Maison Law helps injured oil field workers in California. Working in the oil fields means being around heavy machinery, moving equipment, and nonstop activity. One small mistake—or one safety shortcut—can change everything for you and your family. Crush injuries are among the most serious accidents that happen on these sites, but our team can help you through a claim for these injuries. Set up a free consultation today to get started.
Do You Need a Lawyer After a Crush Injury at an Oil Field?
A crush injury can turn your life upside down. You’re facing medical treatment, missed work, and a long recovery, all while trying to figure out how to protect yourself financially. You don’t have to hire a lawyer, but trying to handle the claims process alone can feel impossible—especially when insurance companies fight to minimize payouts. That’s when you need a lawyer, and our team at Maison Law will:
- Gather evidence, talk to coworkers and witnesses, and bring in safety experts if needed. This helps show exactly what happened and why.
- Make sure your medical care and future treatment needs are fully documented, so the insurance company can’t downplay the impact.
- Figure out whether workers’ comp, a personal injury lawsuit, or both makes the most sense for you.
- Push back when the insurance company tries to offer less than you need, fighting for coverage of medical bills, lost wages, and the long-term effects of your injury.
Our goal is to handle the legal stress while you focus on getting better. But every crush injury is different, so we’ll tailor our approach to your specific needs. Often, that starts with understanding what actually happened.
How Do Crush Injuries Happen at Oil Fields?
If you’ve worked in an oil field, you already know it’s no desk job. You’re around big machines, heavy loads, and nonstop movement all day. But at the same time, crush injuries don’t just happen out of nowhere. When corners are cut or your safety isn’t the top priority, bad things happen, usually resulting in crush injuries from: They usually happen because something got overlooked, rushed, or ignored. Here are a few ways we see them happen most often:
- Heavy equipment accidents – Getting pinned between trucks or rigs, or being caught under a machine that wasn’t fully shut down. Even a routine repair can turn dangerous if safety steps are skipped.
- Falling loads – Pipes, tools, or materials that weren’t secured the right way can come crashing down. One dropped pipe is enough to cause permanent damage.
- Rig or platform collapses – If scaffolding or rigs aren’t built or maintained properly, they can give way without warning. Anyone on or near them takes the hit.
- Poor visibility or communication – Oil fields are noisy and chaotic. Without clear signals, operators might not see you nearby. Miscommunication between crews can put you right in harm’s way.
- Unsafe storage or stacking – A pile of pipes or tools that isn’t stored right can shift or roll. It doesn’t look like a big deal until it comes down on someone.
- Defective machinery – Sometimes it’s not human error at all. A faulty hydraulic, broken latch, or weak rigging can cause an accident even if everyone’s doing their job.
The truth is, most crush injuries are preventable. But that doesn’t change the outcome or what it leaves you dealing with. At the same time, if you want to file a claim, you’re going to need a solid foundation of information to go off of.
What Information Will I Need to Show My Crush Injury?
When you’ve been through a crush injury, you already know what happened—you lived it. But here’s the problem: insurance companies and employers usually won’t just take your word for it. They want documents, details, and evidence. The more you have, the easier it is to put everything together:
- Medical records – This is usually the first big piece of proof you’ll have, because you’ll end up in the ER or doctor’s office right away. Keep everything: ER notes, hospital discharge papers, X-rays, prescriptions, physical therapy notes, and future treatment recommendations. These don’t just show that you were hurt—they show how badly, and how your injury affects your life moving forward.
- Accident report – After you’ve gotten medical care, make sure your supervisor files an official accident report. This locks in the details while they’re fresh. Ask for a copy—it’s your backup if someone later tries to say the injury didn’t happen on the job.
- Pictures and videos – If you’re able (or if a coworker can help), snap pictures of the site where the injury happened: the equipment, the ground, the lighting, and the hazard itself. Get photos of your injuries, too. Don’t stop at just day one—updates during your recovery tell the bigger story of what you’ve been through.
- Coworker statements – Your coworkers can be some of your strongest allies. If someone saw what happened, or even noticed dangerous conditions earlier, get their contact info. A simple written statement from them can carry a lot of weight.
