Our Midland Land Rig Accident Law Firm Stands Up for Workers in West Texas
Thanks to the Permian Basin, the Midland-Odessa area has been experiencing an oil boom. Workers from all around the nation are coming to work in the area's oilfields to make a living in the oil industry. However, with increased oil production comes an increase in oilfield accidents. While site operators would like people to think that accidents are a natural part of the oil industry, the truth is that they're often preventable. At Arnold & Itkin, our Midland injury lawyers have a reputation for challenging the negligent practices of oil and gas companies on behalf of injured workers. We've taken on BP after the Deepwater Horizon disaster and were there for workers after the Texas City refinery explosion. If you're suffering after an accident, our Midland oilfield accident lawyers are ready to see how we can assist you.
The 1,628 producing leases and 13,055 drilled wells in Midland present unique hazards. With high-pressure operations and volatile materials, the risk of catastrophic incidents is significant. Workers are exposed to hazardous chemicals that can cause severe health issues over time. Beyond the immediate physical risks, such as burns or explosions, prolonged exposure to toxic substances poses long-term health challenges, sometimes manifesting years after initial contact.
Executives and management in the oil industry must take these dangers seriously. They are known hazards, and they can be minimized by implementing the right safety procedures. This includes regular training for employees on equipment handling and emergency responsiveness. Local laws require companies to maintain safety standards that minimize these risks, but compliance isn’t always straightforward. As advocates for workers’ rights, Arnold & Itkin is committed to ensuring these standards are met, fighting for safer work environments in Midland's oilfields and nationwide.
Securing Life-Changing Victories for Oilfield Workers
Oilfield accidents are challenging, featuring multiple complex legal elements, including severe and long-term injuries, multiple defendants, and technically complicated causes. However, our team remains undaunted by these challenges, winning massive results against some of the biggest names in the oil and gas industry. In turn, our clients can pay for their medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages.
Some of our most important cases were won on behalf of oilfield workers, including:
A $209 million verdict on behalf of the widow of a toolpusher who lost his life after he was exposed to Hantavirus, a rare but deadly virus spread by rodents, while working in the oilfields of Western Colorado. We proved the company knew of the risk and did not address it by informing workers or providing pest control.
A $139 million settlement on behalf of multiple victims of a massive oilfield accident, secured just one week before the trial was set to begin. Our attorneys worked around the clock, ultimately taking 30 depositions in two months and gathering the evidence needed to make sure the defendant paid for their wrongdoing.
We have secured numerous multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts for injured oilfield workers throughout the U.S. View all of our victories here.
What makes our firm so effective is our commitment to getting our clients the absolute maximum possible under the law. Companies know we're ready for trial because, even when we're outnumbered or outspent, we'll never be outworked. It’s why we've seen defendant after defendant massively increase their settlement offers to avoid seeing us in court.
Some recent oilfield injury cases we've taken on include:
Oilfield work is filled with heavy equipment, dangerous substances, and other serious hazards. Employers are required to protect workers from these hazards, even if the task is daunting and expensive—especially in Texas. In 2024, OSHA injury data showed that more than half of all oil and gas industry hospitalizations occurred in Texas, where oil production is concentrated, particularly in the north and west.
Common causes of Midland oilfield accidents include:
Explosions, Fires & Toxic Exposure Working with crude oil and natural gas means workers are consistently at risk of fires, explosions, and contact with dangerous substances. Even the smallest spark can cause a serious, life-altering explosion. Poor planning, inadequate training, and a lack of properly working equipment are usually the cause of these accidents.
Slip & Fall Accidents Oilfield workers need to be protected from slip and falls because one ordinary mistake can result in wrongful death or serious injury. Employers can mitigate risks by making sure worksites are properly maintained and designed.
Falling Objects Since working from a height isn’t rare, site operators must ensure workers are protected from falling objects. The fast pace of work means heavy objects might come crashing down without enough time for workers to find safety.
Malfunctioning Equipment When equipment doesn’t work, it can be catastrophic. Malfunctioning equipment can cause blowouts, explosions, and more. Unfortunately, many employers risk accidents instead of maintaining equipment to save money.
