Find an oilfield accident lawyer in Tempe: what to do when the rig is out of state

Tempe is not an oil town. We found no oilfield in the city, and the state regulator keeps a well map you can check. A Tempe worker hurt on a rig would be working out of state. Arizona's workers' comp claim is due in 1 year, and a suit against a third party must be filed within 1 year too.

Last checked November 9, 2026 · Official sources (29)

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Road map of Tempe and the freeways workers use to leave the Phoenix area for oilfield jobs in other states
Hurt on an oil job? Your Arizona comp claim is due in 1 year. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Is there oilfield work in Tempe, Arizona?

Not that we could find. The Arizona Oil and Gas Conservation Commission regulates drilling and production of oil, gas, helium, carbon dioxide and geothermal resources in the state. It keeps a public map of wells and permits, and its Phoenix office is at 1110 W. Washington St., 602-771-4501. We could not search that map for Tempe addresses, so check it for any site near you.

Arizona's known production is far from Tempe. A 2003 state geology report says helium production in the 1960s and 1970s came from fields in Apache County in the northeast. The state's 2009 summary counted nine drilling permits and seven wells drilled that year. We did not find a current official well count by county.

That means a Tempe resident hurt in the oilfield was most likely working on a job in another state. We cannot say which state's laws apply to you without your facts.

What Arizona deadlines still matter for a Tempe oilfield worker?

StepDeadlineWhere it goes
Written workers' comp claim1 yearIndustrial Commission of Arizona, 800 W. Washington St., Phoenix, (602) 542-4661
Suit against a third party, such as a contractor or truck driver1 year, or the claim moves to the insurerCourt, after you talk to a lawyer
Employer report of a death8 hoursOSHA or ADOSH (Arizona jobs: 602-542-5795)
Employer report of a hospital stay or amputation24 hoursSame agencies

Workers' comp pays no matter who caused the accident, and the claim form (Form 407) comes in Spanish. The Industrial Commission charges no fee. If your job was in another state, ask that state's workers' comp office whether you must file there too.

Can a Tempe worker sue someone besides the employer?

Yes, in many cases. Comp is generally the only remedy against your employer. But if someone outside your employment caused the injury, such as a drilling contractor, equipment maker or truck driver, Arizona allows a claim against them.

The catch is time. You must sue the third party within 1 year, or the claim moves to the comp insurer. Benefits keep coming while you pursue the third party.

What are the main dangers on an oilfield job?

  • Road crashes. Highway vehicle crashes are the leading cause of oil and gas extraction worker deaths, roughly 4 of every 10.
  • Hydrogen sulfide gas. It is one of the leading causes of workplace gas inhalation deaths, and it can overcome workers almost immediately.
  • Explosions and fires at tank batteries, wells and trucks.

OSHA can not issue violations for incidents more than six months old, so a worker or family should raise a safety complaint early.

What should a hurt Tempe oilfield worker do first?

  1. Get care. Tempe has an ER at HonorHealth Tempe Medical Center, 1500 S. Mill Ave., but it is not on the state trauma list. Banner Desert in Mesa is listed as Level I.
  2. Report the injury to your employer in writing, with the date and place.
  3. File the written comp claim with the Industrial Commission within 1 year, or the other state's agency.
  4. Write down the names of every company on the site: the operator, the drilling company and the trucking firm.
  5. Keep photos, texts and pay records. Do not sign a release until you talk to a lawyer.

Questions

How long do I have to sue after an oilfield accident if I live in Tempe?

It depends on where the job was. For an Arizona claim, a third-party suit is due in 1 year. We could not verify other states' deadlines here.

Does Arizona's safety agency cover my rig?

ADOSH runs the state plan for most private Arizona workplaces. A rig in another state is under that state's or federal OSHA's authority.

What if a worker died?

We are sorry. The family can ask the Medical Examiner about the report, and Maricopa County Vital Registration for death certificates at 602-506-6805. Families may also file Form 120 for death benefits.

