Houston Oil Rig Accident Lawyer

Working on an oil rig, whether offshore drilling or operating a drilling rig on land, is a dangerous job. You work long hours in extreme weather conditions, where physical and mental fatigue can quickly occur. On top of that, oil is a highly flammable material.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Texas had the most oil and gas rig workers in the country, with 4,580 as of 2020 and 206 active oil rigs. According to the Greater Houston Partnership, Houston is a crucial oil and gas industry hub and an important center of the industry. Houston oil companies employ about a third of the oil and gas extraction workers in the United States.

Oil rig workers perform tasks that support the drilling and extraction of oil and gas. Oil rig drillers and drillers work directly with equipment used to drill and extract oil. Tragically, oilfield and offshore oil rig injuries can escalate quickly when emergency care is not usually available near isolated rigs. Oil rig workers often suffer serious injuries, including traumatic head, neck, and back injuries, burns, and loss of limbs.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention figures show that 44 workers died on Texas oil rigs in 2019. According to the Office of Environmental Safety and Compliance, well drilling and other operations on the outer continental shelf have increased injury and illness rates.

Types of lesions on oil veins

Oil rig workers suffer a wide range of debilitating injuries on the job that significantly impact their livelihoods and long-term health.

Severe injuries to limbs and organs

Workers can sustain catastrophic injuries, such as severed limbs, fingers, or toes, when using drilling machinery or when a tool falls or malfunctions. Unattached machinery can crush or break hands, arms, and legs. A fall can cause serious injury to internal organs.

Catastrophic injuries

Oil rig workers have fallen overboard and drowned due to variable weather conditions and poor deck or equipment conditions. Traumatic head and spinal cord injuries in the hazardous oil rig environment can result in death, life-changing brain injuries, or paralysis.

Burns and chemical damage

Oil rig workers have suffered severe burns and disfigurement from explosions and oil rig fires. Exposure to industrial chemicals in the workplace can cause respiratory problems, irritation, and skin irritation. Scars can affect the range of motion of the hands, neck, and other body parts.

Repetitive motion injuries

Working on an oil rig involves frequent bending, twisting, pushing, pulling, and lifting of heavy equipment. Repetitive motions can lead to herniated or ruptured discs and chronic hand and neck injuries that affect the platform worker's ability to perform manual labor.

Significant causes of injuries to oil veins

Injuries and deaths on oil rigs are often caused by an employer's failure to provide a safe work environment or by taking shortcuts to save money.

Some of the causes of oil rig injuries and deaths include:

• Faulty equipment

• Lack of maintenance and surface cleanliness.

• Gas leaks and explosions

• Oil rig explosions

• Leaking or bursting of high-pressure lines

• Flammable gases and vapors

• Hot surfaces, open flames

• lit a cigarette

• Unstable heavy machinery

• Slippery surfaces

• Workers' safety equipment needs to be improved.

• Inadequate training

• Falling pipes, objects

What are my rights after being injured in an oil rig accident?

The Merchant Shipping Act of 1920, known as the Jones Act, gave seamen the right to bring personal injury claims against their employers. The law requires employers to have safe working conditions, a seagoing vessel, and well-maintained equipment.

Suppose your employer does not correctly maintain oil rig mechanisms and keep the vessel a safe workplace. In that case, you may be able to sue for injuries you suffered as an employee. Inadequate medical equipment on board, inadequate lifeboats, and slippery decks violate the Jones Act.

An injured worker who files a Jones Act lawsuit must do so within three years of the date of injury. This means you should act quickly to find an attorney to help you handle your injury case.

Can an oil rig accident lawyer help me?

If you've been injured or lost a loved one in an oil rig accident, it's a good idea to consult with a personal injury attorney about your case. An experienced attorney can review your injury or wrongful death case, provide sound legal advice, and represent you.

The Lanier Law Firm Personal Injury Group has accumulated much trial experience. We have obtained substantial verdicts for clients in serious personal injury, oil and gas litigation, and other civil litigation cases.

Our injury attorneys will offer you a free case evaluation, during which they will review your case's details, including where the injury occurred, your workers' compensation benefits, your current and potential medical bills, your employer, and other relevant information.

The next steps will be guided by interviews with witnesses, a review of their medical records, an investigation of the vessel's condition, and an understanding of the Jones Act and other laws.

Ultimately, your attorney will help you pursue your claim and work hard to secure the damages, including medical expenses, financial loss, and pain and suffering, that you deserve.

Oil Rig Accident Lawyers at Lanier Law Firm

The Lanier Law Firm has represented many clients in workplace accident disputes. This includes helping injured oil rig workers and other seafarers obtain compensation under the Jones Act. Our attorneys bring in-depth knowledge, specialized maritime law positions, and advanced degrees to fight for the rights of oil rig workers.

The firm has represented numerous injured clients while working on offshore drilling and oilfield work vessels. Lanier's lawyers filed one of the first class-action lawsuits for Louisiana residents and workers affected by the massive BP oil spill caused by the Deepwater Horizon explosion in the Gulf of Mexico.