Of these four causes, OSHA data points to contact with machinery and equipment as the most common cause of injury in the oilfield, followed by slips and falls. The most common oilfield injuries in Midland, statistically speaking, are open wounds, bone fractures, and spine/nerve damage. This group of injuries was responsible for more than half of all hospitalizations recorded by OSHA in the oil and gas industry.
Midland Oilfield & Gas Truck Accidents Are Becoming More Frequent
Vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death in the oilfield and the third-leading cause of hospitalization. As the Permian Basin attracted unprecedented numbers of workers to a rural area, its small roads have been unable to safely accommodate the influx of traffic. Oil tankers, commuting workers, and other vehicles related to oil production have created unforeseen dangers. Now, about 450 traffic fatalities happen on the roads near the Permian Basin.
In the Midland area, several roadways serve as the primary commuting corridors for oilfield activity—for crews and for large trucks and tankers carrying supplies and equipment. This includes Interstate 20, State Highway 191, U.S. Route 285 (known as "Death Highway"), and numerous farm-to-market roads that link I-20 and SH 191 to remote drilling lease sites.
Why do these gas truck accidents happen? Besides roads that weren’t designed to handle significant amounts of traffic, oilfield workers are often exhausted while driving. Long shifts and physically demanding work cause many drivers to be dangerously exhausted as they drive to and from the oilfield.
Inexperienced oilfield truck and 18-wheeler drivers can also cause serious injuries and deaths when they are involved in collisions. In fact, it's estimated that about 40% of all oilfield deaths are related to truck accidents. Whether these accidents are caused by inexperience, poorly maintained vehicles, or fatigue, the results are the same: they cause catastrophic harm and claim lives across Midland-Odessa and the Permian Basin.
Efforts to combat these accidents include improving road infrastructure (such as a $24 million investment to improve I-20 in Midland and Odessa), implementing mandatory safety rests for drivers, and enhancing vehicle inspections. By advocating for better practices and policies, Midland aims to create safer roadways for all.
Common Injuries Caused by Midland Land Rig Accidents
Oilfield injuries are often serious because of the dangerous and violent nature of the accidents that cause them: heavy machinery, falls from heights, fires, and explosions. Often, workers who sustain these injuries experience life-changing trauma that alters their ability to work and even perform daily activities.
Roughly 43% of oil and gas injuries involve an upper extremity, mostly hands. Well servicing workers in particular face a serious risk: their hand injuries alone account for 25% of all injuries across the oil and gas industry.
Treatment and rehabilitation for oilfield injuries are often extensive and expensive. An injured oilfield worker may receive emergency treatment at Midland Memorial Hospital or Medical Center Hospital, and they may be transferred to larger or more specialized facilities as needed, such as the UMC Burn Center in Lubbock for severe burns.
What You Should Do After an Oilfield Accident in Midland
Midland, Odessa, Pecos, and the surrounding communities are home to Permian Basin oilfield workers and their families. These good people sometimes face the worst situations because of preventable accidents at oilfields and processing plants. When this happens, it can be difficult to know what to do or where to turn.
After a serious land rig accident in Midland or the surrounding areas:
Get medical attention. You should see a doctor as soon as possible after any type of oilfield accident. Sometimes serious injuries can appear mild or minor just because shock and adrenaline are coursing through your body. Get medical attention and tell your doctor what happened so they know what type of injury to look for.
Report your injury. You'll need to tell your employer. Try to keep it simple and stick to the facts, without letting your emotions or opinions enter. Inform your employer, in writing, and keep a copy for your records. This could prove useful later.
Follow your treatment plan. You will need to follow your doctor's orders and treatment plan, attend all your appointments, and take any medicine that's prescribed to you. This will be a key part of healing and showing your employer that you are taking your recovery seriously. If you are unhappy with your treatment, remember that you have the right to seek a second opinion or see a specialist! Your health should always come first.
Don't sign anything until you've talked to an attorney! After oilfield accidents, some companies try to limit their liability or avoid paying high claims by getting injured workers to accept low settlements or sign statements that limit their recovery. Don't sign anything or accept a settlement until you've had a lawyer review your case. You deserve full compensation for your injuries.
