Find an oilfield accident lawyer in Fort Worth: the Barnett Shale, workers' comp and who else may owe you
Fort Worth sits in the Barnett Shale, and the city permits gas wells inside city limits. I did not find a count of crews working here now. First check if your employer has workers' comp, because most private Texas employers can choose not to. OSHA's Fort Worth office is at (817) 428-2470.
Last checked November 9, 2026 · Official sources (29)
Is there oilfield work in Fort Worth?
Yes, in the form of natural gas. The city says it sits in the Barnett Shale, one of the largest onshore natural gas fields in the U.S. It adds that 15,000 wells have been drilled in the shale formation to date. That counts wells drilled over time, not crews working today.
The city reviews applications and issues permits for gas wells inside city limits. Its rules cover well placement near homes, schools and parks, truck routes, pipelines, compressor stations and pad sites.
To find who runs a well, the Railroad Commission of Texas publishes an index of all oil leases and gas wells by district and operator. The operator may not be your employer. A drilling or service company often is the one that hired you.
Does your employer have workers' comp after an oilfield injury?
Find out first, because coverage is the employer's choice for most private Texas oilfield companies. The state answers a coverage check within one business day. The workers' comp division lists its Fort Worth office at 150 Westpark Way, Suite 345, in Euless.
| Employer has comp | Employer has no comp | |
|---|---|---|
| Your main path | Claim benefits with the state within one year | Sue the employer, and prove negligence |
| Against the employer | Comp is usually your only claim | It generally cannot blame you, a coworker or the risk of the job |
| First step | Tell the employer within 30 days | Tell the employer in writing anyway, and keep a copy |
Who else can you sue after an oilfield accident?
An outside company that caused the injury, such as an equipment maker, a truck owner or another contractor on site. If you got comp benefits, the comp carrier is paid back first from your net recovery.
Oilfield contracts often shift risk. Texas voids many oil and gas clauses that make a contractor cover the other company's own negligence, with exceptions. An insured, one-way indemnity can still stand, with required insurance capped at $500,000. That fight is between the companies, but it can decide who is left to pay.
Who investigates an oilfield accident in Fort Worth?
OSHA's Fort Worth Area Office is the federal workplace safety office here, at 8713 Airport Freeway, Suite 302, (817) 428-2470. On an oilfield job, the employer has 8 hours to report a death to OSHA and 24 hours to report a hospitalization or amputation.
Move quickly, because after six months OSHA can no longer cite the incident. If you are punished for speaking up, a retaliation complaint must be filed within 30 days. A worker on a Barnett Shale pad has the same safe workplace right regardless of immigration status.
What are the deadlines after an oilfield injury?
- Within 30 days: tell your employer about the injury.
- Within 30 days: file an OSHA retaliation complaint if you were punished.
- Within 6 months: OSHA's limit for citing the incident.
- Within 1 year: file your workers' comp claim.
- Within 2 years: sue, generally. A wrongful death suit is also generally 2 years from the death.
For serious injuries, John Peter Smith Hospital and Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth are Level I trauma centers.
Questions
Can I be fired for reporting an oilfield injury?
Retaliation is not allowed, and an OSHA complaint must be filed within 30 days.
Do I have to report to OSHA myself?
The employer must report a hospitalization or amputation within 24 hours. You can still contact OSHA's Fort Worth office.
What if the company says I am a contractor?
The label does not settle it. Ask the state about coverage, and note that Texas looks at who had the right to control the details of the work.
Does a hospital lien affect my claim?
It can. The lien attaches only if you were admitted within 72 hours of the accident.
Oilfield accident in Fort Worth? See if you are owed money.
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See if I’m owed moneySources (29)
- City of Fort Worth, 2025 City Facts, checked 2026-11-09. “Fort Worth is located in the Barnett Shale, which covers 5,000 square miles in North and Central Texas, and is one of the largest onshore natural gas fields in the U.S.”
- City of Fort Worth, Gas Well Drilling, checked 2026-11-09. “The City of Fort Worth reviews applications and issues permits for gas wells in city limits.”
- Tex. Lab. Code § 406.002(a), checked 2026-11-08. “Except for public employers and as otherwise provided by law, an employer may elect to obtain workers' compensation insurance coverage.”