- Cal/OSHA reports – If the state steps in to investigate, their findings are powerful. While their report won’t automatically get you financial support, it can add serious credibility to your case.
- Work and pay records – Save your pay stubs, schedules, and notes about missed shifts or reduced hours. If your pay changes because of your injury—or if your role shifts—this becomes important proof of your financial losses.
- Emails and texts – Don’t delete messages with your boss, HR, or safety staff. Sometimes those quick texts (“watch out, machine’s not working right” or “we’ll fix it later”) become the kind of proof that shows unsafe conditions were known before your accident.
Getting this information is very important to your claim, but remember, the company isn’t going to be in a hurry to turn over most of it, especially things like internal accident reports or Cal/OSHA findings. That’s where our team can step in and demand it. But more to the point, the reason this information is so important is because it boils down what happened and makes it easier to figure out who exactly was responsible.
Who’s Responsible for a Crush Injury at an Oil Field?
When you’re crushed or pinned by equipment on an oil field, one of the first questions is, “Who’s at fault here?” The truth is, it’s not always simple. Oil fields usually have a mix of employers, subcontractors, and outside companies, so responsibility can spread across multiple people and groups, usually involving:
- Employers – They’re supposed to keep equipment in safe working order, train workers properly, and follow safety standards. If they cut corners, they may be responsible.
- Contractors and subcontractors – Oil fields run on teams from different companies. If another crew left an unsafe setup or mishandled heavy equipment, they could be part of the cause.
- Manufacturers – If a machine, harness, or rigging system failed because it was defective, the company that made or sold it may be on the hook.
- Supervisors – If your boss or site lead pressured you to rush, skipped training, or ignored warning signs, their actions may have contributed to the accident.
Here’s the bottom line: your crush injury wasn’t “just an accident.” If someone ignored safety, pushed production over protection, or failed to keep equipment in good working order, they should be held responsible—not you.
What Options Do You Have for Filing a Claim After a Crush Injury?
A serious crush injury can leave you feeling stuck—like the company has all the power. But in California, you usually have more than one option for getting support. The right path depends on how you’re classified and what caused your injury. Here’s what that can look like:
- Workers’ compensation – If you’re on payroll, your employer’s workers’ comp should cover things like:
- Emergency and ongoing medical treatment
- A portion of your lost wages while you’re recovering
- Temporary or permanent disability benefits if you can’t return to your old job
The catch with workers’ comp is that it doesn’t cover everything. You don’t get pain and suffering damages, emotional distress, or full future losses. And benefits are often capped or time-limited. That means they could run out before your injury has healed and improved.
- Personal injury claim – If someone besides your employer is to blame (like a contractor, subcontractor, or equipment maker), you may be able to file a civil claim, just like you would in a car accident or something else outside of work. To do that, you file either an insurance claim or a lawsuit, but it’s all about covering a much wider range of damages:
- Full medical costs, including future care
- All lost income or loss of future earning ability
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Reduced quality of life
- Funeral or burial expenses if the accident was fatal
Because oil fields involve so many players, it’s not always clear which claim (or combination) applies. That’s where having someone dig into the details can make all the difference.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do first after a crush injury?
Get medical care right away, then report the accident and document what happened if you can.
Can I still get workers’ comp if I was partly at fault?
Yes. Workers’ comp doesn’t require proving fault—you should still qualify for benefits.
What if my boss won’t give me the accident report?
Our team can step in and make sure your boss (or anyone else) turns over evidence or information from the accident. This will show what caused your crush injury and what your employer did (or didn’t do.)
Maison Law Helps Injured Oil Field Workers in California
A crush injury doesn’t just hurt—it can sideline your work, drain your income, and throw your future into question. Oil companies and insurers may call it “an accident,” but that doesn’t erase the impact on your life.
At Maison Law, we step in to sort out the confusion, hold the right parties accountable, and guide you through your options—whether that’s workers’ comp, a lawsuit, or both. Set up a free consultation today.
