Texas Oil & Gas Injury Attorneys

Oil field workers, offshore oil rig workers, and others working in the gas and oil industry face many risks every day in the workplace. With shifts up to 12 hours or more, these workers are at severe risk for accidents and injuries due to fatigue and drowsiness. Unpredictable weather events and conditions, as well as dangerous work duties, also add to the increased potential for oil and gas-related accidents. Sadly, many of these accidents end with devastating consequences.

Oil and gas is a significant industry in David Bleakney’s hometown of Angleton in Brazoria County. It's home to 9,809 drilled wells and 38 producing operators. Whether you work in a facility in Humble, Magnolia, Victoria, Houston, Bay City, Freeport, Baytown, offshore, or somewhere else, you deserve to work in a safe environment. When oil and gas businesses don't provide for their workers' safety or other parties are negligent, accidents happen. Unfortunately, in this industry, when they occur, they are substantial. The good news is that an oil and gas accident attorney is available and ready to help you fight for the compensation you deserve. If you or a family member suffered an injury resulting from an oil and gas accident, don't delay reaching out for help.

Common Oil & Gas Accidents 

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that there are approximately 27 fatalities for every 100,000 oil and gas workers, and many other workers are severely injured. Why are workers in this industry being injured, some of them fatally, so frequently?

Many factors make the oil and gas industry an inherently risky one for those who work there. These jobs entail long shifts, the use of heavy equipment and dangerous machines, and various weather conditions all contribute to accidents. Negligence is often another factor. When workers and employers don't follow proper safety protocols, disastrous accidents can happen. Lack of proper training and supervision, adequate safety equipment, and poorly maintained or outdated equipment also puts workers at a higher risk of accidents and injuries.

Common oil and gas accidents include:

• Slip and falls

• Exposure to harmful or toxic substances

• Transportation accidents

• Fires and explosions

• Defective machinery and equipment

• Faulty tools

No matter how your accident occurred or even if you aren't sure what caused it, a Brazoria County oil and gas accident lawyer can help. We have the tools and resources necessary to determine what caused your accident and who should be held accountable for your injuries.

Injuries From Oil and Gas Industry Accidents

Any of these accidents can lead to catastrophic injuries that can have far-reaching and life-long implications. 

Potential injures from oil and gas accidents include:

• Burns

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)

• Spinal cord injuries (SCI)

• Crush injuries

• Broken bones

• Accidental amputation

• Severe lacerations and abrasions

• Drowning

• Internal organ damage

• Hearing and vision loss

• Scarring and disfigurement

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

• Long-term illness

• Death

Legal Options for Injured Texas Workers

Our oil and gas accident lawyers understand the challenges that injured oil and gas workers face after they suffer a severe injury in the workplace. We work hard to pursue all compensation available to our clients. Depending on several factors, you have different legal options for handling your claim.

If the company you work for subscribes to the Texas workers' compensation system, you might be eligible to file a claim for medical and lost wage benefits. Workers' compensation benefits would pay for all of your accident-related medical expenses and replace a portion of the income you cannot earn due to your disability.

Suppose someone other than an employer or co-worker caused the oil or gas accident that injured you or resulted in the death of a loved one. In that case, you might be able to file a personal injury or wrongful death claim against the "third party." If successful, this type of claim could result in compensation beyond what workers' compensation provides, such as compensation for pain and suffering.

Keep in mind that many oil and gas companies don't subscribe to the Texas workers' compensation program. If your employer doesn't, you could directly bring a personal injury or wrongful death claim against your employer.

Offshore workers have options specific to their work under maritime law. Their choices might include:

• The Jones Act – In some circumstances, this law provides compensation for injuries and illnesses caused by a vessel's unseaworthiness or the negligence of a co-worker or employer. Compensation might include past and future medical bills, lost income, reduced future earning capacity, and pain and suffering.

• Maintenance and Cure – This is a federal maritime law that provides benefits to certain seamen, no matter who was at fault for their accident. Benefits under the law include worker's daily living expenses or maintenance and medical expenses or cure until the worker reaches maximum medical improvement.

• Longshoreman and Harbor Workers Compensation Act (LHWCA) – Many offshore oil rig workers can also claim benefits under this law. Like the Texas workers' compensation system, this act covers medical bills and some of a worker's lost wages.

• Death on the High Seas Act (DOHSA) – Provides benefits to family members who have lost a loved one in an offshore oil rig accident. Families could receive compensation for their financial losses if their loved one's death occurred due to another party's negligence and beyond three nautical miles from the shore of Texas or any other state.

When you meet with the oil and gas injury attorneys at our office, they will help you determine what options are available to you and provide you with the information you need to make legal decisions.

Let an Experienced Oil and Gas Accident Attorney Advocate for You

At TX Injury Group, we are well-versed in this niche area of law, as well as the complex rules and regulations that apply to oil and gas companies. We are equipped to fight for the maximum compensation you deserve for your injuries. Our oil and gas accident lawyers are well-versed in these claims and know what it takes to provide the best outcome possible. Reach out to us today to discuss your oil and gas accident case during a free consultation.