After being injured in an oilfield accident, it’s reasonable to wonder how long it takes to process your claim. You’re laying in the hospital or at home, facing a lengthy recovery and possibly extensive rehabilitative treatment, like skin grafts or physical therapy. Meanwhile, you’re out of work and hoping a settlement will cover your expenses.
The good news is that when you work with a Houston oilfield accident lawyer from Havens & Associates, you know we’re committed to a prompt conclusion for your case. We fight hard to ensure your settlement is fair and large enough to cover your expenses, but we don’t settle for lowball offers. Our litigators balance fair compensation with swift justice, working toward your best interests.
While each case is different, several common factors affect the time it takes to conclude an oil rig accident case.
Factors contributing to your oil rig injury claim timeline
Depending on your situation, the time it takes to settle your case may be as little as several months. It may take up to two years or more for complex, multi-defendant cases.
Most cases involve these steps, each of which may take a month or longer.
Medical care and research
You likely already sought medical attention after the accident, especially for serious injuries or burns. If you haven’t, seeing a doctor as soon as possible is important. Your post-accident medical records establish causality in the accident and show a jury and the insurance company the extent of your injuries.
You may also have a second medical opinion or an exam by an expert medical witness hired by your oil rig accident lawyer.
In many cases, an experienced Houston oil rig accident attorney will wait until you’ve recovered from your injuries or reached the point of maximum medical improvement. This way, they can most accurately value your medical damages, including the cost of any long-term care needs, like accommodations in a burn unit or nursing home.
Investigating the accident
The first step in building your case is independently investigating the accident. While there may be an incident report from your employer and statements they collected, most lawyers prefer doing their research and investigation.
It may only take a few weeks to depose witnesses and subpoena the case’s safety records and other documentation. Other times, though, when the facts are murky or a defendant is a corporation or business, the investigation and depositions may take longer.
Out-of-court negotiations
Many offshore accident cases are settled out of court in negotiations between the two parties. Your oil rig accident lawyer may send a demand letter to the other party and negotiate from there.
Sometimes, both parties agree to mediation, guided by out-of-court negotiations overseen by a mediator. We can represent you in these negotiations and try to save the time and expense of a trial.
Negotiations can last weeks; the next step is a civil trial if we cannot resolve.
Court action
We prepare each case as if we are going to trial, so we’re always ready if the other side refuses to make a fair settlement offer. Setting a trial date may take months. Your trial may last just a few days or longer, depending on who the defendant is and how complex the case is.
Do you need help after a Houston oil rig accident?
Contacting Havens & Associates is free. We offer a complimentary initial case review for injured oil rig workers and their families. We listen to your story – and we’re on your side. Call (713) 955-2215 today to get started.
