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Oilfield Wrongful Death Lawyer Texas

The Texas oilfield wrongful death lawyer team at Trey Barton Law is a dedicated group of oil and gas attorneys focusing specifically on refinery, energy, and oilfield cases. When a loved one’s death is caused by cutting corners, families deserve a fatal oilfield accident lawyer who refuses to settle for anything less than full responsibility. Our goal is not only securing the maximum compensation that families deserve but also to ensure every responsible party remembers the life they took and how their greed or negligence led to it.

Our Texas oilfield wrongful death attorneys understand it’s not just about money; it’s about seeking justice for your loved one’s death. We have a proven track record of success, having secured over $60 million in the past five years. Companies and contractors in these industries know better than to present our clients with insulting settlement offers. If they do, we’ll take the wrongful death claim to trial for the world to see their negligence while we seek justice.

If your loved one’s death was caused by an oilfield accident, contact a Texas oilfield fatality lawyer from our law firm by calling 832-916-2526 to schedule a free consultation. We handle cases on a contingency fee basis, so you won’t owe anything unless we secure a fair settlement or award on your behalf.

Texas Oilfield Wrongful Death Lawyer

Dedicated Law Firm for Texas Oil and Gas Industry Worker Deaths

Our law firm provides skilled legal representation for families of workers killed across every major sector of the Texas energy and oilfield industries. We build wrongful death claims for families of loved ones working at oil refineries and petrochemical complexes, processing plants, pipeline construction and maintenance, fracking and hydraulic fracturing sites, tank farms and storage facilities, and oil rigs, including completion and workover rig accident claims in Texas.

Texas Oil Rig Death Lawyer – Drilling Rig Fatalities

Losing a loved one in an oil rig accident is a devastating event, made even harder when it happens because the worker’s safety was ignored. Too often, surviving family members are left with questions after rig floor accidents, blowouts that unleash deadly explosions and fires. Our Texas oil rig death lawyer team has handled many wrongful death cases involving falls from drilling derricks and monkey boards, fatal injuries involving rotary table and drawworks, pipe handling and tripping accidents, and drilling rig explosion claims in Texas.

Our oilfield wrongful death attorneys’ goal is to establish liability and hold all responsible parties accountable. We fight for the justice and financial security you need to move forward.

The Eagle Ford Shale is one of the most hazardous regions for oilfield workers, with constant fracking, drilling, and pipeline operations. When families tragically lose loved ones, it’s typically the result of operators putting profits above human life. Our Eagle Ford Shale attorneys work tirelessly to recover compensation on behalf of clients in such wrongful death cases.

In the Austin Chalk region, families often face challenges of sudden and violent loss of loved ones to blowouts, oil rig collapses, and heavy machinery malfunctions. Our Austin Chalk lawyers provide compassionate guidance throughout the oilfield wrongful death claims process.

The Haynesville Shale high-output play, where hazardous conditions have claimed far too many lives. This activity comes with a long history of deadly oilfield accidents. Families have lost loved ones to well blowouts, oil rig collapses, and explosions. Our Haynesville Shale law firm can help determine how the accident happened and help clients seek fair compensation.

Texas Refinery Death Lawyer – Fatal Injuries in Petroleum Refining

A Texas refinery death lawyer from our legal team will investigate every aspect of the incident. By gathering maintenance records, contractor logs, and regulatory investigation findings, these wrongful death cases are built to hold refinery operators, contractors, and equipment manufacturers accountable for fatal injuries in petroleum refining.

In October 2024, Pemex Deer Park Refinery leaked hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), resulting in two contract hires’ deaths and severe injuries to 35 others.

In May 2023, the Shell Deer Park plant fire broke out after cascading machinery issues.

In 2019, ExxonMobil Baytown refinery had a massive fireball incident. The next year, a contract refinery worker died after suffering severe injuries. A few months later, a refinery explosion and fire left five workers severely injured, prompting a contractor to file a $10 million lawsuit.

Phillips 66 Pasadena has had at least four explosions. The most catastrophic killed 22, and 130 suffered injuries.

In 2020, a Chevron Pasadena fire erupted in an oil tank. A few years later, three Chevron workers were injured in a major scaffolding collapse.

These are preventable tragedies resulting from safety violations and neglected maintenance. The root cause of all these is corporate greed. Our Texas oilfield wrongful death attorney team will conduct outside investigations and use expert testimony to ensure the responsible parties pay for their negligence. We fight for full accountability and compensation for families who have lost loved ones.

In February 2023, a Marathon Galveston Bay Refinery oilfield worker was fatally electrocuted. Three months later, a fire took the life of a machinist and left two contract hires with severe burns. Two years later, another fire broke out, highlighting the ongoing risks and potential safety violations.

