Oilfield Accident Lawyer in Woodland Hills

Oilfield Injury? Put More Than 50 Years of Combined Experience to Work

An oilfield accident can leave you facing urgent medical needs, lost income, permanent work restrictions, and uncertainty about returning to your occupation. When contractors, equipment manufacturers, property owners, or other companies are involved, the circumstances may also warrant a third-party claim.

Rodich Law represents injured workers throughout Woodland Hills and Southern California. We handle workers’ compensation cases involving traumatic injuries, occupational illnesses, cumulative trauma, and disputes over whether a medical condition is work-related.

Call (818) 888-3000 for a free consultation with our oilfield accident lawyers about your injury, potential benefits, and next steps.

Common Oilfield Accidents & Injuries

Drilling rigs, heavy tools, high-pressure systems, flammable materials, and well-servicing equipment can expose workers to serious hazards. California petroleum safety orders address dangers involving fires and explosions, confined spaces, gas and vapor testing, derricks and masts, rotary machinery, pumps, and related equipment.

Incidents that may lead to oilfield workers’ compensation claims include:

• Fires, explosions, and contact with flammable substances
• Falling tools, shifting materials, and struck-by incidents
• Machinery entanglement, crushing, and equipment failures
• Vehicle collisions and transportation incidents
• Falls from elevated surfaces or unstable work areas
• Exposure to chemicals, fumes, gas, or other hazardous substances
• Repetitive work injuries that develop over time

These incidents can cause burns, fractures, crush injuries, traumatic brain injuries, spinal damage, hearing loss, respiratory conditions, and toxic-exposure illnesses. Workers may also develop cumulative trauma from repeated activities or exposures rather than a single event.

California Workers’ Compensation & Third-Party Claims

California generally uses a no-fault system, so an injured employee typically doesn’t have to prove the employer was negligent. Eligibility and the amount or duration of benefits depend on factors such as medical evidence, earnings, employment status, and the extent of the disability.

Available workers’ compensation benefits may include:

• Medical treatment: Care reasonably required to address the work-related injury or illness.
• Temporary disability benefits: Partial wage replacement while an eligible worker can’t perform usual job duties.
• Permanent disability benefits: Payments based on lasting impairment and its effect on the worker.
• Supplemental job displacement benefits: A voucher that may be available when an eligible worker can’t return to the former job.
• Death benefits: Benefits that may be available to qualifying dependents after a fatal workplace injury.

A third-party claim is a civil action against someone other than the employer, such as a contractor or equipment manufacturer. It may provide forms of compensation that aren’t available through the workers’ compensation system, making it important to examine the roles of the companies involved at the worksite. Different rules may apply to work performed offshore, on docks, or in settings governed by federal maritime or compensation laws.

What to Do After an Oilfield Accident

Prompt documentation may be critical if an insurer questions how the accident happened, whether an exposure occurred at work, or when symptoms began.

After an injury or suspected occupational illness:

• Obtain medical care. Tell the provider that the injury, symptoms, or exposure are connected to your work.
• Report the condition. Notify your employer promptly and retain copies of the accident report and claim forms.
• Preserve available evidence. Keep photographs, witness details, equipment information, wage records, medical documents, safety communications, and insurer correspondence.
• Review requests carefully. Understand how a recorded statement or settlement could affect your rights before proceeding.

California workers generally should report a job injury within 30 days, and a claim commonly must be filed within one year. Exceptions may affect these periods based on when the worker discovered the condition, whether treatment or benefits were provided, and other case-specific facts. We assist with forms, medical documentation, hearings, and court proceedings throughout the compensation process.

More Than $500 Million Recovered for Injured Workers

Gary Rodich is Board Certified in Workers’ Compensation Law. Our firm reports recovering more than $500 million for injured workers and helping thousands of workers and their families.

These cases can involve extensive medical records, job-duty evidence, safety documentation, and several companies. We provide personalized service, regular updates, and direct guidance as each claim moves through the California system.

How We Handle Disputed & Complex Injury Claims

An insurer may question whether an injury occurred at work, whether employment caused a medical condition, whether the worker was an employee, or whether medical evidence supports the requested treatment and disability benefits. We handle cases from initial paperwork through disputes, hearings, and litigation.

Gary Rodich’s previous work representing insurance companies gives us insight into how claims are investigated and challenged. His service as a Pro Tem Judge, a temporary judicial officer appointed to perform certain court functions, provides another perspective when legal or evidentiary issues are contested.

Depending on the dispute, we may review medical reports, exposure history, equipment maintenance, safety procedures, training records, and incident reports. We also examine the responsibilities of contractors and other entities, along with the effects of cumulative trauma, delayed symptoms, employment classification, and prior treatment.

Discuss Your Oilfield Injury With Our Firm

A free consultation allows us to review reporting concerns, medical documentation, potential benefits, and whether the circumstances call for a third-party claim evaluation. If available, bring your claim forms, medical records, work restrictions, and insurer correspondence so we can assess where the case stands.

We don’t charge an attorney fee unless we achieve a favorable outcome.

Call (818) 888-3000 to speak with Rodich Law about your oilfield injury and the next steps in your claim.

Related: construction worker injuries, crane accidents, forklift accidents, scaffolding accidents, trench collapse accidents, welding accidents, electrocution, explosions, and our guide to silicosis claims for stone and countertop workers.