Fighting for Victims of Land Rig Accidents in Longview, Marshall, & Nationwide
Dallas may not sit directly on top of major oilfields, but it is one of the energy industry's most important hubs. More than 8,000 oil and gas workers live and work in Dallas County, many of them commuting to drilling sites in West Texas, East Texas, and even New Mexico. Major companies like Hunt Oil, Matador Resources, and Energy Transfer base their headquarters here, making Dallas a financial and operational center for the nation's oil and gas production.
But this success comes with a cost. The highways surrounding Dallas—like I‑20, I‑45, and I‑35—are often packed with oilfield trucks hauling heavy equipment, crude oil, and frac sand. In recent years, fatal trucking accidents tied to the oil and gas industry have occurred on Dallas-area roads, including multi-vehicle wrecks caused by driver fatigue and overloaded rigs. Meanwhile, Dallas-based oilfield workers face significant dangers on drilling sites: blowouts, land rig explosions, and pipeline accidents caused by companies that cut corners on maintenance and safety to protect profits.
Our Dallas oilfield accident attorneys help oil and gas workers recover lost wages, medical costs, and more after work accidents. We've beaten oil companies in court and gotten workers the resources they needed to rebuild.
If you've been hurt in an oilfield accident in Rusk County, Gregg County, Harrison County, Fort Worth, or anywhere in the state, contact our Dallas oilfield injury lawyers for a free consultation: (888) 493-1629.
Every oilfield accident tells a story, and some are almost too devastating to believe. One of our clients, a father of two, lost his arm after an oilfield equipment failure. Multiple companies denied fault—until we proved otherwise. Our attorneys secured a $72 million settlement for him just days before trial. That settlement didn't just help him; it forced companies to change their safety policies to protect other workers.
Oil and gas giants are some of the most well-defended companies in the world. Their resources for litigation are virtually endless, with armies of highly skilled lawyers whose chief jobs are shielding the companies from liability.
Yet our firm has been able to beat them again and again. Some of our other oilfield results include:
$36.5 million for a worker wrongfully blamed for his injuries.
$18.75 million for an oilfield worker whose future medical care will now be fully covered.
$12.9 million for a worker who required major neck surgery after an accident.
“Before Arnold & Itkin, the company doctors didn't have my best interests. They got me some of the best specialists, and now my family is well taken care of. I don't know where I'd be without them.”
There's one reason we're able to consistently take down bigger, stronger, and more richly resourced defendants in court: we hold nothing back. Our firm prepares every case for trial to give plaintiffs their best shot at winning. As a result, our team has seen the inside of a courtroom more than most attorneys do in a lifetime.
Taking on Cases Against Large Companies in the Oil & Gas Industry
Our state is the nation's leader in oil production. With over 5 billion barrels of proven reserves, the oil and natural gas industry supports 24.3% of the state's economy and 14.3% of total employment.
But there's a price: Texas oilfield workers account for more than half of the industry's severe injuries.
The oil and gas industry is one of the most dangerous in the United States. According to the Department of Labor, an average of 1,400 injuries occur in the oil and gas industry every year. In 2022 and 2023 alone, 161 oil and gas extraction workers in the U.S. lost their lives. About half of these fatalities occurred in Texas. Most happened because oil and gas employers delayed equipment maintenance, hired contractors without safety training, or fostered a culture of negligence and silence. This puts hard-working derrick operators, roughnecks, and truckers at serious risk.
For an injured oilfield worker, the thought of taking on their employer may seem overwhelming or impossible. But the truth is that Arnold & Itkin has beaten the biggest names in the oil and gas industry. While our firm can be outspent or outnumbered, we've never been outworked. It's our willingness to put enormous time, effort, and attention into each case that's made us the premier advocate in Dallas for oilfield workers nationwide.
Major Oil & Gas Operators in Dallas, TX
Several major oil and gas companies are based in the Dallas area. Decisions made in Dallas boardrooms affect thousands of workers at drilling sites across Texas and beyond. Our Dallas oilfield accident attorneys are prepared to take on cases against massive companies with local headquarters or regional offices, such as Hunt Oil Company, Matador Resources, Energy Transfer, Exco Resources, Comstock Resources, EnLink Midstream, and Kosmos Energy.
