31 Year Old Veteran Killed Working in Eagle Ford Shale

No amount of money can truly compensate for the death of a loved one. But when an innocent man loses his life while working to provide for his family, the family is at least entitled to the financial security that can come from a wrongful death lawsuit.

Oilfield Worker Killed on Job

One such family is that of Carlos Aguilar, a U.S. veteran, who was working at Eagle Ford Shale, when he was killed at the age of 31 in May 2012. Aguilar was the passenger of a pickup truck that was behind a tractor trailer owned by Heckman Water Resources, when a drive shaft of the tractor broke off and flew into the windshield of the pickup truck, striking Aguilar and killing him almost instantly.

Family Awarded Record-Breaking Compensation

Aguilar’s family filed a lawsuit in Dimmit County against Heckman Water Resources and truck driver Ruben Osorio Hernandez, but the Dimmit County jury found no negligence of Hernandez’s part and he was dropped from the suit.

Heckman Water Resources, however, was charged with negligence for failing to properly maintain the tractor trailer and was responsible for Aguilar’s death. The company was charged with a record-breaking $281 million lawsuit, which included $100 million in punitive damages.

Negligent Company Brought to Justice

Aguilar had served his country with the Army National Guard since he graduated from Martin High School in 1999, serving in both Afghanistan and Iraq. In the months leading up to his death, Aguilar had worked with Exterran Oil Field as a mechanic to provide for his wife and seven children.

While the lawsuit award can in no way compensate for the untimely death of a young husband, father and U.S. veteran, it does help reduce the family’s financial burden and ensure that those responsible are held accountable so that similar tragedies are less likely to occur in the future.

Learn How a Personal Injury Attorney Can Help You

Companies have a legal obligation to their employees and to the public to take the necessary precautions to ensure that their equipment will not endanger the lives of innocent people. Aguilar’s family is one of many who have suffered the wrongful death of a loved one due to a company’s negligence. A personal injury attorney can help bring these companies to justice and ensure that the family of the deceased will not struggle with financial burdens on top of emotional grief.

If you or someone you know has lost a loved one due to the negligent actions of a company, contact Jason Byrd for legal assistance.

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