Maison Law can help you through the claims process if you’ve been injured in a well blowout at an oil field in California. There’s always the risk of an accident when working in an oil field, but a well blowout takes things to another level. You might think that it’s “just the cost of doing business,” but the truth is that even well blowouts don’t just happen. If you’ve been hurt in a blowout, you’re probably dealing with serious injuries, lost time from work, and a lot of uncertainty about what comes next. Set up a free consultation today.
Should I Get a Lawyer?
After a well blowout, everything can feel chaotic. You’re likely dealing with serious injuries, missing work, and a mix of fear and uncertainty about what you can even do. Meanwhile, the company and its insurance team are moving quickly to protect themselves. Investigators show up, cleanup crews take control of the site, and the narrative about what happened can be shaped before you even have a chance to explain your side. That’s when getting a lawyer can make a huge difference.
Our team’s job is to make sure your story is heard and that the facts are documented accurately. To do that, we help you with:
- Getting and preserving evidence
- Gathering witness statements
- Collecting records that show the true cause of the blowout
- Handling insurance adjusters, who often try to minimize claims or push you into signing away your rights
You don’t have to get a lawyer, but when the accident is serious and your injuries are life-altering, legal guidance can protect both your recovery and your future. Your focus should be on getting, while our team focuses on holding the right parties accountable and making sure you’re not left with the financial and emotional burden of an accident that wasn’t your fault.
What Evidence Can Help Me After a Well Blowout?
In the aftermath of a blowout, evidence is your strongest tool. Once the site is cleaned up, damaged equipment is removed, and investigators start reporting, key details can vanish. That’s why collecting and preserving evidence as soon as possible is so important. Some of the most valuable evidence includes:
- Maintenance and safety records – These show whether the well, blowout preventer, or other equipment was kept up or overdue for inspections.
- Witness statements – Coworkers on site can confirm what they saw and support your account of the accident.
- Pictures and videos – Take pictures of the scene, damaged equipment, and your injuries. Security footage can also be useful.
- Medical records – Document every doctor visit, test, and treatment to show how the blowout caused your injuries.
- Company communications – Emails, texts, and incident reports can reveal what supervisors knew and when.
- Training logs – If you weren’t given proper safety training, that can point to negligence.
Companies and their insurance providers aren’t going to be eager to share this evidence–especially if it shows they knew the well or equipment wasn’t in working order. In fact, they may try to spin reports to make the accident seem less serious or even say it was your fault. That’s another area where our team can help and guide you, particularly if you’re injured and can’t take these steps yourself.
Why Would a Well Blowout Be a Potential Claim?
Blowouts aren’t random—they usually happen because someone failed to follow safety rules or cut corners. That’s what makes them potential grounds for workers’ comp or an injury claim. Ultimately, it’s the company and site managers that have the overriding responsibility to keep you and other workers safe from blowouts. That sounds like a huge responsibility–and it is. But it’s also part of doing business for them.
But in looking at a specific well blowout, the causes can range from:
- Equipment failure
- Poor pressure management
- Inadequate supervision
Even small oversights can escalate into a life-threatening accident with a blowout. For example, a malfunctioning blowout preventer or skipped safety checks may seem minor until a sudden surge of pressure sends oil, gas, or chemicals shooting out of the well.
What this amounts to is negligence, and that’s what gives you the option to file a claim. Now, who you file that against comes down to what actually happened, but can involve:
- Oil field owners and operators – They’re supposed to keep the site safe and make sure all equipment works properly. If they cut corners, they can be held responsible.
- Supervisors and managers – If your boss ignored hazards, pushed you to work too fast, or skipped safety rules, they could share liability for what happened.
- Staffing agencies or subcontractors – If the company that placed you on site didn’t give proper training or oversight, they might also be on the hook.
- Equipment makers – When a blowout preventer, valve, or other machine fails because it’s defective, the maker can be held accountable.
- Other contractors on site – Anyone else whose carelessness or negligence created unsafe conditions could share responsibility too.
Understanding who may be responsible is critical because it affects where you file your claim and what damages you might recover. A well blowout isn’t just about one machine or one mistake—it’s often a combination of failures, and each party involved may bear part of the legal responsibility.
What Kind of Claim Can I File in a Well Blowout Accident?
Getting hurt in a well blowout can feel like everything spun out of control in seconds. Flames, pressure, and chaos can leave you injured, out of work, and unsure who’s responsible. The good news is—you usually have more than one path forward. Which option applies depends on how you were hired and what caused the blowout, but generally, it comes down to two possibilities:
- Workers’ Compensation – If you’re an employee, workers’ comp should cover things like:
- Necessary medical care for burns, crush injuries, or chemical exposure
- A portion of your lost wages while you recover
- Temporary or permanent disability benefits
Workers’ comp can get you through doctor visits, surgeries, medications, and some income replacement. But there are limits. It usually doesn’t cover pain and suffering, emotional trauma, or the long-term ways a blowout can affect your life. And the benefits typically run out after about 104 weeks.
- Personal injury claim – If you’re a contractor or if the blowout happened because someone else was negligent—like faulty equipment, ignored safety warnings, or mistakes by a subcontractor—you may be able to file a civil claim. This can be through an insurance claim or a full lawsuit. A civil claim allows you to seek broader damages, including:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Lost income or reduced earning potential
- Damage to personal property
- Pain, suffering, and emotional distress
- Reduced quality of life
- Funeral or burial expenses in fatal cases
Well blowouts often involve multiple companies, subcontractors, and equipment makers, which can make responsibility complicated. The key takeaway: you don’t have to accept the first story the company tells. You have options, and with the right guidance, you can make sure the path you choose protects both your recovery and your future.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do right after a well blowout injury?
Get medical attention right away. Then document everything—photos, notes, and witness names help preserve crucial evidence. Report the accident to your supervisor as soon as possible.
Can my family file a claim if I was killed in a blowout?
Yes. California law allows families to file wrongful death claims. These can cover funeral expenses, lost income, and the emotional and financial impact of losing a loved one.
How long do I have to file a claim?
Civil claims in California typically must be filed within two years of the accident. Workers’ comp claims have shorter deadlines, so it’s important to act quickly.
Contact Maison Law After a Well Blowout Accident in California
A well blowout can change your life in seconds. Serious injuries, lost wages, and uncertainty about the future can feel overwhelming. At Maison Law, we stand up for California oil field workers and their families when safety is ignored. If you’ve been injured in a well blowout, reach out today for a free consultation. We’ll listen to your story, explain your options, and help you take the first steps toward protecting your recovery and your future.
