Oilfield Accident Attorney in New Orleans

Over $1 Billion Won for Louisiana Workers. We Take the Cases Others Won’t.

Onshore oilfield work puts Louisiana workers in some of the most hazardous conditions in any industry: high-pressure drilling equipment, volatile materials, and multi-contractor worksites where responsibility for safety is spread across a dozen parties. When something goes wrong, the legal claims that follow are rarely simple. At Clayton, Frugé & Ward, we handle exactly these cases, bringing a level of investigative depth and courtroom experience that's helped us secure more than $1 billion in Louisiana verdicts and settlements to injured workers throughout New Orleans and the surrounding area.

Oilfield workers in the New Orleans area are employed across a wide range of onshore drilling operations, pipeline networks, and support functions tied to Louisiana’s oil and gas industry. When an injury occurs, multiple companies, including operators, contractors, subcontractors, and equipment suppliers, may each carry a share of legal responsibility. Sorting out that liability takes resources and skill. We take on complex oilfield cases that other firms decline, applying the same strategic approach that allowed us to achieve some of the state's largest settlements and verdicts to date.

If you’ve been injured in an onshore oilfield accident in the New Orleans area, call us at (225) 209-9943 for a free consultation. The sooner you reach us, the sooner we can work to preserve the evidence your case depends on.

Types of Onshore Oilfield Accidents We Handle

The hazards on an onshore drilling site are varied and serious. Tanker trucks are central to drilling logistics and rank among the leading causes of fatalities in the onshore industry. The United States has approximately 2.5 million miles of pipelines, many aging and corroding, which raises the risk of ignitions, explosions, and spills. Drilling blowouts occur when pressure control systems fail and release oil, gas, or drilling fluid with explosive force.

Defective or improperly maintained equipment, including blowout preventers, cranes, hoists, and drilling rigs, can malfunction with little warning. When companies ignore OSHA safety requirements, injured workers may have negligence claims grounded in those regulatory violations.

We handle cases involving:

• Land rig explosions and blowouts
• Falls and falling objects
• Heavy equipment failure
• Toxic chemical and gas exposure
• Pipeline fires and explosions
• Workover operation injuries
• Oilfield trucking and tanker truck accidents

This is not an exhaustive list. If you were involved in any type of oilfield accident, or if you lost a loved one in an oilfield-related disaster, our firm can help. Reach out today to speak to one of our New Orleans oilfield accident lawyers about your legal rights and options.

Injuries & Damages in Oilfield Accident Claims

Oilfield accidents cause some of the most severe injuries seen in any workplace, things like traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, severe burns, amputations, crush injuries, internal organ damage, and illness from chemical exposure. Many of these injuries produce long-term or permanent impairments that affect a worker’s ability to earn a living and require ongoing medical care.

A Louisiana personal injury claim can recover medical expenses, future medical costs, lost wages, loss of future earning capacity, pain and suffering, permanent disability, disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life. In cases involving egregious conduct, Louisiana courts may also award punitive damages where authorized by statute. When an oilfield accident results in a fatality, surviving family members may pursue a wrongful death claim covering funeral costs, lost income, and loss of companionship.

Why Injured Workers Choose Clayton, Frugé & Ward

Results are what set us apart. We secured a $411 million verdict in a work accident case and a $171 million verdict following a plant explosion. The $117 million we recovered for a young mother left paralyzed in an ambulance accident stands as Louisiana’s largest verdict of its kind. Across our history, we’ve recovered more than $1 billion for clients throughout Louisiana, including verdicts of $75 million and beyond.

We take cases that other law firms turn down. Complex, multi-defendant oilfield claims with contested liability and aggressive corporate insurers are exactly the kind of work we do. Our attorneys bring innovative strategies to difficult cases and know how to identify the approaches that can make a difference in court.

Our team reflects Louisiana’s communities. Our attorneys come from diverse legal and cultural backgrounds, and we don’t identify as a black law firm or a white law firm. We are a firm for everyone in Louisiana. That depth of understanding shapes how we present cases, including sensitivity to cultural nuances that can affect how a jury receives a client’s story. Beyond legal representation, we provide genuine emotional support throughout a process that is, for most clients, one of the hardest periods of their lives.

How Louisiana Law Governs Onshore Oilfield Injury Claims

Most onshore oilfield injuries begin with a workers’ compensation claim, which covers medical expenses and a portion of lost wages regardless of fault. But workers’ compensation doesn’t cover everything. It excludes pain and suffering, and under Louisiana law (La. R.S. 23:1032), it is generally the exclusive remedy against an employer and certain protected principals.

That’s where third-party claims come in. 

Third-Party Claims & Other Paths to Recovery

When a contractor, equipment manufacturer, subcontractor, or other party outside the protected categories contributed to the injury, La. R.S. 23:1101 preserves the right to pursue a separate work injury claim. 

Product liability may apply when defective equipment fails. Premises liability may apply when unsafe worksite conditions caused the accident. These claims can run alongside workers’ compensation and recover the categories of loss that compensation benefits don’t reach.

Comparative Fault & Filing Deadlines

Louisiana follows a rule of pure comparative fault. Under this rule, a worker’s damages are reduced by their own percentage of fault but not eliminated, even if they share some responsibility for what happened. For example, if someone is 20 percent at fault, they can still recover 80 percent of the damages they are seeking.

There is a strict deadline for filing nearly all third-party injury claims. For injuries occurring on or after July 1, 2024, the prescription period is two years from the date of injury. For injuries occurring before July 1, 2024, the period was one year. Missing the filing deadline can result in you losing your right to sue for damages. 

If your injury involved a vessel or offshore platform, different rules apply under maritime law. Our firm handles these cases, as well, and can assist you in understanding your rights, pursuing legal action, and fighting for the justice you are owed.

Evidence from oilfield accidents, including incident reports, job safety analyses, maintenance logs, and equipment records, can disappear quickly as operators and insurers begin their own investigations. That's why acting early matters. The sooner you reach out to one of our oilfield accident attorneys in New Orleans, the sooner we can begin taking steps to preserve evidence and build your claim.

Steps to Take After an Oilfield Accident in New Orleans

The actions you take in the hours and days after an injury directly affect what your claim can recover. 

A few steps are especially important:

• Seek medical attention immediately, even for injuries that seem minor. Some conditions worsen or become apparent only hours or days after the incident.
• Report the accident to a supervisor and confirm that an incident report is filed. Failing to report promptly can affect a workers’ compensation claim.
• Document the scene by photographing the work area, equipment, hazardous conditions, and visible injuries before the site is cleaned or repaired.
• Collect witness information from coworkers who observed the accident or the conditions that contributed to it.
• Avoid making detailed statements to the company's insurance adjuster before first speaking with an attorney.
• Preserve all paperwork, including benefit notices, medical records, work restrictions, and communications from the employer or insurer.
• Contact an oilfield accident attorney in New Orleans as soon as possible. The clock starts on the date of injury, and critical records can be lost in routine cleanup, equipment repair, or shift turnover.

From the moment you contact us, we move quickly to preserve evidence and protect your claim. Our team is here to answer your questions and provide the personalized, one-on-one attention you need during this incredibly difficult time.

Free Consultation for New Orleans Oilfield Accident Victims

If you or a family member was injured in an onshore oilfield accident, don’t wait to get legal guidance. We offer free consultations for injured workers throughout Louisiana, including New Orleans, and we handle oilfield accident cases on a contingency basis. That means you don't pay any fees unless we recover compensation for you.

Call Clayton, Frugé & Ward today at (225) 209-9943 to speak with a New Orleans oilfield accident attorney about your options.