A Workplace Death Demands More Than Workers' Comp.

No. While workers' comp provides some benefits (funeral expenses and a percentage of wages), it's often inadequate for a death. More importantly, if a third party (not the employer) caused or contributed to the death—equipment manufacturer, subcontractor, property owner—you can file a wrongful death lawsuit for full damages.

Potentially liable third parties include: equipment manufacturers (defective machinery), subcontractors on construction sites, property owners (unsafe premises), vehicle drivers who cause work-related crashes, and companies that provided defective safety equipment. We investigate to identify all responsible parties.

OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) sets and enforces workplace safety standards. If an OSHA investigation finds violations related to the death, it's powerful evidence of negligence. We obtain OSHA investigation files, citations, and penalty assessments to support your wrongful death claim.

Workers' comp generally bars lawsuits against employers. However, if an employer committed an 'intentional tort' (knowingly exposed workers to deadly conditions), you may be able to sue directly. Some states also allow 'gross negligence' claims against employers. We analyze every possible avenue for recovery.

A third-party wrongful death lawsuit can recover: full lost wages and benefits (not the reduced workers' comp amount), loss of companionship and consortium, mental anguish and grief, pain and suffering before death, and potentially punitive damages. Third-party claims often result in far greater recovery.

Oil field, refinery, and industrial deaths often involve multiple contractors on the same site, complex equipment failures, and potential violations of industry-specific regulations (like BSEE for offshore). These cases require investigators with industry expertise. Oklahoma's oil and gas industry sees numerous fatal accidents annually.