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Table of Contents
How Does Braker White Handle Injury Cases in Andrews County?
We are based in Odessa, about 35 miles south on US-385. Robert White and Greta Braker have represented injured people across the Permian Basin for decades, including clients in Andrews and Andrews County.
How Our Attorneys' Backgrounds Apply to Andrews Cases
Robert White has practiced personal injury law since 1983. He has served as a Director of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association since 1992 and as president of the Ector County Bar Association.
Greta Braker earned her law degree magna cum laude from Texas Tech University School of Law and is licensed in both Texas and New Mexico. She joined the firm in 2014 and became a named partner in 2023.
Both hold board certification in personal injury trial law from the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a credential carried by approximately 10% of Texas attorneys.
Where Andrews County Cases Get Filed
Cases tied to Andrews County may proceed through the 109th Judicial District Court or in courts in neighboring counties, depending on where the accident happened and where the defendants are located. We handle cases across this region and know the procedural landscape of these courts.
Why Do So Many Andrews Injury Cases Involve Third-Party Claims?
Andrews County oilfield worksites rarely involve just one company. Operators hire general contractors, who hire subcontractors, who bring in specialized service crews and equipment vendors. When something goes wrong, the question of who is legally responsible often has more than one answer.
A third-party injury claim is a personal injury lawsuit filed against a party other than your direct employer. Under Texas Labor Code § 417.001, injured workers may pursue these claims while also collecting workers' compensation benefits.
Who Counts as a Third Party in Andrews Oilfield Accidents?
The liable third party depends on how the accident happened. Braker White looks at every company and every piece of equipment involved in an Andrews County worksite injury.
Potentially liable third parties include:
- Contractors or subcontractors whose crews created unsafe conditions
- Manufacturers of defective drilling equipment, valves, or safety devices
- Trucking companies whose drivers caused collisions on US-385 or on access roads near the worksite
- Service companies responsible for well maintenance, pressure testing, or chemical handling
- Site operators who failed to enforce OSHA safety standards
Oilfield companies often point blame at each other after an accident. That confusion benefits them, not you.
Sorting out liability early and pursuing claims against every responsible party opens up more insurance coverage and strengthens your position.
Workers' Comp vs. Third-Party Claims: What Andrews Workers Need to Know
Workers' compensation and third-party injury claims serve different purposes and offer different levels of compensation. Many injured Andrews County workers qualify for both.
The table below breaks down how they compare.
| Factor | Workers' Compensation | Third-Party Injury Claim |
| Who you file against | Your employer's insurer | A negligent third party (contractor, manufacturer, trucking company, etc.) |
| Fault requirement | None; benefits paid regardless of fault | You must show the third party acted negligently |
| Medical expenses | Covered, but treatment may be limited to approved workers’ comp providers or a certified health care network | You may seek full past and future medical costs |
| Lost wages | Partial wage replacement (capped by statute) | Full lost wages and reduced earning capacity |
| Pain and suffering | Not available | Available as a category of damages |
| Punitive damages | Not available | Available in cases of gross negligence under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 41.003 |
| Deadline | Report within 30 days; file with DWC within 1 year | 2 years from date of injury under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003 |
What About Non-Subscriber Employers?
Texas does not require private employers to carry workers' compensation insurance.
If your employer opted out of the system, they lose certain legal defenses under Texas Labor Code § 406.033, and you may have the right to sue them directly. Non-subscriber lawsuits follow different rules than both workers' comp and third-party claims.
Whether your employer subscribes or not, the legal path forward depends on the specific facts of your accident. That is why talking to an attorney early matters.
What Compensation Might an Andrews Injury Claim Recover?
The damages available to you depend on the type of claim you file and the severity of your injuries. Third-party personal injury claims generally allow broader recovery than workers' compensation alone.
An injured Andrews County worker or resident may pursue:
- Past and future medical expenses, including surgery, hospitalization, and ongoing rehabilitation
- Full lost wages and reduced future earning capacity
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental anguish and emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of daily activities and relationships
Texas also applies a modified comparative negligence rule under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 33.001. If a jury finds you partly at fault, your recovery drops by that percentage.
If your fault reaches 51% or more, you recover nothing. Insurance adjusters frequently try to inflate your share of blame to reduce their payout, making this one of the most contested issues in Permian Basin injury cases.
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What Should You Do After an Injury in Andrews County?
Report your injury to your employer promptly and seek medical attention, even if your symptoms seem minor at first.
Beyond those two immediate steps, the decisions you make in the following days and weeks matter for the strength of your claim.
