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Oil Rig Accidents

Our Texas Drilling Rig Injury Attorneys Fight for Injured Workers. Billions Won.

Houston Oil Rig Accident Attorneys

Hurt in an Onshore or Offshore Rig Accident? We Help Workers Nationwide.

Oil drilling is one of the biggest industries in Texas. This sector of our state's economy employs both onshore and offshore workers for crude petroleum exploration, drilling, and completion of wells. It also employs workers to operate equipment that is used for preparing oil up to the point of shipment to a refinery.

Unfortunately, this industry is also one of the most dangerous. Blowouts occur on offshore drilling rigs and land-based oil wells, leading to severe and often fatal burns. Serious injuries and deaths can also result from defective or poorly maintained equipment, machinery, and pipelines. Drilling workers also face the risk of falls from great heights, such as from derricks. Our Houston oil rig injury attorneys believe something needs to change.

Abogados de lesiones por accidentes marítimos y en alta mar en Houston

Drilling for Oil Is One of the Most Dangerous Jobs in the Nation

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, those employed in the oil and gas drilling industry have some of the most dangerous jobs in the entire United States. Oil and gas workers operate heavy machinery. Machinery has to be constantly inspected, repaired, and supervised at all times. Just one slip can result in an accident.

At any moment, countless things can go wrong when drilling for oil. Workers are expected to do their jobs for 12 hours a day for up to 2 weeks. Not only is this exhausting, but the job comes with other inherent dangers. Even though employers are obligated to make work conditions as safe as possible, navigating the deck can quickly turn disastrous. Seamen are often required to handle combustible materials with cranes swinging. Heavy equipment is everywhere. Hard hats and steel-toed boots are mandatory—and for a good reason.

Serious oil rig accidents are not necessarily common, but they can quickly become catastrophic when they do occur. Although large disasters are usually averted, more minor accidents can be devastating. Maritime workers are at high risk of spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and various other catastrophic injuries.

Common Drilling Rig Accidents & Injuries

The oil and gas industry is a dangerous field, but the work that rig workers perform is commendable and necessary. Unfortunately, good workers often get hurt due to unsafe practices, inadequate training, or old equipment. If you were injured while working on a drilling rig, you might be looking for a way to rebuild your life, find a new line of work—or even make the at-fault party cover medical costs. Arnold & Itkin wants to help.

Rig workers, onshore and offshore, may be at risk of suffering severe trauma from:

  • Sparks from equipment igniting flammable liquids and triggering explosions
  • Well blowouts, oil rig explosions, land rig explosions, and fires in production tanks
  • Being struck by swinging pipes, casing, or cables
  • Getting crushed by loads of cargo or heavy equipment
  • Hands or feet getting caught in machinery
  • Equipment failing because of improper maintenance
  • Falls from derricks, unsecured ladders, platforms, hoists, slippery stairways, and unguarded heights
  • Failures to evacuate or evade heavy weather, such as hurricanes and tropical storms

Remember, it is always best to speak directly to a legal professional about your case before speaking to insurers or company investigators. We handle hundreds of different cases caused by all types of rig accidents. If you do not see an accident type that matches your situation, don't hesitate to contact us directly for more detailed information about how our offshore rig accident lawyers are prepared to help you rebuild your life.

Texas Oil Rig Death Law Firm Helping Families Find Answers

Oil rig accidents are so severe that many workers never return home after one occurs. Our oil rig wrongful death lawyers are ready to demand answers when this happens. While we can't change what happened, we can ensure that families have the financial security they deserve to move forward.

No one can quantify how much a loved one meant to us, but wrongful death suits seek aid for:

  • The family's income from before the accident
  • Lost costs from child care and parental guidance
  • The loss of consortium
  • The loss of companionship
  • Emotional pain and suffering

If your loved one was killed, you may be left wondering what you can do. You should know that you may be entitled to a wrongful death claim, a special kind of claim. Some employers may try to protect themselves from wrongful death claims by making their employees sign a waiver saying that their family will not file a suit. However, even those who have signed a waiver may be able to obtain compensation for pain and suffering or lost wages.

Oil Rig Accident FAQ

What causes oil rig accidents?

Oil rig accidents may be caused by overlooked safety standards, aging equipment, carelessness, or poor rig maintenance. Working on a rig is dangerous, with 12-hour shifts and exhausting labor, not to mention dealing with combustible substances and heavy machinery. Even the journey by helicopter or boat to an offshore rig can be dangerous. Workers shouldn't have to deal with unsafe working conditions, but many do every single day—until they're seriously injured in preventable accidents. Our Houston, Texas oil rig injury law firm is here to help. If you were injured, let our team determine the cause of your accident so we can seek justice on your behalf.

What injuries can be caused by oil rig accidents?

