’s monthly living expenses, and they provide nothing to compensate for pain, suffering, emotional distress, or other damages you could otherwise pursue in an oilfield lawsuit.
- Don’t Assume You Can’t File a Lawsuit: Workers’ compensation may not be your only path to a financial recovery. Depending on how the accident occurred, there may be third-party contractors, equipment manufacturers, or other companies whose negligence contributed to your injuries. Identifying any and all liable third parties will be key to ensuring you’re compensated for the full scope of your injuries and losses.
- Assume You’re Being Monitored: A single photo posted on social media can be taken out of context and used to argue that you’re exaggerating your injuries. Insurance companies have even been known to hire private investigators to film injured workers in public. Even ordinary activities—like carrying a bag of groceries or picking up your child—can be misrepresented. Limit discussion of the accident and your injuries to your attorney, your healthcare providers, and your spouse.
Contact our Undefeated Oilfield Injury Attorneys for a Free Consultation at 1-888-603-3636 or by Clicking Here
Our Undefeated Oilfield Accident Lawyers have successfully represented thousands of injured oil and gas workers throughout the United States, and we consistently win record-breaking verdicts and settlements on their behalf:
- #1 Largest Oilfield Accident Settlement in US History
- #1 Largest Oilfield Burn Injury Settlement in US History
- $100 million settlement on behalf of workers injured in an oilfield explosion
- $75 million settlement on behalf of workers injured in an oilfield blowout
- $67 million recovery for worker injured in oilfield accident
- The #1 Largest Accident Verdict in Texas
- The #1 Largest Accident Settlement in Texas
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