Quick answer: The Law Offices of John David Hart is a Corpus Christi refinery and oilfield accident law firm helping workers and families across the Coastal Bend after catastrophic energy, port, and industrial injuries. Founder John David Hart is board certified in Personal Injury Trial Law and Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and has represented injured workers since 1981. No fee unless we win. Call 817-870-2102 for a free consultation.
Corpus Christi’s energy economy carries serious risks
Corpus Christi sits at the center of one of the busiest energy corridors in the country. The Port of Corpus Christi is a leading U.S. crude-export gateway, and the region’s refineries and petrochemical plants — operators such as Citgo, Valero, and Flint Hills Resources — process and move enormous volumes of crude, fuel, and chemicals every day. The city is also the doorstep to the Eagle Ford Shale, driving heavy drilling, completion, and oilfield-trucking activity across Nueces County and the surrounding Coastal Bend counties.
That concentration of refining, marine loading, LNG and petrochemical work, and upstream oilfield operations creates conditions where a single mistake, skipped safety step, or failed piece of equipment can leave a worker severely hurt or killed. When it does, the people responsible often have teams of lawyers and insurers working to limit what they pay. Injured workers deserve someone doing the same for them.
Refinery and oilfield accidents we handle
Energy and industrial injuries in the Coastal Bend take many forms. We handle serious cases arising from:
- Refinery explosions, flash fires, and unit upsets
- Chemical releases and toxic or hydrocarbon exposure
- Dock, port, and vessel-loading injuries along the ship channel
- Oilfield blowouts and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) exposure
- Drilling, completion, and well-servicing accidents
- Oilfield-truck, tanker, and transportation crashes
- Falls from elevation, scaffolding, and platforms
- Confined-space and permit-required entry incidents
- Crane, rigging, and dropped-object injuries
- Burns, crush injuries, amputations, and fatal accidents
Who may be responsible beyond workers’ compensation
Many energy and industrial injuries are not limited to a workers’ compensation claim. Texas does not require every employer to carry workers’ comp, and a “non-subscriber” employer that goes without it can be held directly accountable for negligence that harms an employee. Even when comp applies, other parties may share responsibility.
Depending on the facts, potentially responsible parties can include:
- Plant, refinery, and well-site owners and operators
- Contractors and subcontractors on the job
- Staffing and labor agencies
- Equipment and product manufacturers whose gear failed
- Trucking and transportation companies
- Other third parties whose negligence contributed to the incident
These third-party and non-subscriber claims can be the difference between a limited benefit and full accountability for the harm done. We investigate every layer of a job site to identify who owed a duty to keep the worker safe.
Fast investigation and evidence preservation
Critical evidence disappears quickly after a refinery or oilfield incident. Scenes get cleaned, equipment is repaired or replaced, and internal reports are written by the company’s own people. Acting early lets us request preservation of physical evidence, maintenance and inspection records, safety-meeting logs, and witness accounts before they are lost. In serious cases, prompt work with qualified experts can help reconstruct what happened while the trail is still fresh.
Texas law and the damages that matter
Texas generally gives injured people two years from the date of the incident to file a personal-injury or wrongful-death lawsuit, though exceptions exist and deadlines can be shorter in certain situations. Texas also follows a modified comparative-fault rule, so how responsibility is assigned can affect a claim. Depending on the case, injured workers and grieving families may seek compensation for medical care, lost earnings and earning capacity, disfigurement, physical pain and mental anguish, and the losses that follow a catastrophic or fatal injury. Because these rules are fact-specific, it is worth discussing your situation with a lawyer before deadlines pass.
Why John David Hart
John David Hart has practiced law since 1981 and is board certified in both Personal Injury Trial Law and Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization — a distinction held by a small share of Texas attorneys. He handles oilfield and industrial injury cases and serves clients throughout Texas, including the Corpus Christi and Coastal Bend region, from his Fort Worth office. Cases are handled on a contingency basis, so there is no fee unless we win, and the initial consultation is free and confidential.
Frequently asked questions
Do you handle Corpus Christi cases from a Fort Worth office?
Yes. The firm serves clients across all of Texas, including the Corpus Christi and Coastal Bend area, from its Fort Worth office. We can begin with a phone call and arrange further contact around your needs.
Can I have a claim if my employer has workers’ compensation?
Possibly. Even when workers’ compensation applies, third parties such as contractors, equipment makers, or trucking companies may be separately responsible. And if your employer is a non-subscriber without workers’ comp, it may be held directly accountable for negligence. Every situation depends on its facts.
What does it cost to hire the firm?
The initial consultation is free and confidential. Energy and industrial injury cases are handled on a contingency-fee basis, which means there is no fee unless we win your case.
How long do I have to file a claim in Texas?
Texas generally allows two years from the date of the injury or death to file suit, but exceptions apply and some deadlines are shorter. Because evidence also fades quickly, it is best not to wait to get advice about your specific case.
What should I do after a refinery or oilfield accident?
Get medical attention first. If you can, note what happened, keep the names of witnesses, and preserve any equipment or gear involved. Then speak with a lawyer before giving a recorded statement to an insurer or signing anything.
Talk with a Corpus Christi refinery and oilfield accident lawyer
If you or someone you love was hurt in a refinery, port, or Eagle Ford oilfield accident in the Coastal Bend, find out where you stand. Call The Law Offices of John David Hart at 817-870-2102 for a free, confidential consultation. No fee unless we win.
