Felipe Saiz of Big Spring, Texas lost his life in a tragic Howard County oilfield accident on Wednesday when part of a drilling rig collapsed. Reportedly seven workers were on the drilling rig when it collapsed. At least one other man was injured and hospitalized following the Howard County oilfield accident. Felipe Saiz died at the scene of the oilrig collapse near Rockhouse Road. Heartland Drilling of Abilene owned the drilling rig. (Source: Associated Press by way of KTRK ABC 13, 6/21/13)
The Texas Oilfield Accident Attorneys at Denena Points, PC express their heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Mr. Felipe Saiz.
Workers Comp Might not Cover all Losses after a Tragic Oilfield Accident
Workers comp provides benefits as set fractions of wages and other costs. While workers and their families can’t sue for more compensation against employers with workers comp insurance, our Texas oilfield accident attorneys note that they could seek additional compensation from other liable parties that caused the accident.
Independent contractors are not covered by workers comp and they are therefore not limited by it if they or their surviving family members need to sue for just compensation after a serious accident.
Contact the experienced Texas oilfield accident attorneys at Denena Points, PC for a free, no obligation initial legal consultation to learn about your rights and options on what you could do in seeking fair financial compensation. We can be reached at 281-369-4363 or through our online contact form.
Oilfield Workers face Higher than Average Risks of on-the-Job Injury or Death
From 2007 through 2011, 197 fatal oilfield accidents occurred in Texas. The death toll from fatal oilfield accidents, like the one in Howard County that took the life of Felipe Saiz, has been growing in recent years as the shale oil and gas extraction industry has boomed. During the same time period, fatal on-the-job accidents in other industries in Texas have declined.
OSHA generally investigates fatal oilfield accidents to determine if there were any safety violations on site and if there are any new hazards in the industry for which it needs to develop new safety regulations. If OSHA finds safety violations at a worksite, it will assess fines against the employer. But our Texas oilfield accident attorneys note that these fines are relatively small and in no way reflect the true costs of the accident. Click the link to learn more about the hazards oilfield workers face on a day-to-day basis.
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