The BP Texas City Refinery explosion killed 15 workers, all contractors, and left 180 others with severe injuries. Between property damage, wrongful death claims, personal injury lawsuits, and shutdowns, the losses exceeded $2.5 billion. Investigations and accident reports revealed systemic safety violations. While the accident occurred in 2005, the number of fatalities warrants concern.

A 2018 Valero Texas City Refinery explosion caused a fire that sent a plume of smoke visible for miles. Three years later, an accident report listed another explosion and fire, among broader reports of mishaps.

The Motiva Enterprises Port Arthur Refinery has seen multiple crane-related worker deaths and several near-catastrophic fires, raising ongoing concerns.

In September 2023, a TotalEnergies installation tower collapsed after a fire. Six months later, the Total Port Arthur Refinery had another fire. That same month, a leak led to a shutdown.

The Valero Port Arthur Refinery fire forced a shutdown in September 2024. Three months later, another fire broke out.

In April 2025, a Beaumont-Port Arthur LNG scaffolding collapse left 3 workers with fatal injuries. The company denies all liability.

These warn of systemic safety violations, neglected maintenance, and disregard for oilfield workers and their families.

Texas Oilfield Wrongful Death Attorney

Texas Chemical Plant Death Lawyer – Fatal Injuries at Petrochemical Facilities

Our Texas chemical plant death lawyer team is here to ensure families are compensated fairly for the immense loss they suffer. The oilfield wrongful death attorneys from our legal team have extensive experience handling wrongful death claims on behalf of families who have lost loved ones to companies that put profits over their staff’s well-being, including the following:

  • Chemical leaks and toxic exposure
  • Process vessel explosions and ruptures
  • Equipment malfunctions during chemical production
  • Maintenance accidents involving hazardous chemicals
  • Transportation accidents involving chemical loads
  • Fire and explosion from chemical reactions

The BASF Freeport tank car ruptured, risking chemical exposure of cyclohexanone oxime and cyclohexanone for dozens of victims.

A LyondellBasell facility released 100,000 pounds of acetic acid. Two contract staff suffered fatal injuries, and 30 others required medical attention.

In 2023, Hunstman was fined for releasing over 32 pounds of ethylene oxide, a grave safety violation.

In March 2025, an Olin Chlor-Alkali Plant in Freeport released over 10,000 pounds of chlorine.

If a loved one’s death was caused by fatal chemical exposure, contact a Texas oil field wrongful death attorney from our legal team to schedule a free consultation.

In 2021, DuPont Sabine River Works reached a $3.1 million settlement to resolve allegations of fatal chemical leaks and violations of environmental and process safety standards.

ExxonMobil Beaumont experienced a fatal train accident in 2022, a 2013 fire that resulted in fatalities and injuries resulting from regulation violations, and a 2016 crane accident that caused a contractor’s wrongful death. The last led to a $44 million settlement.

In March 2024, a fire broke out at Flint Hills Resources Corpus Christi. The facility has a dedicated team of 120+ emergency responders and 14 fire captains.

The Citgo Corpus Christi refinery has violated numerous regulations. The most notable involved operating unsafe separator tanks, leading to carcinogen benzene emissions for nearly a decade. Additionally, Citgo recently settled claims for underpaying over 1,700 workers’ pensions.

These histories demonstrate why families of those fatally injured in an oilfield accident need effective legal counsel for deadly health problems and wrongful deaths resulting from company negligence.

Texas Pipeline Death Lawyer – Fatal Injuries in Pipeline Construction and Maintenance

Our Texas pipeline death lawyer group has a deep understanding of the circumstances surrounding fatal injuries in pipeline construction and maintenance. Our oilfield wrongful death law firm provides skilled Texas pipeline explosion claims assistance for the following oilfield cases and more:

  • Excavation accidents and pipeline strikes
  • Welding and hot work explosions
  • Pipeline ruptures and gas releases
  • Confined space accidents
  • Equipment failures
  • Vehicle accidents during pipeline right-of-way work

Legal Representation for Fatalities in Pipeline Operations Across Texas

Pipeline operations include a vast network of interstate natural gas transmission lines, crude oil gathering and transmission systems, NGL and refined product pipelines, and intrastate distribution networks.

For oil field accidents involving ruptures, toxic leaks, machinery failures, explosions, and fires, our Texas oilfield wrongful death lawyers move to secure critical evidence, identify all responsible parties, and work to secure full and fair settlements on behalf of the families we represent.

