Can I sue if my employer carries workers' compensation in Texas?

Yes. Workers' compensation covers your employer, but third parties — such as a contractor, equipment manufacturer, or facility operator who is not your direct employer — can still be sued in a separate personal injury lawsuit. These third-party claims are not subject to workers' comp benefit caps and can result in significantly higher recoveries for catastrophic industrial injuries.

How long do I have to file a Texas oil refinery injury lawsuit?

Two years from the date of the accident under Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code § 16.003. For wrongful death claims, the clock typically runs from the date of death. Industrial accident evidence — electronic logs, video footage, maintenance records — disappears quickly. Contact an attorney immediately.

What if I was partly at fault for my own industrial injury in Texas?

Texas uses a modified comparative fault system under Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code § 33.001. You can still recover as long as you are not more than 50% responsible. Your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault. Refinery operators routinely try to blame injured workers — we push back hard against those tactics.

Oil Refinery Accident Attorney — Texas Industrial Injury Lawyer

Texas refineries and petrochemical plants are among the most dangerous workplaces in the country. Explosions, chemical releases, equipment failures, and fires can injure or kill workers in seconds — and when they do, the companies responsible often move quickly to limit their liability. If you or a family member was injured in an oil refinery, chemical plant, or industrial facility accident in Texas, attorney Chris Sanchez fights back for you. We work on contingency — you pay nothing unless we win.

Types of Oil Refinery and Industrial Accidents We Handle

Texas refinery accidents take many forms, and each carries different legal theories of liability. Our firm handles:

Explosions and fires — caused by pressure vessel failures, ignition of flammable vapors, or improper hot-work procedures
Chemical exposure — hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), benzene, ammonia, and other toxic releases that cause burns, respiratory damage, and long-term illness
Equipment failures — scaffolding collapses, crane accidents, pipeline ruptures, and defective safety valves
Falls from height — elevated walkways, fractionation towers, and maintenance platforms without adequate fall protection
Electrical accidents — arc flash injuries and electrocution from improperly locked-out equipment
Overexposure to heat — heat stroke and heat exhaustion in high-temperature refinery environments without proper rest or hydration protocols

Major refinery corridors in Texas where we represent victims include the Gulf Coast Refinery Row (Beaumont, Port Arthur, Texas City, Corpus Christi), Eagle Ford Shale (Cotulla, Three Rivers), and Permian Basin processing facilities (Midland, Odessa).

Who Can Be Held Liable for a Texas Refinery Accident?

Liability in refinery and industrial injury cases often extends beyond your direct employer. Texas law allows injured workers to pursue claims against:

Facility operators and plant owners — responsible for maintaining safe operations, proper procedures, and compliance with OSHA Process Safety Management (PSM) regulations (29 CFR 1910.119)
General contractors and subcontractors — companies that control the worksite may share liability even if you were hired by a different subcontractor
Equipment manufacturers — a defective pressure relief valve, faulty gas detector, or improperly designed scaffold can support a products liability claim under Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code § 82
Engineering and inspection firms — third-party inspectors who missed critical safety deficiencies may be liable for negligence

Even if your employer carries Texas workers’ compensation (Tex. Lab. Code § 406), you may still have third-party claims against non-employer defendants — and those claims are not capped the way workers’ comp benefits are. We evaluate every avenue of recovery.

Texas Laws That Protect Injured Refinery Workers

Several state and federal frameworks govern industrial accident claims:

Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 33 — Texas’s proportionate responsibility statute allows you to recover damages as long as you are not more than 50% at fault
Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003 — 2-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims (the clock starts from the date of injury)
OSHA PSM Standard (29 CFR 1910.119) — refinery operators must maintain written safety procedures, conduct regular hazard analyses, and train employees; violations create strong evidence of negligence
Texas Wrongful Death Act (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 71.002) — if a loved one was killed in a refinery accident, surviving family members may recover compensation for lost income, loss of companionship, and funeral expenses

Compensation Available After a Refinery Accident

Serious industrial injuries often involve catastrophic, life-changing harm. Victims may be entitled to:

Past and future medical expenses (surgeries, burn treatment, rehabilitation, long-term care)
Lost wages and loss of earning capacity
Pain and suffering, mental anguish, and disfigurement
Physical impairment damages (separate from pain and suffering under Texas law)
Punitive (exemplary) damages when a company acted with gross negligence — Texas allows these under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 41.003

Why Chris Sanchez — The Relentless Lawyer

When you’re up against a major oil company or industrial operator, you need an attorney who doesn’t back down. Chris Sanchez has represented Texas injury victims for years, recovering millions of dollars for clients across the Rio Grande Valley, Gulf Coast, and beyond. We are:

Bilingual (English and Spanish) — available to serve you in the language you’re most comfortable with
Available 24/7 — call (956) 686-4357 or WhatsApp (956) 616-2020 any time
Contingency fee — no fees unless we win. Period.
Local — offices in McAllen, San Juan, San Antonio, and Houston

Do not give a statement to the company’s insurance adjuster before speaking with us. Evidence disappears fast in industrial accident cases. Call today.

Frequently Asked Questions — Texas Oil Refinery Accidents

Can I sue if my employer carries workers’ compensation?

Yes — if a third party (contractor, equipment manufacturer, or facility operator who is not your direct employer) contributed to your accident, you can file a personal injury lawsuit against them separate from any workers’ comp claim. These third-party claims are not subject to workers’ comp benefit caps and can result in significantly higher recoveries.

How long do I have to file a refinery injury lawsuit in Texas?

Generally 2 years from the date of the accident under Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code § 16.003. However, if a loved one died, the wrongful death clock may run from the date of death rather than the accident. Don’t wait — evidence and witness availability deteriorate over time. Contact our office immediately.

What should I do immediately after a refinery or plant explosion?

First, seek emergency medical attention even if you feel fine — chemical exposures and blast injuries often have delayed symptoms. Do not give any statement to the company, its insurer, or safety investigators without an attorney present. Preserve any records, photos, or communications you have access to. Then call Chris Sanchez at (956) 686-4357.

What if I was partly at fault for my own injury?

Texas uses a modified comparative fault system (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 33). As long as you are not more than 50% responsible, you can still recover — your damages are simply reduced by your percentage of fault. Companies routinely try to shift blame onto injured workers to reduce their payout. We push back hard against those tactics.

How much is a Texas refinery accident case worth?

Serious industrial injury cases can be worth hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars, depending on the severity of injuries, lost earning capacity, the defendant’s negligence, and whether gross negligence (punitive damages) applies. Every case is different. Call us for a free case evaluation — we’ll give you an honest assessment with no obligation.