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What happened in this case?
Our client, a hand for an oilfield contractor, was working on a drilling rig in Louisiana when his dominant hand was caught in a rotating roller and crushed. He lost part of a finger. We brought the claim in federal court against the company that owned and operated the rig, and it settled for $395,000.
Figures shown are rounded; the exact amounts are on file. Past results are not a guarantee of future successes. Each case is different and is evaluated on its own facts.
On this page
- What did the injury cost him?
- Why are hand injuries worth more than people expect?
- Can you sue someone else if workers’ compensation is paying?
- Hurt on a rig or at an oilfield job in Louisiana?
- Frequently asked questions
What did the injury cost him?
He was taken to a trauma unit the day of the injury and needed more than one surgery, followed by months of therapy.
Testing at the end showed the grip and hand skills in his injured hand at about a third of normal. His doctor released him to work but not to the heavy work he had done on the rig, and did not expect him to go back to it.
Workers’ compensation paid part of his bills and wages while the case was pending. The claim against the rig owner was separate, and it was the only part of the case that could account for what he lost beyond those benefits.
Why are hand injuries worth more than people expect?
Because for a rig hand, the hand is the job. Grip strength and fine control decide whether he can work at all, and losing part of either can end the trade he learned.
The number that matters is not the surgery bill. The larger parts are usually the wages a worker loses and will lose, and what the injury takes from an ordinary day. That comparison is what an early offer leaves out.
Can you sue someone else if workers’ compensation is paying?
Often, yes. Workers’ compensation is what you get from your own employer no matter who was at fault. If someone else, such as the company that owned the rig or the equipment, also caused the injury, you may have a separate claim against that company.
Compensation does not pay for pain, for the loss of use of a hand, or for all of the wages you will not earn. The company or insurer that paid your benefits may have a right to be repaid out of part of what you recover, so what you keep depends on how that repayment is handled. Ask a lawyer before you sign anything.
General legal principles, not advice about any particular case.
Hurt on a rig or at an oilfield job in Louisiana?
Call (337) 347-7177 for a free consultation. We handle industrial and oilfield injury cases from our office in Lafayette. No fee unless we win.
Frequently asked questions
I got hurt working for a contractor on someone else’s rig. Does that matter?
It usually helps. When you work for one company on another company’s equipment, there is often someone to hold responsible beyond your own employer, and your employer’s compensation coverage does not shield that other company.
Does taking workers’ compensation stop me from suing?
Not against a company other than your employer. Compensation limits what you can do against your employer, not against a third party. The insurer that paid may have a right to be repaid from what you recover.
How long do I have to bring a claim?
For most Louisiana injury claims that arose on or after July 1, 2024, the deadline is two years. A workers’ compensation claim runs on its own separate deadlines. Get your dates confirmed early rather than relying on a general figure. That call is free.
Related reading: Louisiana workers’ compensation laws, what to do after an oilfield truck accident, and our workers’ compensation lawyer page.
Related results: a federal court judgment against the United States, and a truck accident case that settled in federal court.
Past results are not a guarantee of future successes. Every case depends on its own facts. Attorney advertising.