Actions that may protect your Andrews County injury claim include:
- Following your doctor's treatment plan and keeping every appointment
- Saving copies of all medical records, bills, and correspondence related to your injury
- Avoiding recorded statements to any insurance adjuster before speaking with an attorney
- Documenting the accident scene, your injuries, and any equipment involved through photos or written notes
- Keeping a record of missed work days and how your injury affects daily tasks
Insurance companies build their defense from the moment they learn about your accident.
The records you keep and the statements you avoid giving in those early weeks may make the difference between a fair outcome and a lowball offer.
What Accidents Beyond Oilfield Injuries Lead to Andrews County Claims?
Oilfield injuries make up a large share of personal injury cases in Andrews County, but they are not the only ones. We also represent Andrews residents hurt in situations that have nothing to do with the oil and gas industry.
Other case types we handle for Andrews County clients include:
- Car and truck accidents on US-385, TX-176, SH-115, and county roads
- Pedestrian accidents in town
- Slip and fall injuries at stores, restaurants, and other commercial properties
- Medical malpractice claims involving errors by healthcare providers, which require a qualified expert report under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 74.351 and may involve statutory limits on noneconomic damages under other provisions of Chapter 74
- Wrongful death claims filed by surviving family members
Each of these case types follows its own rules under Texas law. The deadlines, the evidence requirements, and the liable parties all vary.
If you are unsure whether your situation gives rise to a legal claim, a free case review with our firm may help you find out.
Ask Braker White
My employer told me to file workers' comp and move on. Do I have other options?
Possibly. If a third party, such as a contractor, equipment manufacturer, or trucking company, caused or contributed to your injury, you may have a separate personal injury claim against them.
That claim may allow you to pursue damages that workers' comp does not cover, including pain and suffering and full lost wages. Filing a workers' comp claim does not prevent you from also pursuing a third-party case.
How quickly does Braker White need to get involved after an Andrews County accident?
As soon as you are able to reach out. Oilfield and worksite evidence, including equipment logs, safety records, and electronic data, may be altered, archived, or destroyed within weeks.
We may send a preservation letter to the responsible companies to prevent that from happening. The two-year statute of limitations is the outer boundary, not the recommended timeline.
Does Braker White charge anything for the first conversation about my case?
No. Your initial case review is free, and there is no obligation to hire us afterward. If we take your case, we work on a contingency fee basis.
No attorney's fees are owed unless we recover compensation on your behalf, and case expenses are advanced and detailed in your fee agreement.
Our Andrews Personal Injury Attorneys
FAQs for Andrews Personal Injury Lawyers
Can I file a personal injury claim if I already accepted workers' comp benefits?
Yes, generally you may still file a third-party personal injury claim even while receiving workers' compensation benefits. Texas Labor Code § 417.001 allows injured workers to pursue both.
If you recover through the third-party claim, the workers' comp carrier may have a right to reimbursement for benefits it already paid.
What if the company responsible for my injury is based outside of Texas?
You may still file your claim in Texas if the accident happened in Andrews County or elsewhere in the state. Texas courts may have jurisdiction over out-of-state companies that conduct business here.
Many oilfield contractors and equipment manufacturers headquartered in other states operate extensively in the Permian Basin.
How do I know if my employer is a non-subscriber in Texas?
Your employer must post notice in the workplace stating whether it carries workers' compensation coverage. If you are unsure, the Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC) maintains records of employer coverage status.
A non-subscriber employer loses key legal defenses if you are injured on the job, which may open the door to a direct lawsuit.
Can a family member file a claim if an oilfield worker dies in an Andrews County accident?
Yes. Texas law allows surviving spouses, children, and parents to file a wrongful death lawsuit within two years of the date of death.
These claims may recover funeral and burial costs, lost financial support, loss of companionship, and mental anguish. If the responsible party acted with gross negligence, punitive damages may also apply.
What if multiple companies share fault for my Andrews County injury?
Texas law allows you to pursue claims against every party whose negligence contributed to your injury. A jury assigns a percentage of fault to each defendant, and each party is responsible for its share.
More defendants often means more insurance coverage available to compensate your losses.
Put Your Andrews County Injury Claim in Motion
Evidence from an oilfield accident or a wreck on US-385 does not wait for you to make a decision.
Equipment records get overwritten. Dashcam footage expires. Witnesses move on to the next job site. The window to build a strong case starts closing the day of your accident.
Robert White and Greta Braker have built their careers representing injured people across the Permian Basin, including Andrews County residents who are dealing with exactly the kind of situation you are facing now.
Both hold board certification in personal injury trial law. Results vary, but we approach every case with the goal of recovering the full compensation your injuries and losses support.
Contact us and let us walk through the facts of your case together.