Common Injuries Suffered in Oil Field Accidents That Lead to Wrongful Death Claims in Texas

When workers are killed in oilfield explosions and fires, our Texas oilfield wrongful death lawyer team immediately moves to secure evidence and determine liability. We provide Texas oilfield fire claims assistance, explosion claims assistance, and compassionate guidance for grieving families. We work diligently to recover full and fair compensation, including damages for lost income, outstanding medical expenses, burial costs, and the pain and suffering your loved one endured before their death.

The most common cause of well blowouts is greed: putting profits over oilfield workers’ lives. Blowouts can cause massive toxic exposure, explosions, and fires, leading to many fatalities quickly. Our Texas fatal oilfield accident lawyers handle these wrongful death cases by dissecting the complex machinery and systems involved to identify how the accident occurred and who is responsible. We handle the complexities of Texas BOP failure lawsuits and have extensive experience establishing that poor equipment maintenance, inadequate training, or defects were to blame. We use this evidence to secure the maximum compensation possible for families suffering a loved one’s death.

Truck accidents are a leading cause of wrongful death in the state’s oil and gas industry. While the FMSCA limits drivers to 11 hours, oilfield service exemptions allow certain oil and gas operators to avoid these regulations, often with the knowledge that their employees’ lives are at risk.

Wrongful death cases involving oilfield transportation are typically the direct result of companies pushing drivers way past safe limits. Many oil and gas haulers operate on tight schedules, moving heavy equipment, pipe, and extremely dangerous chemicals.

Our Texas fatal oilfield truck accident lawyers investigate not only the collision itself but also dispatch orders and maintenance logs to show the company’s exploitation of worker safety regulations.

These oilfield accidents are often tied to safety violations. If companies and contractors adhered to OSHA fall protection standards and properly secured overhead loads, many oilfield workers would still be alive. But many industry leaders prioritize profits and production over protecting workers. Our Texas oilfield death lawyer group secures witness statements and maintenance and inspection records to prove companies knew of the hazards and ignored them.

Fatal exposure is one of the most overlooked risks in oilfield operations, namely, Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S). Over half of sour gas wells in the Permian Basin failed to submit required hazard reports. We’ve also handled numerous oilfield injury cases involving benzene, xylene, toluene, silica dust, ammonia, and chlorine. Many oilfield accidents occur when oilfield workers enter confined spaces with faulty respiratory protection. Our Texas fatal oilfield injury lawyers understand that the key to winning maximum compensation for these oilfield wrongful death cases is demonstrating how companies ignored industry standards and knowingly failed to protect workers.

Accidents involving equipment malfunctions are a leading cause of oilfield worker deaths. Oilfield workers who operate heavy machinery often suffer serious injuries or die because of poor maintenance, defects, or bypassed safety protocols. Texas oil and gas equipment failure claims require immediate and thorough investigations to secure maintenance reports and inspection records. Our Texas oilfield wrongful death attorney group works with industry experts to identify whether company negligence or product defects are responsible, and pursue the maximum recovery on the family’s behalf.

Crush injuries are a deadly reality in oilfield operations. This accounts for 25% of oilfield worker fatalities. Common causes include neglected maintenance, poor communication, and safety violations. Our oilfield wrongful death attorneys provide legal help for Texas crush injuries. We immediately secure the site, preserve evidence, obtain inspection and maintenance records, and get witness statements. Our Texas fatal oilfield injury lawyers fight to ensure families receive justice and maximum compensation when a loved one’s death is caused by corporate greed.

Texas oilfield fatal injury lawyer

Legal Framework for Texas Oilfield Accident Wrongful Death Claims

Under the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, spouses, children (biological and adopted), and parents of the deceased can file oilfield wrongful death claims. If surviving family members don’t file a lawsuit within three months, the estate’s personal representative will file on the family’s behalf unless they’re instructed otherwise.

Under Texas law, wrongful death claims and survival claims are separate legal actions.

Oilfield wrongful death claims compensate surviving family members for their own emotional distress and the financial toll suffered after accidents occur. Damages typically include lost financial support, loss of companionship, and mental anguish.

In contrast, the deceased’s estate files survival claims to recover damages that the victim could have pursued, similar to a personal injury lawsuit. Damages typically include medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering the worker experienced before dying.

Our Texas oilfield wrongful death lawyer team can file survival action and wrongful death claims together to ensure the estate and family receive the full extent of damages available under Texas law.

If the employer doesn’t carry workers’ compensation insurance, the family can file a wrongful death lawsuit against them. Here, companies can’t use contributory negligence, assumption of risk, and “fellow servant” rule defenses.

