Taking on Cases Against Large Companies in the Oil & Gas Industry
For an injured oilfield worker, the thought of taking on their employer may seem overwhelming or impossible. However, oil and gas giants are not immune to accountability for their actions. Just because they have teams of lawyers and seemingly endless amounts of money to throw at claims against them for negligent or unsafe practices, they do not get to escape accountability. Not when Arnold & Itkin is on the case.
Our Dallas oilfield accident attorneys handle cases against companies such as the following:
Dangers at the Derricks: Why Land Rig Accidents Happen
Heavy drilling equipment is dangerous; derrick workers must receive proper protective gear and safety training to prevent accidents. When there is a malfunction in complicated equipment used to extract oil an explosion can occur. Transporting substances within pipelines and trucks can prove just as dangerous.
According to Marketplace, the risk of oilfield injuries are 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.
Oil and gas companies oversee the extraction, transportation, and storage process. They are responsible for ensuring that all machinery used in this process is in the best condition to prevent workers from getting injured. It is their responsibility to reduce workplace hazards. Unfortunately, companies often fail to follow workplace safety regulations which result in burn injuries to workers, expensive medical bills, or even death in catastrophic accidents. Fracking exposes workers to dangerous levels of benzene—a colorless gas that damages the nervous system, kidney, liver, and immune system.
What Causes Injuries to Oilfield Workers
Oilfield injuries typical happen because of the grueling nature of the work workers endure at them. Heavy machinery, a volatile product, and intense physical labor contribute to oilfield worker injuries.
Common oilfield accident causes include the following:
- Equipment failure
- Fires and explosions
- Well blowouts
- Fracking accidents
- Falling from a height
- Exhaustion
Driving While Exhausted: A Common Cause of Dallas Oilfield Injuries
One of the most common, yet unexpected, causes of oilfield injuries is motor vehicle accidents. Oilfields are typically located in rural areas.
When an oil boom occurs, such as the one currently happening in the Permian Basin, small country roads become dangerous. Roads designed for light use are suddenly covered with hundreds of large trucks and thousands of vehicles transporting workers to the oilfields.
Falling asleep at the wheel is a common problem and, each year, tragic accidents claim the lives of multiple people because an exhausted driver falls asleep at the wheel. Some parts of the U.S. have residents referring to their local highways as “Death Highways,” and they attribute this grim title to the sudden influx of vehicles caused by oil and gas extraction.
Potential Dangers Faced by Oilfield Workers in Longview & Dallas
Oilfield engineers and technicians are fully aware that they are in a dangerous line of work and know that they should take extra precautions to prevent accidents. However, accidents are not often caused at their level of operations, but instead by the negligent behavior of supervisors and employers.
Owners and supervisors may be held liable for:
- Explosions, fires, and exposure to toxic chemicals: Workers are exposed to dangerous chemicals or fuel when these chemicals are not being appropriately secured.
- Falling objects: When employees work at great heights, they’re more likely to drop a tool or a piece of equipment on another worker. The tools used by workers at elevated heights should be secured.
- Faulty equipment: Wear and tear of equipment contributes to oilfield injuries. Defective equipment may expose workers to flammable chemicals and cause an explosion. It is the employer’s responsibility to schedule routine maintenance to keep machinery working properly.
- Slips and falls: It is an employer’s responsibility to warn employees of potential hazards. If workers fall, it may also be due to improper safety measures, like missing guardrails or harnesses.
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 are often deadly, and families of deceased workers deserve answers from those who could have prevented their suffering and didn't. Our Dallas personal injury law firm fights for justice on behalf of families grieving from a wrongful death in the oilfields.
All About Dallas Oilfields
Texas produces more than a third of the nation’s crude oil, and a significant amount of that production happens in North Texas, including the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Since the 1930s when petroleum was discovered just east of Dallas near Kilgore, the region has consistently held its status as a hub of the oil and gas market. Located on a portion of the Barnett Shale and near the Eagle Ford Shale and the Haynesville Shale, Dallas County is home to hundreds of oil and gas industry 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. 9 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.
Dallas, TX: Helpful Links & Resources
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 case. Our Dallas oilfield accident attorneys at Arnold & Itkin understand how difficult the time can be after an oilfield accident. In most cases, an accident may appear to have been the employee’s fault, but this isn’t always the case. Accidents happen when employers fail to train workers or fail to 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 accident and help you obtain the best possible results for your case. We have received billions of dollars for our clients, setting verdict and settlement records nationwide. We have the resources to help you secure your future.
Contact our Dallas oilfield work accident attorneys today for a free case review at (888) 493-1629!
