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We won a verdict for a single plaintiff in an action against a multi-national pharmaceutical company.
We won a jury verdict for a client who suffered head trauma and permanent scarring in an ATV rollover case in South Texas.
Won a settlement against a Fortune 500 pipeline company for burn victims of a plant explosion in South Texas.
Won settlement for family who lost loved one in trucking crash.
1B+ Recovered | 900+ Jury Trials | 30+ Years of Experience | 99% Success Rate
Houston is home to more than 4,600 energy-related organizations, including hundreds of exploration firms and nearly 1,000 oilfield-service and pipeline companies. This makes the Houston area one of the most active energy hubs in the world. For the workers who keep that industry running, the risks are real, and the consequences of a serious accident can alter the course of a life.
Kherkher Garcia LLP represents oil and gas workers across Houston, pursuing accountability from companies and contractors whose negligence caused injuries. Our oil and gas field injury lawyer in Houston brings experience, resources, and trial record to take on the most complex energy industry claims.
Houston sits at the center of one of the most productive energy corridors in the country. The region’s refineries, petrochemical plants, pipeline networks, and oilfield service operations employ tens of thousands of workers across Harris County and the surrounding area. Known widely as the energy capital of the world, Houston is home to a concentration of upstream, midstream, and downstream operations that create constant exposure to the hazards that define this industry.
The work is physically demanding and takes place in environments where pressure, heat, chemicals, and heavy equipment operate in close proximity. Oilfield and refinery worksites present risks that general workplace safety standards were not designed to fully address. The consequences when something goes wrong are often severe. Burns, amputations, spinal injuries, and fatalities are not uncommon outcomes of the accidents that occur across Houston’s energy sector.
An oil and gas field accident covers a broad range of incidents that occur in the extraction, processing, and transportation of petroleum products. Texas courts and insurers do not limit these claims to drilling sites alone. Qualifying accidents may occur at:
The location matters for liability purposes, but legal claims rely on who owned or controlled the site, what safety obligations applied, and whether those obligations were met.
Our trial lawyers will go the distance against corporations and insurance companies to win the maximum compensation in your case.
We stand ready to fight for you against the injustices caused by negligent actions throughout the state of Texas and across the Nation.
Houston’s energy infrastructure spans dozens of facility types, each with its own risk profile. The following accident categories account for the majority of serious injury claims our team handles.
A well blowout occurs when pressure control fails during drilling or completion operations, releasing a sudden surge of oil, gas, or both. Blowout preventers exist specifically to stop these events, but equipment failures, poor maintenance, and inadequate crew training contribute to preventable blowouts every year.
Drilling accidents include pipe string failures, rig floor injuries from rotating equipment, derrick collapses, and injuries during well completion and hydraulic fracturing operations. For more context on how these accidents occur across Texas, including the Permian Basin, see our overview of oil rig and oil field accidents in Texas.
Houston’s Ship Channel corridor is lined with refineries and petrochemical facilities. Explosions and fires at these sites can involve multiple workers in a single event, producing burn injuries, blast trauma, and fatalities. Common contributing factors include failure to follow proper shutdown and hot work procedures, inadequate maintenance of pressure vessels and piping systems, and noncompliance with the emergency action plan requirements of 29 CFR 1910.38.
Oil and gas operations involve hydrogen sulfide, benzene, carbon monoxide, and a range of other toxic compounds. Acute exposure can cause respiratory failure, loss of consciousness, and death. Chronic low-level exposure over time has been linked to neurological damage and certain cancers. Exposure claims most often arise from inadequate air monitoring, failure to properly label or contain hazardous substances, and insufficient worker training on response procedures.
Heavy equipment operates constantly in oilfield environments, including cranes, forklifts, coil tubing units, and pressure pumping trucks. Mechanical failures, operator error, and inadequate inspection protocols create serious struck-by and crush injury risks. Common incidents include workers struck by pipes or components under pressure, crane failures with falling loads, runaway vehicles on sloped well pads, and pinch-point injuries involving rotating machinery.
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The injuries produced by oilfield accidents tend to be severe, often requiring extended medical care and permanently changing a worker’s ability to earn a living. Common injuries in oil and gas field injury claims include:
Wrongful death. When a worker does not survive their injuries, surviving family members may be able to pursue a wrongful death claim under Texas law.