The Texas Labor Code doesn’t force employers to carry this insurance. However, most companies in the oil industry do. This covers up to $10,000 in expenses related to funerals or burials, and qualifying family members can file without needing to prove fault. The catch is a major loss of financial support.

Workers’ compensation provides 75% of the average weekly wage (capped at $895/week). The average oil and gas employee earns around $2,523 (base + overtime pay). Here, the deceased’s family loses $1,628/week.

If the employer is insured but the oilfield accident occurred because of their gross negligence, families can sue and seek punitive damages.

Family members can also file third-party oilfield wrongful death claims against other parties if their negligence contributed to the fatal oilfield accident. This can include contractors, subcontractors, service providers, hiring agencies, equipment manufacturers, or other responsible parties.

For wrongful death cases involving workers’ comp claims and third-party wrongful death lawsuits, Texas law requires benefit and subrogation coordination to prevent duplicate recovery.

Our Texas oilfield wrongful death lawyer group works tirelessly to ensure families receive the maximum compensation available.

Determining Liability in Texas Oilfield Wrongful Death Claims

Our Texas oilfield wrongful death lawyers determine liability in wrongful death claims by demonstrating that your loved one’s fatal injuries resulted from oilfield industry standards violations, a lack of proper training or supervision, maintenance failures, or defective heavy equipment accidents in Texas. These are common root causes of the severe trauma families face after a loved one’s death.

We have a track record of success in wrongful death claims in the energy industry. Our legal team identifies all responsible parties and refuses to settle for lowball settlement offers.

Texas Oil and Gas Industry Workplace Death Compensation

Our Texas oilfield wrongful death attorneys seek financial compensation for lost wages, future earning capacity, retirement contributions, bonuses, overtime pay, and lost promotions. We obtain payroll and tax records, review contracts, and use expert testimony to project the full value of lost lifetime earning capacity. Our legal team uses this evidence when negotiating settlements with insurance companies or at trial to maximize recovery.

If the worker received medical treatment before passing, our Texas oilfield wrongful death lawyers will pursue compensation for outstanding medical expenses, future medical bills, and lost health insurance.

We’ll gather evidence, like medical provider records, calculate expenses related to future medical care needs for surviving family members, and review medical benefit plans to show the value of lost health coverage. Our fatal oilfield injury lawyers use this evidence to secure full and fair compensation in settlements or trials.

Families of oilfield workers who died on the job can seek punitive or exemplary damages against the company if the root cause of the fatal oilfield accident was gross negligence or willful misconduct.

Our Texas fatal oilfield injury lawyers establish gross negligence using evidence that shows the defendant had knowledge of the hazard, and their conduct involved an extreme disregard for their workers and their families.

The Texas punitive damages cap is the greater of: $200,000, or twice the amount of economic and non-economic damages, up to $750,000.

The exemplary damage cap can be bypassed if the accident happened due to criminally negligent homicide, intoxication manslaughter, or other specific felony safety violations.

Example:

When a person if fatally injured in an oilfield accident because of an operator’s gross negligence, this can constitute criminally negligent homicide under Texas law.

If company-hired contractors, drivers, crane operators, maintenance crews, etc., cause oilfield accidents, and alcohol or drug use caused the oilfield fatalities, this can constitute intoxication manslaughter under Texas law.

Our Texas oil and gas wrongful death lawyers establish liability and work to prove gross negligence and the specific criminal elements needed to bypass the cap. This can greatly increase settlement offers or trial awards.

Our Texas oil and gas wrongful death attorneys will also pursue compensation for mental anguish, loss of companionship, guidance, advice, and emotional support on behalf of surviving family members. We’ll also help you with the following:

Social Security Survivor Benefits

If your loved one paid Social Security taxes, depending on their Social Security work credits, surviving spouses and minor children could be entitled to survivor benefits.

Life Insurance and Pension Policies

Many oil and gas companies provide group life insurance. Additionally, pension and retirement plans can also have survivor policies. If your loved one died, the entire balance and employer contributions should be paid to the named beneficiary.

Union Death Benefits (Where Applicable)

If your loved one was part of a labor union, like United Steelworkers (refineries) or International Union of Operating Engineers (drillers and heavy equipment operators), the union may pay benefits.

Certain unions also offer temporary health insurance coverage for the surviving family members, and some provide scholarship programs for minor children.

Texas oil and gas wrongful death lawyer

Our Texas Oil and Gas Wrongful Death Lawyers Take On All Major Energy Companies

Our Texas oil and gas wrongful death lawyers have a reputation for successful litigation in oilfield accident cases. With extensive industry knowledge and trial skills, we challenge the largest companies in the industry. Whether the wrongful death case involves a refinery explosion, a pipeline accident, or an oil rig blowout, we build wrongful death claims to hold responsible parties accountable and work to ensure grieving families receive the justice and compensation they deserve.