Taking on leading oil companies is how our firm earned a reputation for aggressive, effective advocacy. It's the approach that secured $20+ billion for plaintiffs, and it's an approach we continue to use today.
We've recently filed numerous oilfield-related claims for injured plaintiffs, including:
With such dangerous jobs, injuries are often dire and life-changing. It's our duty to make sure each of them gets the best possible chance at justice from the companies responsible. Each of these claims represents a person's life—that's the reality that keeps us working relentlessly on behalf of the injured and wronged.
Why Oilfield Accidents Are Serious
The toxic and explosive nature of oil and gas is what makes oilfield accidents so serious. Often, even the slightest issue can trigger an accident that has devastating consequences for workers. Those who survive an oilfield accident often have lasting injuries because of toxic exposure and explosions. Often, these injuries are serious enough to be considered catastrophic—a term that means a person's quality of life has been permanently altered.
Injuries often sustained during oilfield accidents include:
Oilfield accidents contribute significantly to industry safety concerns due to complex drilling operations, hazardous materials, and high-pressure environments. Each incident requires thorough investigation, not just for accountability but to enhance future safety standards. Employers are mandated to implement preventive safety measures, including regular equipment checks and safety drills, but compliance is inconsistent at best. For instance, inadequate safety gear and improper hazard communication can elevate risk levels. These issues, left unmanaged, can culminate in catastrophic events, emphasizing the need for vigilance and responsive legal recourse.
Oilfield accidents are often deadly, and families of deceased workers deserve answers from those responsible. Our Dallas oilfield injury law firm fights for justice on behalf of families grieving from a wrongful death in the oilfields.
Understanding Dallas Oilfield Regulations
Oilfield operations in the Dallas area are subject to a complex framework of state and federal safety rules—yet enforcement often falls short. The Texas Railroad Commission, headquartered just a few hours south in Austin, governs drilling permits, well integrity, and production standards, while OSHA enforces workplace safety, including the use of proper PPE, hazard communication, and equipment maintenance. Together, these agencies are tasked with protecting the workers who keep Texas’s oil economy moving.
But rules mean nothing when companies don’t follow them. In Dallas County and surrounding oil-producing regions like Rusk and Gregg Counties, our firm has seen time and again how delayed inspections, skipped training, and neglected maintenance lead to catastrophic injuries and wrongful deaths. Understanding your rights isn’t just helpful—it’s vital.
Key safety regulations and oilfield worker rights:
You have the right to report unsafe working conditions without fear of retaliation.
You have the right to refuse work that poses a clear risk to your safety.
You have the right to receive proper safety training in a language you understand.
You have the right to protective equipment that meets federal and state standards.
You have the right to report an injury and seek medical treatment without delay.
You have the right to file a complaint with OSHA if your employer violates safety laws.
You have the right to pursue compensation after an injury—regardless of employer pressure.
All crew members and contract workers involved in Texas oil and gas extraction operations deserve to work in environments where safety is a priority, not an afterthought.
What Causes Injury to Oilfield Workers in Dallas
So what are the actual factors that lead to an oilfield injury? The nature of the work is a major factor. Moving machinery, volatile gases, and grueling manual labor contribute to oilfield accidents.
Oilfields represent inherently hazardous workplaces where oversight can be the difference between a routine day and a tragic event. The complexity of operations often means that machinery can malfunction, or negligence can lead to serious repercussions. Regular training and stringent safety checks are crucial, yet pressures to meet production deadlines sometimes lead to companies taking dangerous shortcuts.
Oilfield workers deal with many hazards on a daily basis:
Equipment failure
Fire and explosion risk
Well blowouts
Fracking accidents
Falling from a height
Exhaustion
Below, we dive into the specific dangers of working on an oil rig, the health impact of explosions and fires, and other serious oilfield hazards. We'll start with the most critical part of oilfield operations: the land rig.
