Injured in an Oilfield Accident in Midland, TX?

How Do Skilled Midland Lawyers Investigate Oilfield Injury Claims?

To support a claim in an oilfield injury case, a personal injury attorney in Midland, TX, conducts a comprehensive investigation to uncover the facts. The goal? To piece together precisely how the incident occurred and to identify every company whose negligence contributed to the injury.

1. On-Site Investigation and Evidence Preservation

• Documenting the Scene: This involves taking extensive photographs and videos of the location, the equipment involved, warning signs (or lack thereof), and the general work environment. This visual record freezes the scene in time.
• Preserving Physical Evidence: If a piece of equipment failed, like a faulty valve, a snapped cable, or a defective blowout preventer (BOP), the attorney will take legal steps to ensure that equipment is preserved for inspection. This prevents the company from repairing, discarding, or “losing” the critical evidence.

2. Identifying Witnesses and Gathering Testimony

Human error or negligence is often a factor. Getting truthful accounts from eyewitnesses is crucial before memories fade or company pressure influences their stories.

• Locating Witnesses: Witnesses aren’t just direct coworkers. They can include truck drivers, third-party contractors, company men, or supervisors who were on-site.
• Conducting Interviews: The legal team will interview these individuals to get their firsthand accounts. They’ll ask detailed questions about safety procedures, what they observed leading up to the incident, the immediate aftermath, and any similar near-misses that occurred in the past.

3. Uncovering the Paper Trail

Oilfield operations generate a massive amount of documentation. These records can reveal a pattern of negligence or a direct violation of safety protocols.

An attorney will demand access to these documents:

• Safety Records: Company safety manuals, Job Safety Analysis (JSA) reports, and records from safety meetings can show whether the company was following its own rules.
• Operational Logs: Daily drilling reports, work tickets, and IADC (International Association of Drilling Contractors) reports provide a minute-by-minute account of the work being done.
• Maintenance and Inspection Records: These documents can prove that a piece of equipment was poorly maintained, known to be faulty, or overdue for inspection.
• OSHA Reports: If the Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigated the incident, their findings and citations provide a powerful, independent assessment of safety violations.

4. Determining All Liable Parties

An oilfield is a multi-employer worksite. An injury may be caused by the negligence of more than one entity like contractors and subcontractors. By reviewing Master Service Agreements (MSAs) and other contracts, an attorney can pinpoint all parties that had a duty to provide a safe working environment and failed to do so.