An accident on an oil rig may cause catastrophic injuries. These may include severe burns, crush injuries, and drownings or near-drownings caused by rig fires and explosions. Other injuries may include broken bones, back injuries, internal organ damage, head trauma, and loss of limb. The type and severity of an oil rig worker's injuries will depend on the type of accident and other factors, such as the type of work being performed, whether heavy machinery was involved, and whether the worker had the proper safety gear.

What should I do after a drilling rig accident?

If you were injured in a drilling rig accident, you should take three crucial steps. First, seek medical care. Second, inform your employer of the incident. Third, talk to an attorney. Taking each of these steps will help you protect your health, eligibility for compensation, and legal rights. Working on an oil or gas drilling crew may be dangerous, but this does not limit your right to compensation for your injuries. At Arnold & Itkin, our drilling rig injury attorneys are here to ensure injured workers and their families get the medical treatment and support they need after serious accidents and injuries on offshore and onshore drilling rigs. We've recovered billions of dollars in compensation for our clients and are ready to see how we can help you.

Call Our Texas Oil Rig Accident Lawyers at (888) 493-1629

At Arnold & Itkin, we are devoted to helping victims of oil rig accidents get the financial compensation they deserve. If you have suffered a burn injury, skull fracture, or amputation/limb loss injury and you believe another person's carelessness or negligence caused the accident, we want to help you understand your rights. Have you suffered any serious injury while working on an oil rig? Our Houston personal injury law firm is here to look out for your best interests and fight for the legal protections that you deserve. Call now for a free review of your case.

At Arnold & Itkin, we help people from coast to coast fight for fair compensation:

  • We have recovered billions of dollars for our clients.
  • We have won cases in more than 40 different states.
  • We have been selected for multiple Super Lawyers® lists.
  • Attorneys Jason Itkin and Kurt Arnold are members of The Inner Circle of Advocates.
  • We are members of the Million & Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum®.

Call (888) 493-1629 for a free consultation with our onshore and offshore rig accidents attorneys. Let us demand the best results to secure the best future for you.

Case Results

Check Out Our Victories

  • $29 Million The Largest Known Settlement for a Wrongful Death Offshore Kurt Arnold, Jason Itkin, and Cory Itkin successfully secured a record settlement for a single family who tragically lost a loved one. It is the largest known settlement for a death that occurred offshore. While a settlement is not an admittance of ...
  • $14 Million Jones Act Settlement Reached Two Days Before Trial Arnold & Itkin represented a seaman after he suffered a head injury on the Hercules 15 inland barge. Hercules employees tack welded a three foot pipe to the derrick and then forgot to remove it before starting drilling operations. The pipe was jarred ...
  • $11.5 Million Settlement Won for Injured Victim of Offshore Accident Arnold & Itkin obtained a settlement of $11.5 million on behalf of an offshore accident victim suffering from both physical and psychological injuries. His settlement will ensure that our client gets all the time, financial support, and stability he ...
  • $8.9 Million Settlement Achieved for Severely Injured Seaman Arnold & Itkin helped secure a settlement on behalf of a seaman who injured his head when working aboard an offshore drilling vessel. Our firm helped to recover $8.9 million on his behalf.
  • $8 Million Massive Settlement Reached Before Trial Began Our firm represented an offshore worker (a steward) who seriously injured his back in an accident. The injury prevented him from making a living. While other lawyers told him his case was only worth a few hundred thousand dollars, our attorneys knew ...
  • $7.2 Million Millions Won for Brain-Injured Client in Louisiana Arnold & Itkin recovered more than $7 million in a settlement for a severely injured Louisiana client. Our client suffered brain injury and memory issues while working on an offshore platform. The defendant settled his case during jury selection, and ...
  • $7.1 Million Concussed Worker Received a Massive Settlement after Accident Arnold & Itkin represented an offshore worker with a concussion and a herniated disk from an accident on the job. These injuries inhibited our client’s ability to make a living, requiring him to pursue a claim. His employers eventually resolved the ...
  • $6.9 Million Settlement Obtained for Family of Deceased Offshore Worker Arnold & Itkin negotiated a multi-million dollar settlement for the family of a man who died offshore. Though the defendant attempted to get away with an extremely low offer, our team obtained a settlement that was many times larger.
  • $6.6 Million Settlement Obtained for Wife & Family of Deceased Offshore Worker Arnold & Itkin helped a woman and her family get justice after her husband was killed in an incident offshore. Despite undue pressure from the defendant, our firm made sure our clients were taken care of for the rest of their lives.
  • $6.5 Million Settlement Secured for Injured Crew Member on Barge Arnold & Itkin obtained a seven-figure settlement for an offshore worker who was injured off the coast of Florida while working in needlessly dangerous conditions. His settlement will help him move forward after irreparable damage was done to his ...
See All Results
“They're very professional. They didn't back down. That's why I like my lawyers. Even when I had to do my testimony in court, they didn't let those lawyers run over me. They fought hard. You have some lions with Arnold & Itkin. They not going to back down.”
Maurice Workplace Explosion Victim

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