No one should minimize your injuries, pressure you into returning to work before you feel ready, or make you accept a settlement that doesn't fully cover your losses. At Arnold & Itkin, we take oilfield accidents seriously.
Our Midland land rig injury attorneys fight for our clients inside and outside of the courtroom, helping them secure the types of recoveries that help them rebuild.
What Our Midland Oilfield Injury Lawyers Do for Workers & Contractors
When a worker gets injured at a land rig or well facility, our role is making sure that worker gets everything they need to rebuild their life. The unfortunate reality is that even if an employer bought workers' compensation insurance, there may not be enough benefits to prevent you from falling into severe medical debt, losing your home, or other serious consequences of an oilfield injury. That's what makes injury claims in court so vital for your future.
We help Midland oilfield workers and their families seek compensation for damages such as:
Trusted by Injured Oilfield Workers in Midland & Beyond
Working in the oilfield is dangerous when companies do not put safety first. Unfortunately, some workers also discover that their employers are less than eager to help after a serious accident. Such was the case with one oilfield worker we represented, who was left with life-altering injuries after an accident:
“My employer, they didn't treat me so well after. They threw me under the bus. They didn't want to own up to anything.”
Our team worked quickly to help our client get the care he needed, and we fought to secure a significant financial recovery that would help him face a more stable future. After the case, he had this to say:
“This firm has really helped out my life. It's going to help me get further than what I am now. It's just going to keep growing.”
On a national level, Arnold & Itkin is known for taking on the toughest cases against the biggest opponents, all in our ongoing fight to help America's hardest workers get the fair and complete compensation they need after serious accidents, injuries, and losses. Our trial attorneys have been recognized time and again by such prestigious organizations as Forbes, Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers, and The Inner Circle of Advocates.
On a local level, we are led by Texas natives who care about our communities and the people who live and work here. Arnold & Itkin has recovered more than $20 billion in verdicts and settlements for plaintiffs—many of them good, hardworking people facing disaster through no fault of their own. In other words, they were like you. We helped them rebuild their lives and get what they needed to face the future with hope, not fear.
We're located at 1030 Andrews Hwy #204 in Midland, TX. Visit us or reach out online or at (888) 493-1629 any time to talk about your case and how we can help. We'll be happy to answer your questions and offer our insight.
Oilfield accidents are always unique because they might involve multiple parties. Site owners, contractors, and even companies that own nearby pipelines have caused serious accidents. Our oilfield accident lawyers are ready to investigate your case to make sure all negligent parties are being held accountable.
Why File an Oilfield Accident Claim?
An oilfield accident claim helps workers recover the amount of compensation that they need rather than the amount they’re offered as a settlement from a company or insurer. If you’ve been in an accident, it’s important to call a law firm as soon as possible. Doing so will help you find out what your next steps should be.
Will Workers' Comp or Personal Injury Apply to My Oilfield Accident?
If an employer purchased workers' compensation insurance, an oilfield accident may be covered by workers' compensation. This no-fault system helps injured workers get medical treatment and covers a portion of their lost wages without having to prove that someone else was to blame for their injuries. It does not, however, cover as many losses and expenses as personal injury lawsuits do. It also doesn't necessarily hold any of the companies at fault accountable for what happened to you. Regardless, the Midland oilfield accident lawyers at Arnold & Itkin take the approach that offers plaintiffs the best opportunity for a full and complete recovery. No matter what.
Can I Still Get Recovery If I Was Working as a Contractor?
Most oilfield well services are performed by outside companies hired by the major oil and gas corporations. Data shows that well servicing workers are more likely to suffer injury, as they typically don’t receive the same safety briefing as direct employees and are less familiar with each worksite’s specific quirks or dysfunctions. In terms of workers’ compensation insurance, any injury claims would be filed under your employer’s policy, so if you were working for a contracting company, the company your employer contracted with wouldn’t be involved.
However, if you were seriously injured as a result of the site owner’s negligence, you could bring a suit against all responsible parties—including whatever large petroleum company hired your employer.
