Oil and gas workers in Colorado frequently operate in dangerous working conditions, but this is through no fault of their own. Employers in this industry are allowing dangerous working conditions, and workers can pay a steep price. In fact, the industry recently caught the attention of press outlets in our state. Some of the published articles on the subject raise some important questions, such as: Can an oil and gas worker file a third party lawsuit if he or she is injured?

An article in The Denver Post argues that an overreliance on subcontractors creates dangerous working conditions. This is because various functions at an oil well can involve subcontractors from different companies.

What is the end result of this practice? With so many companies working together on sites, accidents are bound to happen. Each company may have different standards for safety. The Denver Post article references the case of a 30-year-old Weld County man who died after being consumed by an explosion.

It turns out that another subcontractor from a different company was responsible for ensuring his pump was safe to use. The family of the deceased worker successfully sued the company that employed the other subcontractor for $6 million.

Can You File a Third Party Lawsuit After a Work Accident?

Due to workers’ compensation laws, injured workers may be unable to file lawsuits against their employers in most cases. In the case described above, the deceased worker died due to the negligence of a contractor working for a different company. Workers who are injured in similar accidents have nothing to lose by contacting an attorney to explore available legal options.

The Wyoming and Colorado personal injury attorneys at Metier Law Firm can help injured workers and their families discover legal options for holding negligent employers accountable.