Pasadena Refinery Accident Lawyer

Were you or someone you care about injured in a refinery accident in Pasadena, TX? You might be dealing with a painful recovery, time away from work, and pressure from insurance companies to settle fast. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and unsure of where to turn, you need and deserve legal advice from a team you can trust.

At The Callahan Law Firm, handling injury cases like yours is all we do. When you come to us for help, we take the time to listen to your concerns and get things done right. We’ll work directly with you to determine what happened and who should be held responsible. Contact us today to get started with your free consultation, so we can talk about what happened and how we can help. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for your case.

What a Pasadena, TX, Lawyer Can Do in a Refinery Accident Case

If you suffered injuries in a refinery accident in Pasadena, a Pasadena, TX refinery accident lawyer from The Callahan Law Firm can explain your legal options and pursue the financial recovery you deserve. An attorney can collect evidence to support your claim, calculate your losses, and deal with insurance companies so you don’t have to handle everything on your own.

At The Callahan Law Firm, we have more than 30 years of experience handling only personal injury and workers’ compensation cases. We don’t spread our attention across multiple practice areas like other law firms. Our law firm also purposely limits our caseload so we can focus on the people we represent. When you come to our attorneys for help, you won’t get passed off to someone else. Our lawyers take the time to listen and give each case the attention it deserves.

Our team prepares every case as if it were headed to trial. We put in the work from the start, and our track record in the courtroom shows that. Attorney Michael S. Callahan is board-certified in personal injury trial law, and Casey M. Brown has experience on the defense side, so he knows how insurance companies think. When you work with us, you work with a team that takes your case seriously and knows how to get results.

Contact us now for a free, no-obligation consultation to learn more. We’re available to talk however you prefer, whether by phone, text, email, video, or in person.

What Compensation Could I Pursue After a Refinery Accident?

If you got hurt while working at a refinery, you could be eligible to claim workers’ compensation benefits. These benefits can cover all of your necessary medical expenses and a portion of your lost wages while you recover. In some cases, you could also receive money for permanent disability if your injuries affect your ability to work long-term. You don’t have to prove fault to get these benefits, but you do have to report your injury to your employer and follow certain steps within various deadlines.

Texas is one of the only states where workers’ compensation insurance is not required for most private businesses. Some of the largest companies in Texas have opted to become non-subscribers to a workers’ compensation insurance plan. The reason for an employer being a non-subscriber is usually financial — the employer wants to save money by not paying for workers’ compensation insurance.

If your employer does not carry workers’ compensation, you still have the option of pursuing a case against your employer to recover money for your medical bills, lost wages, pain, and physical impairment. Employers without workers’ compensation insurance can be sued by their injured employee for negligence, and the employer gives up certain legal defenses, including assumption of the risk and the fellow servant doctrine. If you are not sure if your employer carries workers’ compensation, contact the attorneys at The Callahan Law Firm and let them look into it for you.

You might also have a personal injury claim if someone other than your employer contributed to the accident that injured you. This could include a contractor, equipment manufacturer, or another third party. In a third-party claim, you can seek compensation for all of your losses, including the full value of your lost wages. You can also claim money for things like pain and suffering, which workers’ compensation doesn’t cover.

A personal injury claim allows you to recover more compensation than a workers’ comp claim, but you have to prove that the other party acted wrongfully. A lawyer from The Callahan Law Firm can help you determine which type of claim or claims you might have and pursue full compensation on your behalf.

Who Could Be Liable for Refinery and Plant Accidents?

Oftentimes, someone other than your employer or a co-worker caused your refinery injury. In such cases, you might have a valid claim against a third party that acted carelessly, failed to follow safety rules, or created a dangerous work environment.

