Austin Oilfield Accident Attorneys

Common Texas Oilfield Accident Injuries

The oil and gas industry deals with heavy equipment, toxic substances, and hazardous workplace environments. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has regulations in place to help ensure worker safety around these conditions. Unfortunately, employers do not always follow these regulations, leading to preventable workplace accidents. Oilfield and oil rig accidents can be devastating and are often fatal or leave the worker disabled and unable to return to work.

OSHA identifies certain hazards that pose explicit risks for oil and gas workers:

• Motor vehicle crashes, typically involving oil transport vehicles
• Contact with other objects and falling debris
• Fires or explosions in tanks or wells
• Exposure to harmful toxins, chemicals, or fumes
• Falls, slips, and trips, especially on rigs or decks
• Improper safety equipment and guard rails

Motor vehicle crashes cause many oilfield accident deaths, where workers operate defective vehicles or fail to pay attention to where they are going. Working with heavy equipment for drilling and managing wells poses health threats, such as crushing injuries, amputations, and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Toxic materials and fumes can poison workers, and shifting weather conditions can put workers at risk. No matter what type of injury you or your loved one sustained, we can help. If someone else was responsible for the accident and/or your injuries, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional damages, and other losses.

Who Is Responsible for Oilfield Injuries?

Assigning fault for your oilfield accident injury depends on the circumstances of your case. First, identify the probable cause of your accident. Was the driver of an accident vehicle drunk? Did a faulty rig collapse? Did an improperly trained employee drop debris from above? Identifying the cause of your accident tells you who the defendant will be—a coworker, employer, manufacturer, or a combination of several negligent parties.

Due to the laws of strict liability, a co-worker’s negligence will typically be the responsibility of the employer if the employee was acting within his or her job duties at the time of the incident. If the coworker was an independent contractor, you can sue the individual but probably not the entire company. If your employer was responsible, as may be the case with an unsafe premises or improperly trained employee, your attorney can help you take the company to court. Defective equipment or parts may place liability with the manufacturer.

Filing a personal injury claim instead of a workers’ compensation claim for oilfield accident injuries can help ensure you receive the highest settlement possible. A personal injury claim holds the negligent party responsible and provides you with disability benefits (if your injury prevents you from returning to work).