Houston Oilfield Accident Attorney
The oil and gas industry employs hundreds, even thousands of Texans every year. Think about it: can you imagine a Texas horizon without the silhouette of dozens of mechanical pump-jacks pulling oil from the ground? Oil and gas is a lucrative business, but also a highly dangerous one. Oilfield accidents are unfortunately common.
There are a variety of ways an oilfield worker might sustain an injury, all the way from faulty equipment to toxic chemical exposure.
The majority of the time, these accidents are avoidable, and quite often they are due to someone else’s negligent or reckless behavior. In cases like these, the injured party may be eligible for compensation.
What Are Some Examples of Oilfield and Oil Rig Accidents in Houston?
There are many, many ways an oilfield or oil rig worker might sustain an injury. Some examples of oilfield and oil rig accidents include:
- Defective or faulty equipment
- Equipment malfunctions
- Equipment misuse
- Explosions, fires, and well blowouts
- Exposure to toxic chemicals or materials
- Dangerous rig up and rig down processes
- Slip and fall accidents
- Workers struck by equipment or objects
- Transportation accidents
- Walking through zones of danger
The majority of these accidents occur because of a lack of planning, lack of training, lack of proper equipment, fatigued workers, and/or failure to follow safety processes and procedures. These failures often result in catastrophic accidents and very serious injuries.
What Are Some Examples of Oil Rig and Oilfield Injuries?
The injuries that oilfield and oil rig workers are most susceptible to vary from minor to severe.
The most common oil rig injuries include:
- Burns
- Crush injuries (broken bones)
- Traumatic brain injuries (head injuries)
- Spinal cord injuries
These injuries may require years of medical attention, and it could be months or years before the injured employee can return to work. In fact, it may be impossible for the injured employee to return to the job they had before the injury. For this reason, if you seek compensation, you need an experienced personal injury attorney who will seek the maximum compensation available.
Can I Receive Compensation For My Oilfield Injury in Texas?
Texas law prevents employees from suing their employers in some cases, but you should consult an experienced personal injury attorney to know for sure. Even if the employer cannot be sued, there are likely other parties (drillers, rig movers, equipment operators, equipment manufacturers, and more) who are liable for your injuries. These other parties have legal responsibilities that even some experienced oilfield workers do not know about.
What Damages Can I Recover From an Oilfield Accident?
In a personal injury case, you can pursue damages for your past lost wages, future loss of earning capacity, past medical bills, future medical bills, impairment, disfigurement, pain and suffering, mental anguish, and potentially other depending on your case. as well as less tangible “pain and suffering” damages.
Recoverable damages in an oilfield or oil rig accident include:
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of past and future earnings
- Past and future medical treatment
- Past and future mental anguish
- Past and future pain and suffering
- Personal or household expenses as a result of your injuries
How Do I Calculate Damages for an Oil Rig Injury?
The amount of damages you recover will be a combination of medical bills and other expenses, as well as wages you may have earned while you are recovering. However, as you can see, there are also potential damages that are more difficult to calculate.
It’s impossible, really, to put a price tag on pain and suffering. For this reason, if you are seeking compensation in a personal injury claim, it is essential that you have an attorney experienced in personal injury. An experienced attorney like Trey Barton can use his personal experience and knowledge to make sure you get the compensation you deserve.
You can request a free consultation by filling out this online form or calling 832-916-2526.
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Trey Barton understands the hardships injured people and their loved ones face as they try to heal from their accident. Every case is prepared as if it is going to trial. This gives you the best opportunity to obtain a fair recovery for your case, and ensures I am positioned to take the case to trial if the insurance company does not give you the money you deserve.