Examples of parties that could face refinery accident liability for your injuries include the following:

• Contractors or Subcontractors – If a contractor on site failed to follow safety procedures or caused a hazard that led to your injury, you might have a claim against that company.
• Equipment Manufacturers – If faulty or poorly designed equipment caused your injury, the manufacturer of that equipment could be legally responsible for the harm you suffered.
• Maintenance Companies – If a company in charge of maintaining or inspecting equipment skipped steps or did not do the job properly, it could be liable for resulting accidents.
• Property Owners – If the refinery site owner is not your employer and they failed to correct known hazards or allowed unsafe conditions to exist, you might have a claim against them.
• Vendors or Delivery Services – Third-party drivers or suppliers entering the site can face liability for creating dangerous conditions if they ignore safety rules or cause spills, fires, or collisions.

What Should I Do to Protect My Rights After a Refinery Accident?

If you get hurt in a Pasadena oil refinery accident, your health should come first. This means your top priority should be to seek medical attention so a medical professional can diagnose, treat, and document your injuries. Once your condition is stable, you’ll need to take the following steps to protect your rights and make sure you don’t lose the chance to seek compensation:

• Follow your doctor’s treatment instructions and attend all follow-up appointments as necessary.
• Report the accident to your employer promptly. Save a copy of the report for your records.
• Take photos of the accident scene, your injuries, and any equipment involved if you’re able.
• Write down the names and contact information of any witnesses who saw the incident.
• Avoid posting about the accident or your health on social media.
• Talk to a lawyer before signing any documents or giving a recorded statement to an insurer.

How Long Do I Have to File a Refinery Accident Lawsuit in Texas?

If you qualify for workers’ compensation in Texas, you must report your injury to your employer within 30 days of the accident. After that, you have one year from the date of your workplace injury to file a workers’ compensation claim with the Division of Workers’ Compensation. These deadlines are strict, and missing them could prevent you from getting any benefits at all.

If you plan to file a personal injury lawsuit, you usually have two years from the date of the accident to take legal action. If you wait too long, the court will likely throw out your case.

These tight filing windows are why you should talk to a lawyer as soon as possible. A lawyer from The Callahan Law Firm can determine which deadlines apply to your situation and take swift action to protect your rights. They can also gather records, speak to witnesses, and build your case while you focus on your recovery.

What Are the Common Causes and Types of Refinery Accidents?

Refinery accidents can happen for many reasons, and often, they involve problems that someone could have prevented. The following are some of the most common causes of refinery accidents:

• Poor Equipment Maintenance – If companies don’t inspect or repair machines as often as they should, worn-out or faulty parts can cause fires, leaks, or breakdowns.
• Lack of Proper Training – Some workers get hurt because they never received the right training to handle the job or respond to emergencies.
• Unsafe Work Practices – Rushing jobs, skipping safety steps, or ignoring lockout/tagout rules can create serious hazards for everyone nearby.
• Exposure to Toxic Chemicals – Leaks, spills, or poor ventilation can lead to chemical exposure, which can cause burns and breathing problems.
• Slip and Fall Hazards – Wet surfaces, poor lighting, and cluttered walkways can lead to falls that cause severe injuries.
• Defective Safety Equipment – If personal protective gear fails or doesn’t meet proper standards, workers lose the protection they need on the job.
• Overworked Staff – Long shifts and worker fatigue can lead to slower reaction times, missed warnings, and costly mistakes.

Refineries involve high-pressure systems, dangerous chemicals, moving equipment, and many different types of work happening at once. The following are some common types of refinery accidents that can result from having all of these risks in one place:

What Are Common Injuries in Refinery and Plant Accidents?

Refinery work involves heavy machinery, high heat, toxic chemicals, and other serious hazards. If something goes wrong, workers can suffer a wide range of types of refinery injuries, such as the following:

Speak with a Refinery Accident Lawyer in Pasadena, TX, Today

If you got hurt in a refinery accident in Pasadena, don’t wait to get legal help. The sooner you act, the easier it will be to protect your rights and build a strong case. Contact the Pasadena, TX refinery accident attorneys at The Callahan Law Firm today for a free consultation to take your next steps. You pay nothing unless we recover money for your accident lawsuit.