Integrated Oil Companies: ExxonMobil Corporation, Chevron Corporation, Shell USA Inc., BP America Inc., Phillips 66, Valero Energy Corporation, Marathon Petroleum Corporation, TotalEnergies, Motiva Enterprises, Occidental Petroleum

Integrated Gas Companies: Kinder Morgan, Enterprise Products Partners, Energy Transfer, Williams Companies, Enbridge, TC Energy, Cheniere Energy

Independent Oil Companies: Pioneer Natural Resources, EOG Resources, ConocoPhillips, Devon Energy, Apache Corporation, Murphy Oil, Callon Petroleum, Talos Energy, Kosmos Energy, Arena Energy, Laredo Petroleum, Parsley Energy

Independent Gas Companies: Tellurian Inc., Range Resources, Comstock Resources, Southwestern Energy, Matador Resources, Gulfport Energy, CNX Resources, Antero Resources

Oil Field Service Companies: Halliburton, Baker Hughes, NOV Inc., Weatherford International, TechnipFMC, Saipem, McDermott International, Schlumberger

Equipment Manufacturers: NOV Inc., Cameron, Caterpillar Oil & Gas, Weir Oil & Gas, TechnipFMC, Baker Hughes, Schlumberger, Dril-Quip, Liebherr, Huisman, Seatrax, KenzFigee

State and Federal Oversight and Enforcement

What Happens If a Worker Dies On the Job in Texas?

When a worker dies on the job, the actions their family takes in the immediate aftermath can affect the strength of the oilfield wrongful death claim. It is critical to consult a Texas oilfield wrongful death attorney immediately so that we can begin protecting your family’s rights and secure evidence before it’s “lost” (destroyed) by those at fault.

If you consult a Texas oilfield wrongful death attorney from our law firm, we do this on your behalf.

  • Preserve all critical evidence and documents: gather PPE, tools, clothing, and accident scene photos.
  • Keep all paperwork, including maintenance and training logs. Do not leave this with the employer.
  • Request all internal reports, including OSHA and any third-party investigation findings.
  • Do not make any recorded statements to insurers or sign anything without assistance from an oilfield injury attorney. Employers and their insurance companies will pressure you to take settlement offers far less than you deserve. This will bar you from pursuing future claims against them.
  • Request an autopsy and medical records: Confirming the cause of death is critical for establishing whether safety violations or negligence contributed to the oilfield wrongful death.
  • Thorough investigations should examine equipment maintenance, safety violations, hazardous conditions, and supervisor-related issues.

Our experienced attorneys are skilled at identifying the liability of all parties beyond employers, like contractors, subcontractors, manufacturers, and property owners.

Locations Our Texas Oilfield Disaster Lawyer Team Serves

Our Texas oilfield disaster lawyers handle personal injury lawsuits and wrongful death lawsuits in the following areas and beyond. We provide skilled legal representation for:

Contact a Texas Oilfield Wrongful Death Attorney For a Free Consultation

If your family has lost a loved one in an oil field, refinery, or energy industry accident, the Texas oilfield wrongful death lawyer group at our law firm will fight for full and fair compensation, not the low settlement offers companies and contractors hope you’ll accept.

For a free consultation, call 281-502-2658 or contact us online to get the justice your loved one deserves.

Oil and Gas Locations

Serving These Cities & Counties in Texas

Houston, TX
Richmond, TX
Rosenberg, TX
La Grange, TX
Columbus, TX
Smithville, TX
Bellville, TX
Sealy, TX
Bastrop, TX
Weimar, TX
Hallettsville, TX
Giddings, TX
Schulenburg, TX
Luling, TX
Seguin, TX
Cuero, TX
Smithville, TX
Fayette County
Fort Bend County
Colorado County
Austin County
Lavaca County
Smithville, TX
Bastrop County
Caldwell County
Gonzales County
Wharton County
Brazoria County

Free Consultation

Our experienced Houston personal injury attorneys want to get to know you and understand your unique situation. We offer a free, no-obligation consultation. You don’t pay unless your case is won.

Awards & Recognition

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Super Lawyers Rated 2024
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No Fee Unless You Win

Trey Barton understands the hardships injured people and their loved ones face as they try to heal from their accident. Every case is prepared as if it is going to trial. This gives you the best opportunity to obtain a fair recovery for your case, and ensures I am positioned to take the case to trial if the insurance company does not give you the money you deserve.

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