Injured in a Midland-Odessa Oilfield Accident? Here’s What To Do Next

Undefeated Midland-Odessa Oilfield Accident Lawyers

When you work in the West Texas oilfields, you understand the work can be dangerous, but you may not realize just how deadly it actually is. Sadly, at least 20 oilfield workers were seriously injured in Midland and Odessa in 2024, and dozens more across the Permian Basin, even as oil and gas injuries declined nationwide. After a serious oilfield accident, being forced into the fight of your life against the very companies that claim they want to “take care of you” is, unfortunately, what you can expect.

Despite what your company promises, their priority isn’t you—it’s protecting themselves. That often means rushing you back to work before you’re ready, pressuring you to see their company-approved doctors, or limiting you to compensation that doesn’t come close to covering your medical bills, lost wages, or future needs.

The actions you take in the hours and days after your injury will determine what kind of recovery you can make, both physically and financially.

Here are the most important steps to take after a Midland oilfield accident and how our undefeated oilfield injury lawyers can protect your rights and stand up, fight, and win for you against the largest oil and gas companies in the world.

1. Stop Working Immediately

If you’ve been injured, stop working right away—even if your supervisor tells you to keep going. Continuing to work can make your injuries worse and seriously hurt your chances of recovering full compensation. It also gives the company an excuse to downplay the seriousness of what happened.

You have the absolute right to STOP WORK at any time if you believe the conditions are or could become unsafe. This includes your right to:

Stop and ask questions if you’re unsure about the safety of any task or operation
Halt work immediately if something feels off, dangerous, or improperly managed

If you’re ever discouraged from exercising your STOP WORK authority or punished for doing so, report it to management in writing. Retaliation for stopping unsafe work or reporting unsafe conditions is not just wrong — it’s illegal.

Stopping work isn’t just your right. It’s your first line of defense against further injury, and the first step toward protecting your future.

2. Report the Injury — Create a Record the Company Can’t Dispute

Notify your supervisor or safety officer as soon as possible. Do this in writing if you can, and keep a copy or photo of your report. This creates a paper trail that could be vital later.

Documenting your injury early helps protect you—especially if the company later tries to deny what happened or shift blame. Oil and gas companies are notorious for losing, misplacing, or destroying evidence that could prove their role in the accident or show that you weren’t at fault.

3. See a Doctor Immediately — And Make Sure It’s One You Choose

After an oilfield injury, it’s critical to get medical care right away—but just as important is who you see for treatment.

You are not required to see a company-approved doctor, and you should avoid doing so whenever possible. Company doctors are only concerned with saving the company money and getting you back to work quickly—not with making sure you get the care you actually need.

Instead, demand treatment from a trusted, independent doctor who will focus on your health and long-term recovery. Keep copies of all medical records, imaging scans, and treatment recommendations—these will be key evidence in your case.

4. Don’t Give a Recorded Statement or Sign Anything Without a Lawyer Present

Oil and gas companies act fast after an accident—not to help you, but to protect themselves. One of the most common tactics they use is trying to take a recorded statement before you’ve had a chance to speak with a lawyer. Anything you say can—and will—be used to reduce or deny your claim.

Be especially cautious. Companies often attempt to:

Pressure you into signing documents that waive your right to pursue compensation before they’ll release your final paycheck
Limit you to workers’ compensation benefits, which only covers a small portion of your wages and none of your future medical care, pain and suffering, or lost earning capacity
Solicit statements or signed paperwork before you understand your legal rights
Offer lowball settlements, hoping you’ll take less than you deserve before hiring a lawyer

NEVER accept money, give a statement, or sign anything—including medical releases or settlement offers—without first speaking with an experienced oilfield injury lawyer. Your future and your family’s financial security depend on it.

5. Protect the Evidence the Company Doesn’t Want You To Have

Keep everything you were wearing or using at the time of the accident—including your work gear, clothing, boots, and any personal protective equipment (PPE). These items may hold critical clues about what caused the accident and who was responsible.

Do not clean, alter, or throw anything away. Store everything in a safe place and contact our legal team as soon as possible so we can help preserve the evidence and begin building your case.

After an accident, insurance companies and employers will monitor social media accounts, using anything the injured worker or his or her family members post on social media to claim that the worker is exaggerating or lying about their injuries.

Even innocent posts or photos can be twisted to cast doubt on your injuries. Until your case is resolved, make your accounts private and better yet: stay off social.

7. Contact an Experienced Oilfield Accident Attorney as Soon as Possible

After the unthinkable, you only get one shot at full compensation, and the company will do everything it can to make sure it’s as little as possible. That’s why you need a law firm with the resources, experience, and willingness to stand up against oil and gas giants and their legal teams. We don’t just fight for the justice and compensation you deserve — we fight to hold these companies accountable and push for safer workplaces so accidents like yours don’t happen again.

Our undefeated oilfield accident lawyers will explain your rights, answer your questions, and give you the information you need to protect yourself and your family.

Once we’re hired, we’ll connect you with the top doctors in the country for your specific injuries — at no upfront cost to you — and ensure your medical bills and reasonable living expenses are covered while your case is pending, so you can focus on what matters most.

Billions Won: How Zehl & Associates Helps Injured Midland-Odessa Oilfield Workers

Oilfield injury lawsuits are nothing like typical workplace accident claims. When your future is at stake, you need a law firm with a proven track record of taking on the largest oil and gas companies in the world and winning the largest settlements and verdicts in U.S. history.

At Zehl & Associates, we don’t just hold companies accountable when they cut corners on training, equipment, or safety — we set records.

From day one, we do whatever it takes to ensure our clients and their families receive the justice and maximum compensation they deserve. What does that mean?

Connecting you with the top medical specialists in the country
Covering medical expenses and living costs while your case is pending
Building long-term financial plans to secure your family’s future
Providing 24/7 support, so you can focus on healing
Combating the company’s tactics to avoid responsibility
Uncovering and using the evidence they don’t want us to find
Refusing to settle for anything less than full compensation

If the company refuses to offer full compensation for all your injuries and losses, we take the case to trial, where we’ve never lost. Because of our undefeated track record, we’re able to maximize our clients’ recoveries in every case we handle, often securing record-setting settlements before the case ever reaches the courtroom.

Undefeated Midland-Odessa Oilfield Accident Attorneys: 432-220-0000 for a Free Consult

With Billions won and decades of experience, our undefeated Oilfield Injury Lawyers have repeatedly recovered the largest verdicts and settlements against the largest oil and gas corporations in the world. We don’t just win for injured workers and their families — we set records.

Our recent recoveries include:

#1 Largest Oilfield Accident Settlement for an individual in U.S. history
#1 Largest Oilfield Burn Settlement for an individual in U.S. history.
$100M Settlement on behalf of workers injured in a petrochemical explosion
$90M Settlement on behalf of a contractor severely burned in a blowout
$62M Settlement on behalf of an oilfield burn victim
$55M Settlement on behalf of an injured oilfield worker

If you or a loved one were injured in an oilfield accident, contact us for a Free Consultation at 432-220-0000 or send us a confidential email through our Contact Us form.

All consultations are free and completely confidential, and you won’t pay us a dime unless we win your case.

Helpful Resources & FAQs

Still have questions? Visit our Oilfield Injury FAQ or contact our team directly — we’re here 24/7 to help.