Oil and gas sites involve multiple overlapping companies, contractors, and equipment owners. Identifying every responsible party is one of the most consequential steps in building a strong claim.
Texas allows private employers to opt out of the state workers’ compensation system. According to the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI), employers that make this choice are known as non-subscribers and are not shielded by the liability limitations that apply to workers’ compensation participants. When an employer is a non-subscriber, an injured worker may bring a direct negligence claim and pursue a broader range of damages. Non-subscriber employers also lose the ability to assert certain defenses, including contributory negligence and assumption of risk, in most cases.
Most major oilfield operations rely on networks of service contractors, including drilling contractors, well service companies, transportation firms, chemical suppliers, and crane operators. When a third-party contractor’s negligence contributes to a worker’s injury, that contractor may bear direct liability, regardless of who employed the injured worker. In some situations, the site operator or general contractor may also be held responsible for the acts of subcontractors that they supervised or directed.
Workers’ compensation in Texas provides medical treatment and partial wage replacement but does not cover pain and suffering or the complete loss of earning capacity. A personal injury lawsuit may recover economic and non-economic damages in a broader scope. The path available depends on whether the employer subscribes to workers’ compensation. At Kherkher Garcia LLP, our team evaluates each situation to determine which legal avenue offers the strongest basis for recovery based on the facts.
Oilfield accidents rarely trace back to a single isolated mistake. More often, they reflect systemic breakdowns in safety management, equipment maintenance, or contractor oversight. Common causes include:
Establishing the cause determines who can be named as a defendant and what evidence must be preserved from the earliest days after the incident.
Texas law imposes a two-year deadline on personal injury claims. Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003, a claimant must file suit no later than two years after the injury occurs or is discovered. In some toxic exposure cases, the clock may begin when the injury is discovered or reasonably should have been discovered.
Missing this deadline generally bars legal claims entirely. Contacting an oil and gas field injury lawyer in Houston as early as possible after an incident preserves both the legal deadline and the evidentiary foundation of the claim.
Texas law allows injured workers to pursue both economic and non-economic damages in personal injury cases. The scope of recovery depends on the severity of the injury, the degree of employer negligence, and whether the claim proceeds as a non-subscriber case or against a third party.
Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 41.001, economic damages are compensatory damages intended to compensate a claimant for actual economic or pecuniary loss. These include:
Non-economic damages address the human cost of the injury and may include:
Texas law recognizes these losses as compensable alongside economic ones.
When an employer or contractor’s conduct rises to the level of gross negligence, meaning a conscious indifference to the rights, safety, or welfare of others, Texas law permits a judge and/or jury to award exemplary damages. Exemplary damages are separate from economic and non-economic compensation and serve as a penalty. Oilfield cases involving ignored safety citations, repeated equipment failures, or deliberate understaffing may support this type of award. At Kherkher Garcia LLP, our team evaluates gross negligence potential as part of every case assessment.
The actions taken in the hours and days following an oilfield injury pave the way for everything that follows. Employers and their insurers move quickly, and the window to preserve evidence is narrow. Key steps to take include:
At Kherkher Garcia LLP, oil and gas field injury cases are handled with the preparation that complex energy industry claims require. Our team investigates the full chain of events, from equipment maintenance records and contractor qualification files to OSHA inspection histories and internal safety audits. We build a comprehensive picture of how the accident occurred and who bears responsibility. Our oil and gas field injury lawyers in Houston consult industry professionals in petroleum engineering, safety management, and occupational medicine, and prepare each case to be trial-ready from day one.
Our attorneys have litigated more than 900 jury trials across Texas. That trial record informs how we prepare, how we negotiate, and how we evaluate whether a settlement offer reflects what a case is actually worth.
Kherkher Garcia LLP has recovered significant verdicts and settlements on behalf of oil and gas workers and their families:
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Each case is evaluated on its own facts.
A serious injury in the oil and gas industry demands immediate legal attention. Evidence disappears quickly, and employers have legal teams working to protect their interests from the moment an accident occurs. Kherkher Garcia LLP has the resources, trial experience, and knowledge of Texas energy industry law to pursue the compensation you deserve.
Call us at 713-333-1030 to speak with an oil and gas field injury lawyer in Houston for a free consultation.
