If you were injured in a Texas plant or refinery accident caused by someone other than your employer, such as an equipment manufacturer or outside contractor, you may have grounds for a third-party liability claim. This legal action allows you to seek compensation for damages, including medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and diminished earning capacity.
At SJ Injury Attorneys, we help plant and refinery accident victims understand their legal options and fight for the financial recovery they deserve. Our refinery injury lawyers know how to identify all potentially liable parties. We're here to put our skills and resources to work for you.
Understanding Third-Party Liability in Plant and Refinery Accidents
Many industrial employers opt out of the state's workers' compensation system in Texas. Crucially, opting out of workers' comp allows injured employees to sue their non-subscriber employer for negligence.
However, not all work injuries are caused by employer negligence. In some cases, a third party may have caused your accident injuries. Examples of potential third parties in plant and refinery accident cases include:
- Equipment manufacturers
- Raw material suppliers
- Outside contractors performing maintenance or repairs
- Plant owners (if different from your direct employer)
- Trucking companies making deliveries
If the negligent actions of one of these entities caused dangerous conditions that harmed you, a third-party liability claim allows you to seek compensation.
Proving Liability in Complex Industrial Accident Cases
Establishing third-party negligence in plant and refinery accidents is complicated. These sprawling industrial facilities often have multiple companies operating simultaneously, and pinpointing the source of a devastating explosion, toxic leak, or other accident can prove challenging. Some key elements your refinery injury lawyer must demonstrate include:
- The third party owed you a duty of care. A duty of care is a legal obligation requiring a person or company to act with reasonable care to avoid causing harm to others who might be affected by their actions or products. For an equipment manufacturer, this may be a duty to provide safe, properly functioning machinery. For an outside contractor, performing repairs competently could be a duty.
- The third party breached this duty through negligent actions. This happens when the third party does not act like a reasonable person or company would in similar circumstances. Examples might include a manufacturer cutting corners on safety testing or an understaffed maintenance company conducting inadequate inspections.
- This negligence directly caused or contributed to your injuries. Your attorney must show clear links between the third party's actions, the dangerous conditions that arose, and the harm you suffered. In other words, your lawyer must prove that your injuries would not have happened but for the third party’s negligence.
- You incurred measurable damages due to the third party’s negligence. Damages may include things like medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.
You will need evidence to prove each element of negligence described above. At SJ Injury Attorneys, we fight hard to hold negligent third parties accountable for the devastation they cause hardworking Texans like you.
Why Filing a Third-Party Liability Claim Matters
By filing a third-party liability claim, you can seek compensation for damages including:
- Past and future medical bills
- Lost wages and reduced future earning capacity
- Permanent disability and disfigurement
- Ongoing occupational therapy
- Accessibility modifications to your home and vehicle
- Pain, suffering, and mental anguish
- Diminished quality of life
No sum can erase the trauma of a devastating industrial accident. However, securing full and fair compensation can provide essential support as you rebuild your health and financial stability. As skilled refinery injury lawyers, we're committed to maximizing your recovery while allowing you to focus on healing.
Protecting Your Rights After a Texas Plant or Refinery Accident
If you've been injured due to third-party negligence in an industrial workplace, you need to act quickly to protect your claim. Consider taking these key steps after an accident:
- Report the accident to your employer and get the necessary medical care. Follow all treatment recommendations.
- Avoid giving recorded statements to insurance companies before speaking with an attorney.
- Document everything you can about the accident, injuries, and recovery process. Keep copies of all medical bills and injury-related expenses.
- Contact an experienced plant and refinery accident lawyer to discuss your case. Be sure to ask about their experience with third-party liability claims.