Dangers at the Derricks: Why Land Rig Accidents Happen
There's always been inherent risk to oil and gas extraction.
Malfunctions in extraction equipment can trigger explosions. Transporting substances within pipelines and trucks can prove just as dangerous. Fracking exposes workers to dangerous levels of benzene—a colorless gas that damages the nervous system, kidney, liver, and immune system. Even cleaning storage tanks comes with serious risks: workers doing routine cleaning have asphyxiated when tanks weren't properly emptied of dangerous gases.
But the leading source of severe injuries on land rigs? Machinery.
A derrick is an astoundingly complex machine, with pumps, chains, and drill bits always in motion. When you combine long hours with complex machinery and high-risk procedures, it's no surprise that workers suffer serious harm. OSHA data found that 1 in 3 serious injuries in the oil and gas industry involved the hands. They also found that oil and gas workers suffer from amputations, eye injuries, and hospitalizations more than workers in any other sector.
According to Marketplace, the risk of oilfield injuries is not surprising to experts. “We've known for quite a few years that it's a high hazard industry,” said Kyla Retzer, an epidemiologist with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health who focuses on safety and health in oil and gas extraction.
In addition to the machinery, environmental conditions can also play a significant role in land rig accidents. Weather patterns such as high winds or thunderstorms can make rig operations precarious. Moreover, the remote locations of many rigs complicate emergency response efforts, potentially delaying critical medical attention following an incident. These variables contribute to the urgency for stringent safety measures, including proper training for all personnel and comprehensive risk assessments before commencing operations.
But some inherent risk doesn't mean workers ought to endure all risks.
All employers are responsible for creating a safe workplace by mitigating risks. To prevent accidents, there are strict rules entitling derrick workers to proper protective gear and safety training. Unfortunately, companies regularly disregard workplace safety regulations, resulting in burn injuries, expensive medical bills, or even death.
A key issue is that companies typically hire contractors to operate these wells. Contractors don't get mandated safety training and protocols created for each job site. As a result, many people operating these rigs are at extreme risk; hand injuries among subcontractors made up 1 in 4 of all serious injuries in the oil and gas industry.
When our Dallas land rig explosion lawyers investigate an incident, we often contend with multiple defendants—none of whom take responsibility for what happened. Fortunately for our clients, we've overcome this issue many times before.
Driving While Exhausted: A Leading Cause of Dallas Oilfield Injuries
While rig sites and drilling platforms are dangerous, a significant number of oilfield injuries in the Dallas area happen long before workers ever reach the jobsite. According to CDC data, transportation accidents account for nearly 40% of all oil and gas extraction injuries—and Dallas and the surrounding counties are no exception.
Dallas serves as a major transit hub for oilfield operations across East and West Texas. I-20, I-30, and U.S. 80 are heavily traveled by oilfield workers commuting to and from Rusk, Gregg, and Harrison Counties, while I-45 and I-35E see constant traffic from trucks hauling equipment between Dallas and the Permian Basin.
Many of these roads, particularly the two-lane rural highways outside the city, were never designed for the surge of heavy trucks and long convoys tied to oilfield booms.
Driver fatigue is one of the biggest threats to worker safety. Oilfield crews often work 12- to 14-hour shifts before facing multi-hour drives back to Dallas or nearby towns. Exhaustion slows reaction times and, in too many cases, causes drivers to nod off behind the wheel. Tragic accidents on roads like State Highway 31 and U.S. 69 have been linked to oilfield traffic and overtired drivers rushing to make shift changes or return home after grueling rotations.
Safety experts have repeatedly called for oil and gas companies to address this problem by enforcing rest periods, limiting drive times, and providing on-site housing or shuttle services. Until companies put worker safety ahead of production schedules, Dallas-area oilfield workers and the communities along these busy highways will continue to face unnecessary risk from preventable transportation accidents.
Dallas Oilfield Explosions & Fires
Anywhere that volatile materials are extracted, used, and stored, you have a heightened risk of explosion or fire.
