According to the Centers for Disease Control, on average, there are more than one hundred fatal accidents in oilfields each year, and thousands more oilfield and oil rig workers suffer catastrophic injuries. A wide variety of situations causes these deaths and injuries and may result in both wrongful death claims and workers’ compensation claims. Personal injury lawyers Lopez Franco PLLC can help you understand if you have a legal claim.
Most Common Oilfield Accidents
These are among the most common oilfield and oil rig accidents:
- Crushing, Struck By, and Caught Accidents – Approximately three out of every five reported oilfield injuries occur when a worker is crushed, struck by, or caught between objects. Oil and gas equipment contains many pinch points, which are often the cause of these crushing accidents. Scenarios include when a heavy equipment operator backs into and pins a co-worker or strikes a worker with a moving crane. Other heavy equipment, including pumps, conveyors, and belt wheels, can cause serious harm to oilfield workers.
- Pressurized Equipment Failures – Compressed glasses and deteriorating pipelines may cause equipment failures that lead to sudden explosions. This can result in flying shrapnel that injures nearby workers. Often, accidents are caused by site owners and operators failing to comply with mandatory maintenance and safety requirements and guidelines.
- Fumes, Toxic Exposure, and Asphyxiation – Oilfield workers come into contact with hazardous chemicals, heavy metals, and toxic waste daily. Working in confined spaces can exacerbate the respiratory and circulatory system injuries that are caused.
- Injuries from Fracking – Fracking injects highly pressurized water underground, which creates unstable environments. The result can be chemical spills, equipment malfunctions, and toxic exposures.
- Slip and Falls – Slippery walkways and workspaces and the fast-paced nature of the work create dangerous conditions that can result in slips and falls.
- Falls from Heights – Drilling setups and rigging equipment can create hazards for workers in the field. Bad weather can contribute to these hazardous conditions. A common danger from these is falling from significant heights, resulting in paralysis, brain injury, and death.
- Truck and Motor Vehicle Accidents – Oilfield terrain is often rough, and truck and motor vehicle accidents are common. Resulting injuries include whiplash, cuts and bruises, contusions, broken bones, and more.
- Fire, Explosion, and Well Blow-Outs – These dangerous events often result in serious injuries, including burns, broken bones, whiplash, and other lacerations.
Have You Been Injured in an Oilfield Accident?
If you or someone you love has been injured while working in an oilfield or on a rig, it’s important to contact an experienced oilfield personal injury attorney who can analyze your case. You may be entitled to financial compensation for lost wages, medical bills, pain and suffering, and other losses you have suffered. We are experienced, knowledgeable, caring attorneys who put our clients’ interests first. Contact Texas personal injury lawyers Lopez Franco PLLC today.