Undefeated Oilfield Burn Injury Attorneys
Oilfield explosions and blowouts inflict some of the most severe and life-altering injuries imaginable—leaving victims with agonizing burns, overwhelming medical bills, and an uncertain future. The cost of burn treatment is staggering: a 2019 national health study found that burn victims paid over $11,000 in hospital care for every 1% of total body surface area burned, in addition to $4K per hospital day — but that’s just the beginning. For severe third-degree burns, skin grafts, multiple surgeries, and long-term rehabilitation can drive medical costs well over $1 Million — especially with the skyrocketing price of specialized care.
But the financial burden is only part of the story. The lasting consequences of oilfield burn injuries—such as permanent disfigurement, lost income, and long-term care needs—often have devastating effects on victims and their families.
If you or a loved one suffered serious burns in an oilfield fire or explosion, you cannot rely on the company or its insurers to cover your full medical costs or secure your financial future. They may promise to “make things right,” but their primary objective is to avoid accountability. In our experience, workers’ compensation and assurances will never cover the full extent of what your family needs to recover and rebuild.
That’s why you need a team that refuses to settle for anything less than the full compensation you deserve. Read on to learn why our law firm’s history of record-setting oilfield burn injury settlements matters for maximizing recovery and how our undefeated Texas oilfield accident attorneys will do whatever it takes to fight for you.
How We Recovered the Largest Oilfield Burn Injury Settlement in History
When an oilfield explosion in Burleson, TX changed everything for our client, Justin, and his family, the oil company and its insurers did what they always do—deny responsibility, delay payments, and offer far less than what was needed to cover his medical treatment, lost income, and future care.
But they underestimated him.
Justin, a dedicated oilfield contractor, was on the job replacing a B-section on a well when a catastrophic blowout erupted without warning. Engulfed in flames, he suffered life-threatening burns over 60% of his body.
His fight for survival was just beginning:
- Life-flighted to a burn unit in Houston
- Placed in a medically induced coma for 5 months
- Kept on life support
- Underwent multiple surgeries and 10-15 skin grafts
- Spent months in a specialized burn center
- Endured intensive rehab to regain mobility
- Requires ongoing care
Despite the company’s promises to “take care of him,” they refused to accept responsibility—offering a fraction of what he needed to recover and rebuild his life.
Our Undefeated Oilfield Injury Lawyers Took the Fight to the Company—And Set Records
Led by our firm’s founder, Ryan Zehl, our legal team immediately secured top medical specialists and built an ironclad case proving the company’s negligent safety practices and reckless failure to use a two-barrier system on the well caused the accident.
When the defendants realized we were prepared to take them to trial, they had no choice but to pay—record-setting compensation that secured our client’s future.
- $90 Million Secured for the Family
- #1 Largest Oilfield Accident Settlement in U.S. History
- #1 Largest Oilfield Burn Injury Settlement Ever Recorded
This historic settlement didn’t just hold the oil company accountable—it gave our client and his family the financial security they needed to move forward and ensure he received the best medical care possible.
“I tell my wife everyday, I’m so glad she picked who she did,” Justin says.
Why Our Record-Setting Wins for Oilfield Burn Victims Matter
Oilfield contractors and workers face some of the most dangerous job conditions in the country, with preventable explosions, blowouts, and fires causing severe injuries and tragic deaths. It’s estimated that burn injuries account for nearly 16% of all oilfield fatalities, per the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) — and most often when oil companies prioritize profit over safety.
When a company’s negligence causes you harm, you need a legal team that won’t back down. Our undefeated oilfield accident lawyers have taken on the largest oil and gas companies in the world hundreds of times before—winning the largest settlements and verdicts in U.S. history.
Among our recent victories for oilfield workers, we have secured:
- $100M Settlement on behalf of workers injured in a petrochemical explosion
- $90M Settlement on behalf of a contractor severely burned in a blowout
- $62M Settlement on behalf of an oilfield burn victim
- $55M Settlement on behalf of an injured oilfield worker
These record-setting results are not just numbers—they are powerful negotiating tools that shape the outcome of every case we take. The strength of our track record sends a clear message to oil and gas companies: Offer the full compensation our client deserves, or face us in the courtroom, where we remain undefeated, and where they know they will have to pay more than they ever have before. As a result, companies take our clients’ claims far more seriously.
The High Cost of Burn Injuries After an Oilfield Explosion or Blowout
Burn-related hospital stays are twice as long and expensive as other injuries, according to healthcare data. Between 2008 and 2017, the average cost of those admitted to a burn center in the U.S. ranged from $270,000 to $362,000, according to the 2016 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Statistical Report.
However, these costs continue to rise sharply due to factors such as inflation, the increasing cost of specialized medical care, and extended hospital stays required for severe burns.
