Dallas Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

Oil Field Worker Paralyzed In Job Related Accident Recovers At Trial - Dallas, Texas

 

A jury awarded $7.1 million to a man who was paralyzed in an accident at a well on an oil field. In 2003, Manuel Zubia, then 54, was working as a rig operator when he was struck by a rod elevator because a hook unlatched. His family sued hook manufacturer J.P. Ratigan, alleging that it was defective. The plaintiff's engineering, metallurgy and petroleum experts testified that the defect in the hook's handle made it unreasonably dangerous. The defense maintained that the rod hook is a commonly used piece of oil field equipment and that it was the responsibility of the user to routinely inspect the rod hook for defects. Zubia can only move his head and one arm. His wife is his full-time care giver.

For more information about job related accidents, call 214-855-0034 or go to www.injurylawyerdallastexas.com or jonathan@theleblanclawfirm.com.

 

 

Oil Field Worker Paralyzed From On The Job Accident Wins At Trial - Dallas, Texas

 

 

A jury awarded $7.1 million to a man who was paralyzed in an accident at a well on an oil field. In 2003, Manuel Zubia, then 54, was working as a rig operator when he was struck by a rod elevator because a hook unlatched. His family sued hook manufacturer J.P. Ratigan, alleging that it was defective. The plaintiff's engineering, metallurgy and petroleum experts testified that the defect in the hook's handle made it unreasonably dangerous. The defense maintained that the rod hook is a commonly used piece of oil field equipment and that it was the responsibility of the user to routinely inspect the rod hook for defects. Zubia can only move his head and one arm. His wife is his full-time care giver.

For more information, go to www.injurylawyerdallastexas.com or jonathan@theleblanclawfirm.com.

 

Worker Recovers For Knee Injury On The Job - Dallas, Texas

 

A railroad worker who claimed that years of walking on large ballast in the 1970s resulted in knee injuries recovered $1.2 million. Edward L. Pitts, 59, started working for CSX Transportation in 1970 as a trackman. For nine years, he would walk 5 miles a day over large ballast that led to osteoarthritis in both knees. He claimed that CSX used mainline ballast in the yard, as opposed to the much smaller 3/8-inch "walking ballast." Pitts still works for CSX as an engineer, which is less physically demanding. The jury found CSX 70 percent liable and Pitts 30 percent liable for his own negligence and for factors such as his weight and age.

For more information about work related injuries, go to www.injurylawyerdallastexas.com or call 214-855-0034.

Worker Who Injured Back As The Result of Fall Recovers at Trial - Dallas, Texas

 

A jury awarded $1.5 million to a worker who was injured when a collision caused him to fall down in the back of a flatbed pickup truck. In 2008, Gilberto Villegas was unloading the pickup when yard mule driver Roy Goodman, who was working for APM Terminals North America Inc., collided with the truck. He claimed that he sustained two cervical disc herniations and knee, back and shoulder injuries. He underwent a two-level fusion and his doctors have recommended he undergo lumbar surgery, as well. Villegas sued Goodman, APM and one of APM's subsidiaries, alleging they were all liable for his injuries. The defendants argued that Goodman wasn't at fault because Villegas' truck was parked in the middle of an intersection.

If you have been injured on the job and need help, go to www.injurylawyerdallastexas.com or call 214-855-0034.

Texas Worker Injured On The Job Reaches Settlement For Accident

 

A derrick hand who sustained career-ending injuries while helping move a mud pump received a $9.5 million settlement. In 2008, Larry Mullins was working on a rig move with Fowler Transportation Inc. (who was not his employer). He was on the 80,000-pound mud pump, which Fowler was using a tandem truck to move. When the driver backed up, the pump moved, pinning Mullins between its pressure relief line and the pulsation dampener. The impact crushed his pelvis and hips and caused severe internal injuries. He claimed many of the effects of his injuries are permanent, including an impaired gait, and he is now restricted to sedentary work. Mullins and his family sued Fowler, alleging the tandem truck wasn't properly set up for use in rig moves, that its driver pushed the pump too far, and that the Fowler supervisor wasn't in the correct spot to appropriately direct the situation.