Steve Kherkher is passionate about serving his clients. He has dedicated his life to championing the rights of those who have experienced catastrophic injury due to negligence.
Steve Kherkher, along with Trial Lawyer Jesus Garcia, founded Kherkher Garcia, and under their leadership, the firm achieved unprecedented success within its first three years.
With a career spanning over 35 years, Steve’s tireless pursuit of justice for his clients has earned him national recognition and numerous accolades as an exemplary trial attorney.
Jesus Garcia Jr. is a founding partner of Kherkher Garcia LLP and a nationally recognized trial lawyer with more than 20 years of experience representing victims of catastrophic injury and wrongful death caused by corporate negligence.
Raised in Rio Grande City, Texas, Jesus brings a deep understanding of hard work, perseverance, and accountability to every case he handles. His commitment to justice has led to record-setting verdicts and settlements, including some of the largest recoveries in Texas history.
Known for his trial-ready approach and relentless advocacy, Jesus has dedicated his career to holding powerful corporations accountable and fighting for families when they need it most.
The oil and gas fields of Texas demand grueling work under dangerous conditions, and when safety standards are ignored, the consequences for workers and their families can be devastating. At Kherkher Garcia LLP, our team of personal injury lawyers has deep experience taking on energy companies and securing the full compensation that injured oilfield workers deserve. When you need an oil and gas field injury lawyer near you in Houston you can trust, we are ready to fight hard for the justice and recovery you are owed.
Visit us at 2925 Richmond Ave., Suite 1560, Houston, Texas 77098, or call 713-333-1030 for a free consultation today.
Client Reviews
I was truly blessed to be able to be represented by the group.They always made me feel secure, safe and that everything was going to be okay in what was the worst time of my life. Always had the answers to every question I happened to have. Always reassured my doubts. All in all the experience with them was amazing, rewarding, but most of all compassionate. They made me feel seen. I will forever be grateful.
Outstanding law firm—the staff graciously took care of me from start to finish. I was intimidated by the legal process in general, but after meeting with Kherkher Garcia, that fear went right out the window. My attorneys explained each step of the process and remained helpful through it all. I never doubted that my case was in the best hands!! Thank you Kherkher Garcia!
Having dealt with numerous personal injury attorneys over the years via marketing campaigns and other endeavors, I can say without hesitation that Eric Hawley operates with the utmost integrity and honesty. He’s undoubtedly one of the hardest working attorneys. Should you hire this firm, you will not be disappointed!
Jesus Garcia is one of the best trial lawyers I have seen in action. He commands the attention of the jury when he speaks. He is a down to earth person and that is probably why he gets amazing results. He is professional and will treat you with respect. If you ever need a personal injury lawyer, I highly recommend that you call Jesus Garcia
It is difficult to share some of the most tragic details you will ever experience with someone you don’t know. The Kherkher Garcia law firm will make you feel like family. They are there for you every step of the way when you don’t know which direction to go. Honest and fair. You will be happy you chose them.
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In most cases, two years from the date of the accident. In toxic exposure cases, the deadline may run from the date the injury was discovered or reasonably should have been discovered.
Generally, no, but there may be exceptions. When an employer subscribes to Texas workers’ compensation, that system is typically the exclusive remedy. However, third parties, including contractors, equipment manufacturers, and site operators may still be sued directly.
When an employer opts out of workers’ compensation insurance, it becomes a non-subscriber under Texas law. Injured workers may then pursue a personal injury lawsuit, which has broader compensation than workers’ compensation benefits allow.
Yes. Oil and gas operations typically involve a site operator, a drilling contractor, equipment vendors, service companies, and transport providers, all operating simultaneously. When negligence by more than one party contributes to an injury, each may be held liable.
Recovery may still be possible, depending on the percentage of fault. Texas follows a modified comparative fault rule. An injured worker may recover damages as long as their share of responsibility does not exceed 50 percent. Any award is reduced proportionally by that percentage.
Recovery may include medical expenses, lost income, reduced earning capacity, physical pain, mental anguish, and, in cases involving gross negligence, exemplary damages.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by attorneys Steve Kherkher and Jesus Garcia Jr., who have more than 50 years of combined legal experience championing the rights of those who have experienced catastrophic injury due to negligence.
Connect with a Kherkher Garcia trial lawyer today to pursue maximum compensation for your injury.
