Oil and gas production is vital to our economy, but when companies cut corners and contaminate the land and water, they must be held fully accountable. Toxic substances like oil, chemicals, and heavy metals don’t just damage property — they pose serious, lasting risks to public health, livestock, and the environment. Site remediation is meant to clean up the devastation, but it’s rarely enough — especially when the company responsible is more focused on protecting its bottom line than your future.
The only way to ensure your land is restored—and that you receive full compensation for the harm done—is by hiring the most experienced oil rig accident attorney you can find and filing a contamination lawsuit. At Zehl & Associates, we have an undefeated track record of taking on the largest oil and gas companies in the world and not only winning, but setting records on behalf of our clients.
Read on to learn how we can stand up, fight, and win for your family if you’ve been harmed by an oil and gas company’s negligence.
How Is Site Remediation Performed?
Tests are performed to determine that the land and groundwater are contaminated. Testing and research can be lengthy and costly. The effort may involve government agencies, environmental scientists, and independent industry experts.
The inspectors must determine the degree of contamination and the type of contamination. All these factors determine the remediation technologies for cleaning up and mediating the contaminated land and water.
The goal is to return the contaminated area to its condition before the contamination occurs. Site remediation also aims to prevent further contamination and harm to the area.
Site remediation can be costly. Examples of cleanup and remediation efforts may include, but are not limited to:
- Groundwater extraction and treatment systems
- Excavating and dredging contaminated soil
- Burning contaminated soil at high temperatures to get rid of contaminants
- Bioremediation, including plants and microbes to remove contaminants from soil, or using microorganisms to break down oil and petroleum products
- Using chemical substances to make it easier to clean up oil
- Physically rinsing the soil with water to remove oil
Because of the cost of site remediation, no one wants to claim responsibility for cleanup and remediation. The next hurdle for site remediation is to prove who is responsible for the contamination.
Determining the Responsible Parties and Forcing Them To Clean Up the Contamination
Determining who is responsible for the contamination of land and water by oil and gas production can be challenging. The contamination could have occurred over many years, especially for older sites. Therefore, numerous parties could have contributed to the site contamination.
Responsible parties often blame each other for the contamination. They claim the other parties should pay for the majority of the cleanup because they contributed more to the contamination. State and federal agencies may pursue legal action against the responsible parties to ensure the site remediation is completed.
However, if the parties dispute responsibility in court, they could tie up the matter for years as the cases proceed through the court system. Unfortunately, the landowners and surrounding residents are the victims of these large corporations trying to avoid their legal responsibility to clean up their mess.
Can I Sue an Oil and Gas Company for Site Mediation?
Suing oil and gas companies for the damages their activities caused involves a complex set of federal and state laws. Many issues may be involved, including whether you leased the land to the company or are a neighbor to the landowner who allowed the company to drill on their land.
The first step is to meet with an experienced Houston oil and gas attorney. You need an attorney who understands the complex issues and laws related to the oil and gas industry in Texas to review the facts and circumstances related to your claim.
An attorney can advise you of your legal rights and options for suing an oil and gas company. They can answer your questions, explain your rights, and give you the information you need to decide the best way to protect your interests.
Contact the Undefeated Houston Oil and Gas Accident Attorneys from Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers for Help Today, Call (888) 603-3636
With decades of experience and Billions won, including the #1 largest oilfield accident settlement in Texas history, our undefeated Oil Rig Accident Lawyers will devote whatever resources, knowledge, and time are necessary to holding the company accountable and ensuring that you and your family receive the absolute largest recovery possible.
If you or a loved one were harmed due to an oil and gas company’s negligence, call us for a Free Consultation at (888) 603-3636 or send us a confidential email through our Contact Us form.
For more information, please contact our oil and gas accident attorneys in Houston at Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers to schedule a free consultation today.
We proudly serve Harris County, Midland County, and throughout the state of Texas. We are located in Houston and Midland and throughout the state of Texas:
Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers – Houston
2700 Post Oak Blvd #1000, Houston, TX 77056
(888) 603-3636
Open 24 hours
Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers – Midland
306 W Wall St Suite 701, Midland, TX 79701
(432) 220-0000
Open 24 hours