For more information regarding accidents on the job, go to www.injurylawyerdallastexas.com or call 214-855-0034. 

Worker Who Looses Finger From Work Related Accident Recovers At Texas Trial

A worker who lost part of a finger in a meat saw accident recovered $123,223 in a jury trial against his employer. In 2008, Mario Elizondo, an employee of Amigos Meat Distributors, was cutting frozen meat with a meat saw when the glove on his left hand got stuck in the saw. The incident caused a partial amputation of his left ring finger and severe lacerations on three other fingers. He incurred $42,000 in medical expenses and said the injuries rendered him unable to return to his former position. Elizondo sued Amigos Meat, alleging the incident occurred because he was required to wear gloves. Amigos Meat denied that it was liable for Elizondo's injuries, arguing that the use of gloves was an industry standard.

For more information regarding on-the-job accidents, go to www.injurylawyerdallastexas.com or call 214-855-0034.

Worker Injured On The Job Resulting In Crushed Pelvis Receives Settlement

A derrick hand who sustained career-ending injuries while helping move a mud pump received a $9.5 million settlement. In 2008, Larry Mullins was working on a rig move with Fowler Transportation Inc. (who was not his employer). He was on the 80,000-pound mud pump, which Fowler was using a tandem truck to move. When the driver backed up, the pump moved, pinning Mullins between its pressure relief line and the pulsation dampener. The impact crushed his pelvis and hips and caused severe internal injuries. He claimed many of the effects of his injuries are permanent, including an impaired gait, and he is now restricted to sedentary work. Mullins and his family sued Fowler, alleging the tandem truck wasn't properly set up for use in rig moves, that its driver pushed the pump too far, and that the Fowler supervisor wasn't in the correct spot to appropriately direct the situation.

Worker Injured From Fall From Ladder Recovers Money For Surgery

A jury awarded $171,762 to a laborer who sustained leg fractures when he fell off an extension ladder. In 2006, Julian Gallegos, then 33, was working on a welding project about 14 feet off the ground when his ladder allegedly broke. He claimed that his left ankle got caught between the rungs of the ladder, breaking his tibia and fibula. He needed three surgeries to repair the fractures and he said he was unable to work for one year. Gallegos blamed his employer, Big Bird Tree Cutting Service Inc., alleging it provided an old, defective ladder. Big Bird, which was not a subscriber to workers' compensation, denied that the ladder broke. It contended that Gallegos fell because he lost his balance.

 Need an attorney, go to www.injurylawyerdallastexas.com

 

Worker Awarded For Burns In Workplace Accident

A jury awarded $5.6 million to a crane operator who was severely burned when he fell into an open sluiceway full of boiling water. In 2007, Mike McCraven, then 56, was an employee of Austin Industries and working at Pasadena Refining System Inc.'s plant when he was told move a boom truck. As he was walking to the area near the boom truck, he fell into the open sluiceway. The boiling water burned about 15 percent of his body and he permanently lost feeling in his feet. He claimed he can no longer work as a crane operator. He blamed the plant for leaving the drain covers off the sluiceway. Pasadena sued Austin Industries, claiming it failed to adequately communicate the existing conditions to McCraven before he started the task. The jury found Pasadena 75 percent liable, Austin 20 percent liable and McCraven 5 percent liable.

Need help with a personal injury case, go to www.injurylawyerdallastexas.com

 

Worker Injured In 15-Foot Fall From Scaffold Recovers 8M

A carpenter recovered $8 million for injuries that he sustained in a 15-foot fall at a job site, but a jury thought he deserved much more. The case stemmed from a February 2006 incident in which Luis Barros fell off of a structurally defective scaffold. Barros claimed that he sustained a fracture of an ankle and herniations of three spinal discs. He underwent fusion of a portion of his spine, and he claimed that his injured ankle will require a fusion. Liability was decided via summary judgment, but the defense challenged Barros' spinal injuries, suggesting that they were products of degeneration. The jury disagreed, and it awarded more than $18 million. However, Barros' recovery was reduced to $8 million as a result of a prior stipulation.