Loading
A Workplace Death Demands More Than Workers' Comp.
When employers and third parties cut corners on safety, workers die. Your family may be entitled to far more than workers' compensation provides. We investigate to find every responsible party.
Oklahoma Workplace Deaths
According to Bureau of Labor Statistics data, Oklahoma has one of the highest workplace fatality rates in the nation. Oil and gas, construction, and agriculture are especially dangerous.
100+
Workplace deaths per year in Oklahoma
Top 10
OK ranks among highest fatality rates
Oil & Gas
Among the deadliest Oklahoma industries
Types of Fatal Workplace Accidents
We represent families of workers killed in all types of workplace incidents.
Construction Accidents
Falls from height, scaffold collapses, trenching cave-ins, and struck-by accidents.
Electrocution
Contact with overhead power lines, faulty wiring, and electrical equipment failures.
Heavy Equipment Accidents
Crane collapses, forklift accidents, caught-in machinery, and crushing injuries.
Industrial Explosions & Fires
Oil and gas accidents, refinery explosions, and chemical plant disasters.
Workers' Comp vs. Wrongful Death Lawsuit
Workers' Comp Only
- Funeral expenses (capped)
- Percentage of wages to dependents
- No pain and suffering
- No loss of companionship
- No punitive damages
Third-Party Lawsuit
- Full lost wages and benefits
- Pain and suffering before death
- Loss of companionship
- Mental anguish and grief
- Punitive damages possible
Our Investigation
OSHA investigation files and citations
Employer safety records and prior violations
Equipment maintenance logs and inspection records
Contracts identifying all parties on the worksite
Training records and safety protocols
Expert engineering analysis of equipment failures
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
Your Family Deserves More Than Workers' Comp.
We investigate every workplace death to identify third parties who can be held fully accountable. Contact us for a free consultation.
No Fee Unless We Win