What to Do in the First 24 Hours After an Oilfield Accident
Get medical care first and tell every provider it happened at work. Report the injury to your supervisor in writing. Write down what happened, who was on location and which companies they worked for. Take photos if you can. Don't give a recorded statement, don't sign anything and don't post about it. Then call a lawyer before the rig moves.
The day of an oilfield accident is chaos. Someone's hurt, the company man is on the phone, the safety coordinator is on his way and you're trying to figure out how bad it is. What happens in the next 24 hours shapes your health, your benefits and your case. Here's the order to do things in.
The First Day, In Order
Get medical care
Call 911 for anything serious. Remote leases mean long response times, so don't wait to see if it gets better. Tell every medic, nurse and doctor that it happened at work.
Report it in writing
Tell your supervisor and follow up with a text or email so there's a time stamp. Comp gives you 30 days, but some nonsubscriber plans require a report by the end of your shift.
Write down what happened
While it's fresh. What you were doing, what failed, who gave the order, what was said. Date it and keep it somewhere the company can't reach.
Capture the scene
Photos or video of the equipment, the area, the lease sign and your injuries, if you or a coworker can safely take them. Scenes change fast.
Keep your gear
Hold on to your own boots, FRCs, gloves and hard hat as they are. Don't wash or toss them. They can show how the accident happened.
Call a lawyer
The companies started their investigation yesterday. A lawyer can send preservation letters before the rig moves and the equipment is repaired.
Why the Doctor Comes First
Adrenaline hides a lot. Concussions, internal bleeding, spinal injuries and some burns don't show their full damage for hours or days. Hands who "walk it off" and finish the hitch often end up in the ER three days later, and that gap is the first thing an insurer points to.
When you're seen, describe every symptom, even small ones. Headache, ringing ears, numbness, blurry vision and a sore neck all matter. If it isn't in the first record, the insurer will say it came from somewhere else. And go back if anything gets worse.
What to Write Down
Oilfield locations have a lot of companies on them, and your case may depend on knowing exactly who was there. Get as much of this as you can:
The location. Operator name, lease name and well number from the lease sign, plus the county and rig number. Texas requires operators to post these at the lease entrance and the well.
The people. Names of your crew, the company man, the toolpusher and anyone who saw it, plus who each one works for.
The companies. Every outfit on location that day: drilling, service, frac, wireline, crane, haulers and vendors.
The equipment. What failed or hit you, any brand names, unit numbers or serial plates, and any problems you heard about before.
That list is how a lawyer finds the third parties who can be held responsible. See third party claims and comp liens.
What Not to Do
More on why in should I talk to the adjuster and did I sign away my rights.
The Post Accident Drug Test
Almost every oilfield company requires one, and refusing can cost you your job and your benefits. Cooperate. Then write down the time and place of the test and keep a list of anything you were given at the hospital before it. Pain medication from the ER can show up, and the insurer may try to use intoxication as a defense. Your records are how you answer that.
The Company's Investigation Isn't Yours
After a serious accident, the company's safety team, its insurer and sometimes outside investigators show up fast. Federal rules require employers to report a death to OSHA within 8 hours and a hospitalization within 24 hours. Their job is to document the accident in the way that protects the company.
You can be polite and still say you'd like to talk to a lawyer before giving a detailed statement. Ask for a copy of anything you sign, including the incident report. If they won't give you one, write down that you asked.
If a Loved One Was Killed
Families get calls from the company within hours, sometimes with offers to help with funeral costs. Accept the condolences, but don't sign anything or give a statement about the worker's habits, health or training. Ask that the worker's belongings, phone and truck be kept as they are. See your family's rights after an oilfield death.
Three Things to Grab Before You Leave Location
The Lease Sign
A photo of the lease and well signs gives you the operator, lease name and well number in one shot.
Crew and Companies
Who was there, who they worked for and who gave the order. This is how every responsible company gets found.
Scene and Injuries
The equipment, the area and your injuries, before anything gets moved, fixed or cleaned up.
More on the First 24 Hours
What should I do right after an oilfield accident?
Get medical care first and tell the provider it happened at work. Then report the injury to your supervisor in writing, write down what happened and who was there, photograph the scene and your injuries if you can, and don't sign anything or give a recorded statement until a lawyer has looked at it.
Should I go to the doctor if I feel okay after an oilfield accident?
Yes. Head injuries, internal injuries and back injuries often don't show up for hours or days. A same day visit protects your health and creates a record linking the injury to the accident.
Do I have to take a drug test after an oilfield accident?
Most oilfield companies require a post accident drug test, and refusing can cost you your job and your benefits. Cooperate, write down the time and place of the test, and keep a list of any medication you were given at the hospital before it.
When should I call a lawyer after an oilfield accident?
As soon as you're medically stable. The companies involved start their investigation the same day, and a lawyer can send preservation letters before the rig moves and the equipment is repaired.
See all of our oilfield injury questions, or read about well blowout injury claims.
Texas Labor Code Chapter 409 · Railroad Commission Rule 3, 16 TAC 3.3 · OSHA 29 CFR 1904.39
This page is general information about Texas law, not legal advice for your situation. Reading it does not create an attorney client relationship.
The First Day Matters.
So Does the Second Call.
Call 911 first. Then call a Board Certified oilfield injury lawyer who can lock down the evidence while you focus on getting better.