Weatherford Oil and Gas Accident Lawyers

The oil and gas industry is prevalent throughout the state of Texas, and unfortunately, jobs in this industry can be dangerous.

If you were injured or lost someone you love in an oil and gas accident, our Weatherford oil and gas accident lawyers are determined to help you pursue the compensation and justice you deserve. At Anderson & Cummings, we are dedicated to protecting the rights of accident victims and have helped numerous clients throughout Texas. Our Weatherford personal injury attorneys have more than 60 years of combined legal experience and are AV© Rated by Martindale-Hubbell, a distinction reserved for attorneys with the highest level of professional excellence. We provide all prospective clients with a free initial consultation and work only on contingency, which means you only have to pay if we help you recover compensation for your claim.

Call (877) 920-9009 if you were injured in an oil or gas field accident.

Who is Liable for an Oilfield and Gas Accident?

More than 450,000 workers are employed in the oil and gas extraction and support industries, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Oil excavations and gas drilling operations often involve numerous parties and contractors. Often, each party is tasked with performing a specific job or function, which can make it difficult to determine which one is liable for an oilfield or gas drilling accident.

Typically, the parties involved in an oil or gas drilling operation include:

If you are injured in a work-related oilfield or gas accident, your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance should cover the cost of your medical expenses and partial lost wages.

Typically, Texas’s workers’ compensation laws prevent workers from filing lawsuits against their employers. However, many oil and gas extraction companies hire third-party contractors and subcontractors to perform specific tasks or oversee an excavation site who potentially could be held liable if they caused your accident.

Third-Party

Contractors, subcontractors and equipment manufacturers are third-party entities that are separate from an oil and gas company. This means you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against the third party liable for your accident.

For example, a subcontractor may be in control of a certain job at an oil excavation site, such as ensuring the oil well is a safe distance from an open heat or electrical source. If the subcontractor neglects to check the distance between the heat source and the well, and an accident occurs, he or she could be held liable for any resulting injuries or fatalities.

Likewise, if you were injured in an oilfield or gas drilling accident caused by defective equipment or machinery, our attorneys will explore the possibility of filing a product liability claim against the product manufacturer.

At Anderson, Cummings & Drawhorn, our Weatherford oil and gas accident attorneys have a strong understanding of the oil and gas industry. We will use our knowledge and experience to investigate your accident claim and determine which party was in control of the operation when the accident occurred.

Do not hesitate to contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation to determine if you have a claim against the negligent party that caused your oil excavation or gas drilling accident.

Complete a Free Case Evaluation form.

Compensation for an Oil and Gas Accident

Oil excavation and gas drilling accidents can cause severe injuries that may result in long-lasting or permanent disabilities. If a worker is injured in an accident, he or she should receive compensation for medical bills and partial lost wages through workers’ compensation. If a third party is responsible for a worker’s injury or if a non-worker is injured, a variety of types of compensation are available through a personal injury lawsuit, including:

During your initial consultation, our Weatherford oil and gas accident lawyers will conduct an in-depth review of your claim to determine the true amount of compensation you may be owed.

Call us today for qualified professional legal assistance.

Types of Oil and Gas Accidents

Between 2003 and 2013, the number of work-related fatalities in the oil and gas industry increased more than 27 percent, with a total of 1,189 deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Oil and gas extraction workers regularly engage in different industrial processes that require the use of specialized equipment and specialized work crews. Because of this, oil and gas workers are often exposed to high-risk activities that cause accidents such as:

Vehicle Collisions

Workers are required to be transported to and from wells and drilling sites. These worksites are often located in secluded areas and require traveling long distances to get to the site.

According to OSHA, vehicle accidents are the leading cause of oil and gas worker fatalities, killing approximately four out of 10 workers in all oil and gas-related work accidents.

Struck By/Caught-In/Caught-Between

Three out of every five work-site fatalities in the oil and gas industry is the result of struck-by/caught-in/caught-between hazards.

Workers can be exposed to struck-by/caught-in/caught-between hazards from multiple sources, including moving vehicles or equipment, failing equipment, and high-pressure lines.

Explosions and Fire

Oil and gas workers are exposed to volatile environments that contain flammable gasses and chemicals that create a high risk of fire or explosion.

Flammable gasses, such as well gases, vapors and hydrogen sulfide, can be released from wells, trucks, production equipment or surface equipment such as tanks and shale shakers. These gasses can be ignited from static energy, electrical sources, open flames, lightning, cigarettes, cutting and welding tools, hot surfaces, and frictional heat.

Confined Spaces

Oil and gas workers may be required to enter confined spaces such as:

These spaces can become dangerous when flammable vapors or gasses are ignited while a worker is still inside.

Additionally, workers are susceptible to hazards like asphyxiation and exposure to toxic chemicals. Confined spaces that contain or have the potential to contain a serious airborne hazard must be classified as permit-required confined spaces, tested before a worker enters, and continuously monitored.

Falls

Oil platforms in oil fields and at offshore sites often require workers to operate from raised surfaces. Falls resulting in serious injuries and deaths are often the result of inadequate safety measures and protective equipment. Additionally, many workers suffer slip and fall accidents on slick or wet surfaces.

Ergonomic Hazards

Oil and gas workers might be required to perform difficult physical duties as part of their job. This can include risks such as lifting heavy items, bending, reaching overhead, pushing and pulling heavy loads, working in awkward body positions, and repetitively performing strenuous tasks.

Electrical Hazards

Workers can be exposed to uncontrolled electrical, mechanical, hydraulic or other sources of hazardous energy if adequate safety equipment is not installed or maintained properly.

Machine Hazards

Extracting oil and natural gas often requires the use of heavy and complicated machinery. Often, workers are not provided the proper safety equipment or training to safely handle extracting machinery. Additionally, the environment in which these machines operate is often volatile and provides workers little room for error.

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Causes of Oil and Gas Accidents

Employers are legally required to protect the safety and health of workers involved in oil and gas operations according to OSHA’s workplace safety standards.

Although these jobs require skilled and highly trained employees, many accidents occur from oversights made by undertrained or negligent workers or companies.

Additionally, oil and gas workers are often exposed to a variety of conditions that can lead to injuries, such as:

Our Weatherford oil and gas accident attorneys will conduct a thorough investigation into your accident to determine its cause. If we find that another’s negligence played a role in causing your injuries, we will fight to hold that party liable for the injuries you suffered.

Oil and Gas Accident Injuries

Often, oil and gas accidents result in traumatic injuries that can have life-altering complications. Working and interacting around an oil rig significantly increases the risk for potentially fatal injuries, including:

These injuries may cause severe physical limitations and disabilities that may prevent you from working while incurring significant medical expenses to treat your wounds.

Complete our Free Case Review form if you were injured in an oil or gas accident.

Contact our Weatherford Oil and Gas Accident Lawyers

If you were injured or lost a loved one during an oilfield or gas excavation accident, you will need an attorney who has thorough knowledge of the oil industry, OSHA’s safety regulations and product liability law to help you recover the compensation you deserve.

The oil and gas accident attorneys at Anderson & Cummings understand the difficulties of navigating these types of claims. We have recovered more than $100 million for our clients and will pursue the maximum compensation for your claim.

Do not hesitate to contact us to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your claim. We will review the parties that were involved in the extraction operation and their liability for the accident. All of our attorneys work on contingency, which means you only have to pay us if we recover compensation for your claim.

Call (877) 920-9009 to schedule a free consultation with a member of our legal team.