At Dax F. Garza, P.C., our oilfield accident lawyers have seen many workers injured on the job in Texas oilfields. Some of the top injuries affecting oilfield workers include:
- Amputations
- Back injuries
- Broken bones
- Burn injuries
- Crush injuries
- Electrocution
- Limb injuries
- Neck injuries
- Paralysis
- Skin injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Toxic exposure
- Traumatic brain injuries
Next Steps After an Injury on the Job in a Texas Oilfield
Seek immediate medical attention, report the accident to your employer, document the accident scene, and contact an oilfield accident lawyer for guidance.
Rights of Injured Oilfield Workers
Injured oilfield workers may be entitled to benefits, which can cover medical expenses and lost wages. However, these benefits may not fully compensate you for your losses. In such a case, it may be possible to pursue litigation against your employer or a third party.
Oilfield Accident Lawsuits in Texas
Statute of Limitations for Oilfield Accidents
In Texas, you generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit.
Who is Legally Responsible for Texas Oilfield Accidents?
While some events are truly accidental, the inherent danger in oilfield work means that every aspect is designed, manufactured, and performed with workers’ safety in mind. Therefore, it is usually possible to identify someone who is responsible for negligent or careless actions that caused your injury. In some cases, you may be able to file a lawsuit against your employer or a third party, depending on the circumstances of the accident and state laws.
Our job as your attorneys is to find out who is to blame, hold them accountable, and assist you in seeking compensation for injuries caused by their negligence in situations such as the following:
Failure to Maintain Machinery or Equipment
Oil companies are notorious for safety issues because the cost of shutting down for maintenance is worth less to them than the cost of human life. When we can find evidence of their negligence, we can use it to hold them accountable for your harm.
Inadequate Training
One of the most common instances of preventable human error that leads to injury on job at oilfield sites is insufficient training. Workers are only as safe as they are trained to be, not only with regard to safety training, but also for job-specific training, education on chemicals being used and their hazards, and emergency training. Workers who can detect problems while working with machines, equipment, and chemicals have an opportunity to prevent a serious accident, but they can only do so with essential learning tools.
Training needs to be accessible, mandatory, and provided in languages employees can understand before they take on any job duties. Additionally, the importance of safety training must be stressed given the amount of risk associated with both job tasks and facility layouts that can be hard to exit during emergencies.
Ignoring Industry Standards
Failing to adhere to industry standards and regulations is a major contributor to preventable accidents. Oil companies are legally required to operate under federal and state safety standards, including complying with regulations outlined by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA).
Compliance with these regulations can be time-consuming and costly, taking away time and manpower from profitable production schedules. Oilfield owners and operators should regularly shut down worksites to conduct inspections and maintenance, and upgrade facilities that do not meet safety standards. When they do not, evidence indicating their negligence can be a powerful factor in your injury claim.
Lack of Signage and Inadequate Personal Protective Equipment
Even when oil and gas employees are trained to recognize the dangers at their jobs, the employers’ failure to provide correct and clear signage leaves workers vulnerable to worksite dangers. Oilfields should contain posted safety signs, including cautions and rules displayed in high-visibility areas and in a language workers understand.
Additionally, employers should provide enough properly functioning personal protective equipment (PPE) for each worker who needs it. Companies should train employees in how and when to use PPE as an additional barrier between themselves and their work. Providing critical PPE items such as safety goggles and hard hats can dramatically reduce severe injuries.
Get Legal Help For Oilfield Injuries Today
If you or someone you loved was injured on the job in a Texas oilfield, contact the experienced oilfield accident attorneys at Dax F. Garza, P.C. today to setup a Free Consultation. Our lawyers have worked with injured oilfield workers and their families, seeing many serious injuries.
Oilfield Accident Settlements and Verdicts
- $6.5 Million West Texas Oilfield Hand Injury Case Result
- $6.5 Million West Texas Oilfield Truck Accident
