Texas has often been ubiquitous with the oil and gas industry since the discovery of Spindletop over one hundred years ago outside of Beaumont. This ushered in a new era of industry throughout Texas, with families who became wealthy overnight with the discovery of oil and gas under their lands. Since this point, oil and gas has remained a strong part of the Texas economy and even more so in recent years with the development of the Eagle Ford Shale. However, along with the rise in oil field production has also come a rise in oil field accidents and injuries. If you or a loved one were injured in an oil field accident, you may be entitled to receive compensation for your injuries.

The oil and gas industry is an inherently dangerous line of work for its thousands of employees worldwide. Oil fields and oil and gas drilling equipment have the potential to malfunction or cause extreme accidents in certain circumstances. Additionally, when the oil and gas industry experiences a boom, companies are often in a hurry to hire any type of worker willing to stay away from their family for weeks on end. While training is required for any oil and gas job, some companies may cut corners in order to staff jobs as fast as they can. The quick turnaround in oil field jobs can quickly lead to dangerous conditions when inexperienced workers are handling dangerous machinery, which can quickly put dozens of lives at risk if incorrectly operated. Oil field workers additionally often work long shifts, often ranging from 12-20 hours, which can quickly result in exhaustion and the inability to remember standard safety procedures.

Oil field accidents can lead to many severe injuries due to oil well fires or explosions, many of which could take months to recover from. The oil and gas industry often employees a steady stream of contract workers in the oil fields; therefore, any debilitating accident could have dire physical and financial repercussions on the worker and his or her family.

The following injuries can result from oil field accidents:

• Burns
• Broken bones
• Concussions
• Paralysis
• Spinal injuries
• Traumatic brain injury
• Amputations

Many of these injuries will require expensive medical care and rehabilitative care, thereby requiring a worker to stay out of work for months on end, possibly never to work again. The victim’s employer is often the responsible party for any resulting injuries, even if a careless employee caused the oil field accident. An experienced personal injury attorney will be able to assist in calculating the full amount of damages you are entitled to receive as a result of your injuries.

If you or a loved one have been injured in an oil field accident, do not hesitate to contact the Malley Law Firm. Tony Malley has years of experience in handling oil field accident claims and understands the complexities that are inherent in the oil and gas industry. He will work tirelessly to ensure that the responsible party is held accountable for your injuries. Contact our Beaumont or Houston offices today for your initial free consultation.