In oil and gas extraction, there's no shortage of fuel or ignition sources. Flammable gases come from wells, trucks, production equipment, tanks, and more. Welding equipment, friction, electricity, and cigarettes have all been identified as potential ignition sources. Flammable gas has been ignited by static enough times for OSHA to issue a hazard bulletin.
The trauma of an explosion can't be overstated. Our Dallas land rig explosion attorneys are national leaders in workplace explosion litigation, so we've seen firsthand how survivors and families endure heavy burdens from fires and explosions.
Our firm also knows that trying to escape an explosion leads to grievous harm as well. Amid the debris, smoke, fire, and confusion, attempts to run away can lead to broken bones, lacerations, concussions, and more.
After an Oilfield Accident: What You Should Do
Immediately following an oilfield accident, it's crucial to ensure your safety and health first.:
Seek medical attention promptly, even if injuries seem minor, as some symptoms may not manifest until later.
Document your injuries for any future legal proceedings.
Report the accident to your supervisor right away and ensure an official report is filed.
Take photos (if possible) of the accident site, machinery involved, and any visible injuries.
Gather contact information from witnesses to bolster your account of the incident.
Contact a Dallas oilfield accident attorney to discuss your rights and legal options.
An experienced attorney can help you navigate through the complexities of your situation, ensuring you seek deserved compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and other damages.
Resources for Injured Oilfield Workers in Dallas, TX
In Dallas, injured oilfield workers and their families rely on top medical facilities and support networks to get through the critical hours, days, and months after an accident. Dallas is home to some of the state's best trauma and burn care facilities, including Parkland Memorial Hospital (Level I Trauma and Regional Burn Center), Baylor University Medical Center (Level I Trauma Center), and UT Southwestern Medical Center (Level I Trauma Center and Rehabilitation Programs). Additional help and resources may be found through local support groups like the Brain Injury Network of Dallas and Burn Survivor Support Group at Parkland, providing emotional support and resources for long-term recovery.
Compensation for Dallas Oilfield Workers
When a Dallas oilfield worker suffers a serious injury, the physical and financial toll can be overwhelming. Medical bills pile up fast, particularly if the injuries demand long-term care or specialized rehabilitation. On top of that, missing work means lost income—not to mention the impact on future earning potential if you can’t perform the same job again. That’s why compensation isn’t just about reimbursing expenses; it’s a way to safeguard an injured worker’s financial well-being and provide a path forward after a life-altering accident.
Injured oilfield workers may be entitled to recover damages that cover hospital stays, doctor visits, and assistive equipment, as well as lost wages and diminished earning capacity. Depending on the circumstances, damages for pain and suffering, mental anguish, and disfigurement may also be available. If an employer’s negligence or a third party’s reckless behavior caused the accident, a claim could include punitive damages to hold them fully accountable.
At Arnold & Itkin, we focus on understanding each client’s unique challenges—whether that involves long-term medical treatment, dealing with insurance claims, or ongoing therapy sessions. By investigating the root causes of your accident, we’ll fight to recover every dollar you need to rebuild your life. Our team believes that a fair settlement or verdict is more than a financial award; it’s the stability you deserve while you heal and begin looking toward the future.
All About Dallas Oilfields
Texas produces more than a third of the nation's crude oil. Much of the production is concentrated in North Texas, including the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Since the 1930s, when petroleum was discovered near Kilgore just east of Dallas, the region has held its status as an oil and gas hub. Located on a portion of the Barnett Shale and near the Eagle Ford Shale and the Haynesville Shale, Dallas County is home to thousands of oil and gas workers and their families.
H.L. Hunt (1889-1974), an oil tycoon and billionaire, lived in Dallas and contributed to the city's standing as one of the leading oil producers in the United States. Today, some of the biggest players in oil and gas are headquartered in Dallas. This includes Energy Transfer, the HollyFrontier Corporation, Hunt Oil Company, EnLink Midstream, and Merit Energy Company. Oilfields and oilfield service companies in the area include TW Oilfield Services, Purity Oilfield Services, Rix Energy Services, Inflow Petroleum Resources, Moss Petroleum, Rockhound Exploration, DDC Oil and Gas, Goodnight Midstream, Cielo Exploration, Imagery Exploration, and many others.