What Drives the Cost of Burn Treatment?
The total cost of treatment for burn injuries varies based on several critical factors:
- Severity and Extent of Burns: The larger and deeper the burn, the more complex and expensive the treatment. Third-degree burns, which destroy multiple layers of skin and tissue, often require multiple surgeries, skin grafts, and intensive care.
- Inhalation Injuries: Many oilfield explosion victims suffer smoke inhalation, airway burns, and lung damage, which require ventilators, oxygen therapy, and prolonged ICU stays. These injuries can drastically increase hospital time and long-term health complications.
- Specialized Medical Care: Severe burns require treatment at dedicated burn centers, which can be extremely expensive. Procedures such as skin grafts, reconstructive surgeries, and infection control measures add to the overall cost.
- Medications and Dressings: Burn victims need continuous wound care, antibiotics, and pain management, all of which contribute to skyrocketing hospital bills.
- Complications and Infections: Burn injuries leave the body vulnerable to infections, sepsis, and organ failure, often requiring extended hospital stays and additional surgeries.
- Long-Term Rehabilitation: Even after discharge, many burn victims need months or years of physical therapy, occupational therapy, and psychological counseling to recover.
Beyond Medical Treatment: The True Cost of Burn Injuries
The truth is that staggering medical expenses only represent a fraction of what’s at stake for families after an oilfield explosion or blowout. Many burn victims cannot return to work for months — or ever — resulting in lost wages and financial instability. Permanent disfigurement and disability can severely impact quality of life, requiring ongoing care and accommodations.
Beyond the physical and financial burden, burn injuries take an enormous emotional and psychological toll, often leading to PTSD, depression, and anxiety. The trauma of surviving an explosion or fire, coupled with chronic pain and visible scarring, can affect victims and their families for a lifetime.
How Zehl & Associates Can Help if You Were Burned or Injured in an Oilfield Accident
After an oilfield accident, securing full compensation isn’t just about covering today’s medical bills—it’s about ensuring a lifetime of care, financial stability, and justice.
But oil companies and their insurers will stop at nothing to pay you as little as possible, delaying your recovery and trying to limit your compensation to workers’ comp—which won’t come close to covering your full medical costs, lost wages, or future needs.
We Make Sure You Get The Best Medical Treatment
When our client Jesse suffered severe burns in an oilfield blowout, he quickly realized the company wasn’t going to take care of him as they had promised. And workers’ comp was moving far too slow. With his injuries requiring immediate surgeries, he knew he needed a legal team that could move just as fast.
Our oilfield injury attorneys stepped in to ensure Jesse got the urgent, life-saving treatment he needed—without waiting on the company or their insurance.
“Zehl & Associates paid for three or four surgeries right off the bat before Workers’ Comp got one done,” Jesse says. “You all went above and beyond in every way.”
We Stand By You Every Step of the Way
- We Make Sure You Receive the Best Medical Care: From leading burn centers to top specialists, we’ve spent over a decade building a trusted network of medical professionals across Texas and the Gulf Coast to ensure you get the care you need—without worrying about medical costs.
- We Cover Your Bills While Your Case Is Pending: We take care of medical expenses and reasonable living costs so you can focus on healing, not financial stress.
- We’re Here for You 24/7: Your questions are answered around the clock because we know what’s at stake for you and your family.
Learn why our clients say: Zehl Treats You Like Family.
We Pursue the Maximum Compensation Possible
When you’re facing an uncertain future, mounting medical bills, and the loss of your livelihood, the only way to recover everything you’re owed is through a personal injury lawsuit.
At Zehl & Associates, we don’t just stand up to oil and gas giants and win — we secure record-setting verdicts and settlements for our clients.
- We NEVER Settle for Less Than Full Compensation: We will always refuse any settlement offer that doesn’t provide our clients with th maximum compensation possible for all of their injuries and losses
- We Prepare Every Case for Trial: If the defendant refuses to offer a settlement that fully compensates our clients for all their injuries and losses, we will take the case to trial, where we remain undefeated.
From day one, we stop at nothing to recover the maximum compensation possible, and we have the results to prove it.
Undefeated Oilfield Burn Lawyers: Call 1-888-603-3636 for a Free Consult
With Billions won and decades of experience, our Undefeated Oilfield Accident Lawyers have secured the largest recoveries in history for workers who were catastrophically burned during the worst oilfield disasters in Texas, Louisiana, and across the United States. We can stand up, fight, and win for your family too.
If you or a loved one were burned or seriously injured in connection with an oilfield fire, explosion or blowout, contact us for a free consultation at 1-888-603-3636 or send us a confidential email through our Contact Us page.
All consultations are free, and you won’t pay us a dime unless we win your case.