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Sources (29)

  1. A.R.S. 23-1061, checked 2026-11-09. “in writing within one year after the injury occurred or the right thereto accrued”
  2. A.R.S. 23-1023, checked 2026-11-09. “by instituting an action within one year after the cause of action accrues”
  3. Industrial Commission of Arizona, checked 2026-11-08. “An injured worker must file a claim in writing with the Commission within one year after the injury occurred.”
  4. A.R.S. 23-1022, checked 2026-11-09. “is the exclusive remedy against the employer or any co-employee acting in the scope of his employment”
  5. OSHA, checked 2026-11-09. “Roughly 4 of every 10 workers killed on the job in this industry are killed as a result of a highway vehicle incident”
  6. Arizona Oil & Gas Conservation Commission, About Us, checked 2026-11-09. “The Arizona Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (AZOGCC) is statutorily responsible for regulating the drilling for and production of oil, gas, helium, carbon dioxide, and geothermal resources.”
  7. Arizona Oil & Gas Conservation Commission, Permits, checked 2026-11-09. “We offer a map that shows all of the Oil and Gas wells and permits within Arizona”
  8. Arizona Geological Survey, Open-File Report 03-05, checked 2026-11-09. “All production came from fields in Apache County”
  9. Arizona Geological Survey, Summary of Oil & Gas Activity in Arizona in 2009, checked 2026-11-09. “Nine drilling permits were issued, seven wells were drilled, and one gas well was plugged in Arizona in 2009.”
  10. Industrial Commission of Arizona, checked 2026-11-08. “Phoenix: 800 W Washington St, Phoenix AZ 85007 - Phone: (602) 542-4661”
  11. OSHA, checked 2026-11-09. “A fatality must be reported within 8 hours.”
  12. ADOSH, checked 2026-11-08. “Toll Free: (855) 268-5251”
  13. OSHA, checked 2026-11-09. “An in-patient hospitalization, amputation, or eye loss must be reported within 24 hours.”
  14. ADOSH, checked 2026-11-08. “All work-related fatalities within 8 hours following the incident.”
  15. Industrial Commission of Arizona, checked 2026-11-08. “you receive medical and compensation benefits no matter who caused the job-related accident.”
  16. Industrial Commission of Arizona, checked 2026-11-08. “Formulario de informe de lesión del trabajador - 407”
  17. Industrial Commission of Arizona, checked 2026-11-08. “The Industrial Commission of Arizona does not charge a fee to process a workplace injury claim.”
  18. A.R.S. 23-1023, checked 2026-11-09. “by the negligence or wrong of another person not in the same employ”
  19. A.R.S. 23-1023, checked 2026-11-09. “If the employee proceeds against the other person, compensation and medical, surgical and hospital benefits shall be paid as provided in this chapter”
  20. OSHA, checked 2026-11-09. “Highway vehicle crashes are the leading cause of oil and gas extraction worker fatalities.”
  21. OSHA, checked 2026-11-09. “Hydrogen sulfide is one of the leading causes of workplace gas inhalation deaths in the United States.”
  22. OSHA, checked 2026-11-09. “It can quickly, almost immediately, overcome unprepared workers, including rescue workers.”
  23. OSHA, checked 2026-11-09. “OSHA can not issue violations for safety and health incidents that occurred more than six months prior”
  24. HonorHealth Tempe Medical Center, checked 2026-11-08. “The emergency entrance is on the West side of Mill Avenue.”
  25. Arizona Department of Health Services, Designated Trauma Centers, checked 2026-11-08. “Banner Desert Medical Center 1400 South Dobson Rd., Meza, AZ 85202 06/10/24 06/10/27”
  26. OSHA, Arizona State Plan, checked 2026-11-09. “The Arizona State Plan applies to all private sector workplaces in the state with the following exceptions:”
  27. Maricopa County, Medical Examiner, checked 2026-11-08. “Please contact OME at 602-506-3322 for assistance or to schedule an in-person appointment.”
  28. Maricopa County, Vital Records, checked 2026-11-08. “$20 per certified copy / $30 for corrections and major changes”
  29. Industrial Commission of Arizona, checked 2026-11-08. “Dependent Benefits Claim Form - 120”

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