Dallas is widely recognized as the cultural and commercial hub of North Texas. It is the ninth-most populous city in the United States, with a population of approximately 1.3 million people. Nine Fortune 500 companies call Dallas home, while 22 are located within the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. The initial establishment and growth of the Dallas-Fort Worth area can be attributed to the construction of major railroad lines through the region, allowing for the transportation of cattle, cotton, and oil. Dallas is now home to a major inland port, the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, and interstate highways that have reaffirmed the city's stance as a key transportation hub.
The dynamic oil industry in Dallas continues to impact the local economy, providing a robust job market that attracts skilled workers from across the country. Given its strategic location near vital shale formations, the city plays a crucial role in driving national energy independence and innovation.
Oilfield Injury Attorneys Serving Gregg County, Rusk County & Beyond
We represent clients in Dallas, Longview, throughout the state, and nationwide. We provide powerful legal representation to help clients recover the best possible results for their claims. Dallas oilfield accident attorneys at Arnold & Itkin know how difficult it is after an oilfield accident. An accident may appear to be the employee's fault, but in reality, employers cause accidents when they fail to train workers or implement good safety practices.
If you have sustained injuries in an oilfield accident in Longview, Gregg County, Rusk County, or anywhere in the state or country, it is vital to contact an attorney as soon as possible. An attorney from our Dallas personal injury law firm can investigate your incident and help you obtain the best possible results for your claims. We have secured billions of dollars for our clients, setting verdict and settlement records nationwide. We have the resources to help you secure your future.
Here are a few things that set our firm and our attorneys apart:
Arnold & Itkin has forced some of the largest oil and gas companies in Texas to pay what injured workers deserve. In Dallas and across the state, workers turn to us because we prepare every case for trial—and win when it matters most.
Contactour Dallas oilfield work accident attorneys today for a free case review at (888) 493-1629!
CommonQuestions
Why Do Oilfield Accidents Happen?
Many of the incidents handled by our Dallas oilfield accident lawyers are caused by the negligence of one or more parties—most often employers and contracted companies. A lack of safety training, equipment, poor maintenance, and other cost-cutting tactics cause serious accidents that harm workers and their families. When this happens, the parties that could’ve prevented an accident but didn’t should be held accountable.
Should I Get an Attorney After an Oilfield Accident?
Yes, getting help from an attorney will put someone in your corner who will make sure any settlement offers are in your best interest. While it might seem like the other side is trying to do the right thing, initial settlements are often low and don’t account for the complete cost of an oilfield accident. Our lawyers will investigate your claim, work to hold negligent parties accountable, and fight for the financial recovery you and your family deserve.
How Much Does Hiring a Dallas Oilfield Injury Law Firm Cost?
Getting help from our firm costs nothing up front. We cover all costs associated with a case and only collect a payment if we get results for a client. We do this because people come to us after during one of the most difficult moments of their lives, and finances are the last thing we want them to be worried about. Additionally, working this way means that anyone can afford our help.
What Causes the Worst Oil and Gas Accidents in Dallas?
The vast majority of oil and gas accidents are triggered by unique factors, but the underlying causes are typically the same. When our Dallas oil and gas accident attorneys investigate serious injuries or catastrophic explosions, the culprits are typically: cuts to safety spending, neglect of maintenance, and poor management. As a boom-and-bust business, oil and gas extraction needs accountability in order to ensure workers are provided with reasonably safe worksites.
What Is the Risk of “Flash Fires” in Dallas Oilfield Accidents?
Flash fires combust when flammable gas intermixes with the oxygen in the air. Once gas diffuses in a given area, all it takes is an ignition source: heat, friction, static, even a cigarette butt. Flash fires burn within seconds, capable of traveling before workers have a chance to get to cover. The risk of flash fires makes PPE critical for oil and gas workers.
