Oilfield Accidents Attorney in Denton, Texas

The oil industry is a dangerous profession, and injuries or even deaths can occur in oilfield accidents, oilrig drilling accidents, offshore drilling accidents, or gas well drilling accidents.

The increased demand for and price of crude oil and natural gas have created a marked increase in drilling activity in the U.S. oil and gas industry. The high demand for crews and equipment has put additional pressures on the industry to use inexperienced workers and unsafe equipment. This has led to poor practices and hazardous work environments due to an increase in work injuries from blowouts, pipeline explosions, and other well site accidents. If you or a loved one were injured in an oil field accident or explosion, you must start taking steps to protect your rights. Your employer and its insurance adjusters may attempt to discard relevant evidence and take other measures to limit your ability to hold the company accountable. A qualified oil field accident injury lawyer can help you get the compensation you deserve.

OIL FIELD ACCIDENT DANGERS

Oil companies profit when worksites operate around the clock. But heavy machinery, truck traffic, and cramped working conditions pose a variety of accident dangers to workers.

Oilfield injuries range from mild to severe. Common injuries include:

  • Severe burns
  • Electrocution
  • Broken bones, backs, and necks from falls,
  • Head injuries from falling equipment,
  • Loss of limbs from explosions of defective equipment,
  • Exposure to toxic chemicals, gasses

Wrongful death claims can occur by:

  • Faulty electrical equipment
  • Work rig collapses
  • Falls from rigs and equipment
  • Frac tank mishaps
  • Well blowouts
  • Explosions and fires
  • Improperly maintained equipment

Filing a lawsuit against responsible parties can sometimes be the best way to recover your damages from an oil field accident or injury claim. Depending on your situation, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the following parties:

  • the oil or gas company
  • an oil refinery equipment manufacturer
  • a third-party claim against an oil field maintenance contractor
  • other parties identified through the investigation

Contact a qualified oil field accident injury lawyer to discuss your claim.

Oil Field Transportation Accidents

Most oilfield deaths are related to transportation, especially when workers drive from one job site to another on unsafe rural roads. About 4 out of every ten deaths on the job occur as a result of vehicle collisions. Employers are responsible for protecting workers by enforcing driver safety policies and developing work schedules to avoid the dangers associated with driver fatigue.

Texas Permian Basin Trucking Crashes

The Texas Permian Basin is the home of some of the nation’s most productive oil fields. As the area booms with oil, it has also become home some of the deadliest roads in the country. Only 2% of Texans live in the Permian Basin. However, the area accounts for 11% of all traffic fatalities in the state.

The area is becoming so deadly, that one of the main roads used in the area to carry supplies has earned the nickname Death Highway. Route 285 has had a 43% increase in crashes since 2012.

The oil boom has led to truckers now clogging once rural roads with large trucks helmed by inexperienced drivers because of a driver shortage. Also, truck drivers are often working 14-hour shifts or speeding along the highways to make specific deadlines.

Contact with Objects and Equipment On Oil Fields

Three out of five fatalities on well sites occur as a result of hazards associated with workers being struck, caught in or between moving vehicles or equipment, high-pressure lines and falling equipment. Cranes, derricks, hoists, and other heavy equipment pose risks to workers on the job. Everyday oilfield activities such as moving pipes, site clearing, transporting heavy loads and movements around pressurized lines, also pose a serious risk.

Oil Field Fires and Explosions

Oil field workers are put at risk every day by flammable gases and vapors. Explosions can occur when these gasses are released from the following:

  • Tanks
  • Shale shakers
  • Trucks
  • Generators
  • Engines
  • Wells
  • And other production or surface equipment

Fires and explosions can start when these materials come into contact with things such as lightning, static, cigarettes, welding and cutting tools, open flames, electrical sources, or even hot surfaces. Employers can prevent catastrophic injuries to workers by conducting fire risk assessments, enforcing work safety guidelines, and through the adoption of engineering controls.

If you suffered an explosion injury on the job, contact a qualified oil field accident injury lawyer.

Oil Field Fall Injuries

Oil and gas workers often have to perform their job duties in locations high off the ground, which makes them more vulnerable to injuries associated with falls. Falls from drilling platforms, elevated equipment, and the mast can cause serious and life-threatening injuries.

WHAT TO DO AFTER AN OIL FIELD ACCIDENT INJURY

An on the job accident can be confusing. But you must remain mindful of what you say and do in the immediate aftermath of an accident. Further, it is vital that you

  • Stop working immediately.
  • Report your injury as soon as possible.
  • Ask for immediate medical treatment.
  • Do not give a formal statement, sign any paperwork, or accept any money from the company (besides your normal paycheck) prior to speaking with an experienced oil field injury lawyer.
  • Contact an experienced Oil Field Accident Lawyer like Ross Law Offices, P.C. as soon as possible.

At Ross Law Offices, P.C., we offer a free consultation to discuss your case and go over every option you may have. Don’t hesitate. Contact us online now or call us at (940) 230-2400.