- OSHA, Texas area offices, checked 2026-11-09. “Fort Worth Area Office North Starr II 8713 Airport Freeway, Suite 302 Fort Worth, TX 76180-7610 (817) 428-2470”
- Texas Department of Insurance, checked 2026-11-09. “A DWC representative will respond and provide coverage information within one business day.”
- OSHA, checked 2026-11-09. “An in-patient hospitalization, amputation, or eye loss must be reported within 24 hours.”
- OSHA, checked 2026-11-09. “A fatality must be reported within 8 hours.”
- Tex. Lab. Code § 409.001(a), checked 2026-11-08. “shall notify the employer of the employee of an injury not later than the 30th day after the date on which: (1) the injury occurs;”
- Tex. Lab. Code § 417.001(a), checked 2026-11-08. “An employee or legal beneficiary may seek damages from a third party who is or becomes liable to pay damages for an injury or death that is compensable under this subtitle and may also pursue a claim for workers' compensation benefits under this subtitle.”
- City of Fort Worth, 2025 City Facts, checked 2026-11-09. “There are 15,000 wells drilled in the shale formation to date.”
- City of Fort Worth, Gas Well Drilling, checked 2026-11-09. “Permit requirements regulate placement of wells that come near residences, religious institutions, hospitals, schools or parks; transportation routes for trucks and equipment; pipelines; and compressor stations and pad sites.”
- Railroad Commission of Texas, Oil Leases & Gas Wells by District & Operator, checked 2026-11-09. “The Oil Leases and Gas Wells by District and Operator Index lists all oil leases and gas wells in Texas.”
- Texas Department of Insurance, DWC Contact Us, checked 2026-11-08. “Fort Worth | 150 Westpark Way, Suite 345 Euless, TX 76040-3708”
- Tex. Lab. Code § 409.003, checked 2026-11-08. “shall file with the division a claim for compensation for an injury not later than one year after the date on which: (1) the injury occurred;”
- Texas Labor Code 406.033, checked 2026-11-09. “the plaintiff must prove negligence of the employer”
- Tex. Lab. Code § 408.001(a), checked 2026-11-08. “Recovery of workers' compensation benefits is the exclusive remedy of an employee covered by workers' compensation insurance coverage or a legal beneficiary against the employer or an agent or employee of the employer for the death of or a work-related injury sustained by the employee.”
- Tex. Lab. Code § 406.033(a), (d), checked 2026-11-08. “it is not a defense that: (1) the employee was guilty of contributory negligence; (2) the employee assumed the risk of injury or death; or (3) the injury or death was caused by the negligence of a fellow employee. [...] the plaintiff must prove negligence of the employer or of an agent or servant of the employer”
- Texas Labor Code 417.002, checked 2026-11-09. “shall be used to reimburse the insurance carrier for benefits, including medical benefits, that have been paid for the compensable injury”
- Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 127.003, checked 2026-11-09. “is void if it purports to indemnify a person against loss or liability for damage that: (1) is caused by or results from the sole or concurrent negligence of the indemnitee”
- Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 127.005, checked 2026-11-09. “With respect to a unilateral indemnity obligation, the amount of insurance required may not exceed $500,000.”
- OSHA, checked 2026-11-09. “OSHA can not issue violations for safety and health incidents that occurred more than six months prior”
- OSHA, checked 2026-11-09. “you can file a whistleblower complaint within 30 days of the retaliation”
- U.S. Department of Labor, checked 2026-11-09. “You have the right to a safe and healthy workplace regardless of your immigration status.”
- Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003, checked 2026-11-08. “not later than two years after the day the cause of action accrues”
- Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003(b), checked 2026-11-08. “A person must bring suit not later than two years after the day the cause of action accrues in an action for injury resulting in death. The cause of action accrues on the death of the injured person.”
- Texas DSHS, Texas Trauma Facilities, checked 2026-11-08. “JOHN PETER SMITH HOSPITAL 11/1/2028 E FORT WORTH 76104”
- Texas DSHS, Texas Trauma Facilities, checked 2026-11-08. “TEXAS HEALTH HARRIS METHODIST HOSPITAL FORT WORTH 1/1/2029 E FORT WORTH 76104”
- Limestone Products Distribution v. McNamara (Tex. 2002), checked 2026-11-09. “the right to control the progress, details, and methods of operations of the work”
- Tex. Prop. Code § 55.002, checked 2026-11-09. “For the lien to attach, the individual must be admitted to a hospital not later than 72 hours after the accident.”