Oil drilling is one of the biggest industries in Texas. This sector of our state’s economy employs both onshore and offshore workers for crude petroleum exploration, drilling, and completion of wells. It also employs workers to operate equipment that is used for preparing oil up to the point of shipment to a refinery.
Unfortunately, this industry is also one of the most dangerous. Blowouts occur on offshore drilling rigs and land-based oil wells, leading to severe and often fatal burns. Serious injuries and deaths can also result from defective or poorly maintained equipment, machinery, and pipelines. Drilling workers also face the risk of falls from great heights, such as from derricks. Our Houston oil rig injury attorneys believe something needs to change.
Drilling for Oil Is One of the Most Dangerous Jobs in the Nation
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, those employed in the oil and gas drilling industry have some of the most dangerous jobs in the entire United States. Oil and gas workers operate heavy machinery. Machinery has to be constantly inspected, repaired, and supervised at all times. Just one slip can result in an accident.
At any moment, countless things can go wrong when drilling for oil. Workers are expected to do their jobs for 12 hours a day for up to 2 weeks. Not only is this exhausting, but the job comes with other inherent dangers. Even though employers are obligated to make work conditions as safe as possible, navigating the deck can quickly turn disastrous. Seamen are often required to handle combustible materials with cranes swinging. Heavy equipment is everywhere. Hard hats and steel-toed boots are mandatory—and for a good reason.
Serious oil rig accidents are not necessarily common, but they can quickly become catastrophic when they do occur. Although large disasters are usually averted, more minor accidents can be devastating. Maritime workers are at high risk of spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and various other catastrophic injuries.
Common Drilling Rig Accidents & Injuries
The oil and gas industry is a dangerous field, but the work that rig workers perform is commendable and necessary. Unfortunately, good workers often get hurt due to unsafe practices, inadequate training, or old equipment. If you were injured while working on a drilling rig, you might be looking for a way to rebuild your life, find a new line of work—or even make the at-fault party cover medical costs. Arnold & Itkin wants to help.
Rig workers, onshore and offshore, may be at risk of suffering severe trauma from:
- Sparks from equipment igniting flammable liquids and triggering explosions
- Well blowouts, oil rig explosions, land rig explosions, and fires in production tanks
- Being struck by swinging pipes, casing, or cables
- Getting crushed by loads of cargo or heavy equipment
- Hands or feet getting caught in machinery
- Equipment failing because of improper maintenance
- Falls from derricks, unsecured ladders, platforms, hoists, slippery stairways, and unguarded heights
- Failures to evacuate or evade heavy weather, such as hurricanes and tropical storms
Remember, it is always best to speak directly to a legal professional about your case before speaking to insurers or company investigators. We handle hundreds of different cases caused by all types of rig accidents. If you do not see an accident type that matches your situation, don’t hesitate to contact us directly for more detailed information about how our offshore rig accident lawyers are prepared to help you rebuild your life.
Texas Oil Rig Death Law Firm Helping Families Find Answers
Oil rig accidents are so severe that many workers never return home after one occurs. Our oil rig wrongful death lawyers are ready to demand answers when this happens. While we can’t change what happened, we can ensure that families have the financial security they deserve to move forward.
No one can quantify how much a loved one meant to us, but wrongful death suits seek aid for:
- The family’s income from before the accident
- Lost costs from child care and parental guidance
- The loss of consortium
- The loss of companionship
- Emotional pain and suffering
If your loved one was killed, you may be left wondering what you can do. You should know that you may be entitled to a wrongful death claim, a special kind of claim. Some employers may try to protect themselves from wrongful death claims by making their employees sign a waiver saying that their family will not file a suit. However, even those who have signed a waiver may be able to obtain compensation for pain and suffering or lost wages.
Oil Rig Accident FAQ
WHAT CAUSES OIL RIG ACCIDENTS?
Oil rig accidents may be caused by overlooked safety standards, aging equipment, carelessness, or poor rig maintenance. Working on a rig is dangerous, with 12-hour shifts and exhausting labor, not to mention dealing with combustible substances and heavy machinery. Even the journey by helicopter or boat to an offshore rig can be dangerous. Workers shouldn’t have to deal with unsafe working conditions, but many do every single day—until they’re seriously injured in preventable accidents. Our Houston, Texas oil rig injury law firm is here to help. If you were injured, let our team determine the cause of your accident so we can seek justice on your behalf.
WHAT INJURIES CAN BE CAUSED BY OIL RIG ACCIDENTS?
An accident on an oil rig may cause catastrophic injuries. These may include severe burns, crush injuries, and drownings or near-drownings caused by rig fires and explosions. Other injuries may include broken bones, back injuries, internal organ damage, head trauma, and loss of limb. The type and severity of an oil rig worker’s injuries will depend on the type of accident and other factors, such as the type of work being performed, whether heavy machinery was involved, and whether the worker had the proper safety gear.
WHAT SHOULD I DO AFTER A DRILLING RIG ACCIDENT?
If you were injured in a drilling rig accident, you should take three crucial steps. First, seek medical care. Second, inform your employer of the incident. Third, talk to an attorney. Taking each of these steps will help you protect your health, eligibility for compensation, and legal rights. Working on an oil or gas drilling crew may be dangerous, but this does not limit your right to compensation for your injuries. At Arnold & Itkin, our drilling rig injury attorneys are here to ensure injured workers and their families get the medical treatment and support they need after serious accidents and injuries on offshore and onshore drilling rigs. We’ve recovered billions of dollars in compensation for our clients and are ready to see how we can help you.
Call Our Texas Oil Rig Accident Lawyers at (888) 493-1629
At Arnold & Itkin, we are devoted to helping victims of oil rig accidents get the financial compensation they deserve. If you have suffered a burn injury, skull fracture, or amputation/limb loss injury and you believe another person’s carelessness or negligence caused the accident, we want to help you understand your rights. Have you suffered any serious injury while working on an oil rig? Our Houston personal injury law firm is here to look out for your best interests and fight for the legal protections that you deserve. Call now for a free review of your case.
At Arnold & Itkin, we help people from coast to coast fight for fair compensation:
- We have recovered billions of dollars for our clients.
- We have won cases in more than 40 different states.
- We have been selected for multiple Super Lawyers® lists.
- Attorneys Jason Itkin and Kurt Arnold are members of The Inner Circle of Advocates.
- We are members of the Million & Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum®.
