The oil and gas industry can offer tremendous opportunities to individuals around the country looking to find a career in an unorthodox industry. However, careers in oil and gas can often involve dangerous, back-breaking work and require workers to be exposed to temperatures in the 100s to temperatures below freezing. If you or a loved one have received a burn injury while working on an oil rig, you may be entitled to bring a claim for damages against your employer.

Much of the oil and gas boom experienced in Texas is due to the technological advances in drilling technologies, most notably the method of hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling. These methods allow oil and gas to be reached and extracted from previously unattainable locations. However, along with this great step forward came the added downfall of the dangers involved in this type of extraction. To extract minerals hidden beneath the earth’s surface, fluid often has to be pumped at a high pressure into the drilled hole. In some situations, the pressure mounts, causing equipment malfunction, fires, and explosions. Fires, in any aspect of the oil and gas industry, are cause for concern as they can quickly spread and lead to devastating accidents. For those injured in fires, their lives are often forever changed.

Burn injuries range in severity, from first-degree to third-degree burns. First-degree burns are relatively minor and involve red, nonblistered skin, often from a sunburn or a flash burn. Second-degree burns are more severe and involve the dermis layer of skin, leading to blisters and medical care that can often be administered at home.

Third-degree burns are the most severe type of burn injury and destroy the outer layer of the skin and the entire layer beneath, resulting in the destruction of nerve endings and the failure for new skin to form. These burns are usually the result of a severe accident and often lead to hospitalization.

A victim of a burn caused in a severe oil and gas accident can file a claim against their employer. Many oil and gas workers are contract employees, meaning that they likely will not fall within state workers’ compensation statutes. However, states also have personal injury statutes which allow an injured worker to bring a claim against a negligent employer or worker. An employer may be negligent in a number of ways leading to an accident, including the failure to properly train workers or to guarantee a safe work environment. An injured worker may bring a claim for the following:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Future earnings
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of consortium

If you have questions concerning injuries you received in an oil and gas accident, consult with an experienced personal injury attorney.

If you or a loved one have received burn injuries from an oil and gas accident, do not hesitate to contact the Malley Law Firm. Tony Malley has years of experience in handling injury cases resulting from severe oil and gas accidents and will work closely with you throughout your claim. Burn injuries are slow to heal and often leave permanent damage to the victim’s health. The responsible party should be held liable for your resulting injuries. Contact our Beaumont or Houston office today for your initial free consultation.