Maison Law can help you if you’ve been injured on the job at a Chevron-operated oil field in California. It’s easy to understand the risks of working at one of these oil fields, but that doesn’t make accidents easier to deal with. What can make things a bit easier is working with our team. We’ll guide you through a claim and make sure your rights are protected. Set up a free consultation today.
Do I Need a Lawyer?
Chevron has a long history in California—places like Kern County, Coalinga, and El Segundo have seen decades of oil production. These are big, complex sites with hundreds of people, dozens of companies, and constant motion. Even when safety rules are followed, things can still go wrong. Which brings up an important question: do you need a lawyer if you’re injured? Not technically, but it’s often worth asking.
Here’s why: even though Chevron operates the site, there are usually several companies working side by side—contractors, suppliers, maintenance teams, and vendors. Each one has its own policies and insurance. When you’re trying to file a claim, that can make things confusing fast. Our team can help you by:
- Explaining your rights and the options that apply to your situation
- Getting safety records, maintenance logs, and site reports
- Handling communication with Chevron, contractors, and insurance adjusters
- Filing your claim and track the progress so nothing slips through the cracks
- Making sure you’re not pressured to settle or return to work before you’re ready
The idea isn’t to stir things up—it’s to make sure you’re not left trying to figure everything out on your own while you’re still recovering. And part of that process starts with getting the right information.
What Information Will I Need For a Claim?
When you’re hurt at work, you probably aren’t thinking about what you’ll need for a potential claim. That’s the right instinct–you should always focus first on your health and safety. Once you’re stable, though, the realities of an injury are going to start to set in: medical bills, missed paychecks, and other issues. That’s when you’ll need to start thinking about filing a claim–which takes solid information like:
- Timeline of what happened. Write down the date, time, and what you were doing when you got hurt — whether you were tightening a valve, checking a pump, or just walking across the yard. It helps show exactly how the injury fits into your workday.
- Statements from witnesses. If any coworkers or supervisors were nearby, make a note of their names. Their memories can help confirm what happened later.
- Medical records. Keep track of doctor visits, test results, medications, and therapy notes. These show how serious your injury is and how much you’ve had to go through to heal.
- Pictures or videos. A quick photo of the area, the equipment, or even how your injury looks over time can say more than a report ever could.
- Pay records. Save pay stubs, timesheets, and schedules. They help show when you were off work and how your income changed because of the injury.
- Unsafe conditions. If something seemed unsafe—maybe a slippery walkway, a missing guardrail, or a leak that had been ignored — jot it down while it’s still fresh.
- Messages about what happened. Texts or emails between you and your supervisor can help show how the situation was handled and when it was reported.
You don’t need to have every piece of information right away, and we can help fill in what’s missing, like official reports, surveillance footage, and other internal documentation. But the more of these details you can hang onto, the clearer your story becomes—and that can make a real difference in the outcome of your claim.
How Do I Know Who’s Responsible For My Injuries?
One of the biggest issues with your accident–and really any accident at an oil field–is figuring out who’s responsible. Chevron might operate the field, but that doesn’t mean they’re the only one involved. There’s multiple contractors, equipment providers, and service crews all working in the same space.
That’s why it can be so difficult to figure out who’s responsible–but it’s not impossible. In fact, it actually comes down to one simple concept: negligence. Legally, this just means that someone was careless and didn’t protect your safety. In a real-life scenario, though, it’s a bit more complicated. At the same time, responsibility for your injuries usually falls on:
- The site operator, if safety protocols weren’t followed or conditions weren’t properly maintained.
- Supervisors or foremen, if day-to-day oversight was lacking or instructions were unclear.
- Outside contractors, if another company’s employees caused the hazard that led to your injury.
- Equipment manufacturers, if a part or machine failed when it shouldn’t have.
- Staffing or temp agencies, if workers weren’t properly trained for the job they were assigned.
You don’t need to untangle that on your own. We look at every layer of your situation to identify where accountability lies—and how to move forward from there.
What Are My Options For Filing a Claim After an Oil Field Injury?
Getting hurt at a Chevron site doesn’t just affect your health—it can ripple through your finances, your family, and your ability to work. Fortunately, you have a few different paths toward recovery, depending on your role.
- Workers’ compensation claim. If you’re a Chevron employee, your first step is usually filing for workers’ compensation. This is just a form of insurance that covers certain things that come up because of your injury, like:
- Your related medical care
- Part of your lost wages
- Disability benefits—temporary or permanent—depending on the injury.
The good thing about workers’ comp is that you don’t have to prove fault, but the tradeoff is that benefits don’t always cover everything–and they run out after a while. That’s when you might need to go further.
- Injury claim against another party. If Chevron, their management, a contractor, vendor, or equipment manufacturer played a role in what happened, you may also have a separate personal injury claim. This is a standard claim, just like you’d file for a car accident outside of work. You do this either through an insurance claim outside of court or a personal injury lawsuit. The goal is to recover “damages” that workers’ comp won’t cover, like:
- Current and future medical expenses and lost wages
- Repair costs for work gear, clothing, etc.
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Reduced quality of life
- Wrongful death expenses (if your injuries are fatal)
Sometimes both options apply, but you have to act quickly. You only have one year to file for workers’ comp and two years to file an injury claim. Our role is to connect those dots and make sure no opportunity for recovery slips through the cracks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if my claim gets denied?
Don’t panic—denials are more common than you’d think. It doesn’t necessarily mean you’re out of options. Sometimes it’s just missing information or a misunderstanding about what happened. We can help appeal the decision and gather what’s needed to strengthen your case.
Will I have to go to court?
Not necessarily. Most workers’ comp and personal injury claims resolve through insurance negotiations or settlements. Court only becomes necessary if there’s a dispute that can’t be resolved otherwise.
What if someone else’s equipment caused my injury?
That could open the door to a separate personal injury claim against the manufacturer or contractor responsible. These cases often overlap with workers’ comp, so it’s worth having someone look at the full picture.
Get Help After a Chevron Oil Field Injury in California
If you’ve been hurt while working at a Chevron-operated oil field, you don’t have to handle the aftermath on your own. Between medical care, insurance paperwork, and time away from work, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.
Our California oil field injury lawyers at Maison Law are here to help you make sense of it all. We’ll walk you through your options, gather the information that matters, and make sure your claim is built to stand strong. Set up a free consultation today to get started.
