Houston

Oil Field Injury Lawyers

The oilfield is the most dangerous workplace in America. A recent study by OSHA, found that more workers were killed and injured in the oilfield than in any other industry in this country. The same study revealed that in Texas alone, almost 80% of these injuries and deaths could have been prevented with safer procedures and equipment.

The oil field injury attorneys at The Callahan Law Firm are dedicated to fighting on behalf of injured workers and their families. We have represented injured workers and surviving family members of oilfield workers injured or killed on drilling rigs, workover rigs, completed wells, and pipelines due to a company’s negligence. We have the industry knowledge and experience to take on the companies responsible for your injuries.

At our first meeting, you will speak with an experienced Houston oilfield injury lawyer who will listen to you and can help by answering your questions and discussing your legal rights.

Our lawyers and staff will work aggressively to maximize justice for you and your family.

The risks of working in an oil field

The CDC reported that in 2014 there were 101 fatalities in the oil & gas industry with the leading states being Texas (44 fatalities), Oklahoma (12 fatalities) and North Dakota (10 fatalities). The top fatal events included:

Trucking accidents such as an accident on a roadway or on-site were responsible for 28 of the fatalities reported.

Contact related injuries such as being crushed or struck by an object accounted for 24 of the fatalities reported.

Fires and explosions accounted for 15 of the deaths reported.

Other fatality related events include exposure, falls and electrocutions.

Those injured in oilfield accidents are often faced with more severe injuries than those in other industries given the dangerous nature of the work.

Some of these risks come from inadequate training and defective products or equipment malfunctions. All of these are scenarios we will carefully review with you if you have been injured in an oil field accident and are looking for compensation for your injuries as they can affect the outcome of your case.

Common injuries from oil field accidents

Those injured in oilfield accidents are often faced with more severe injuries than those in other industries given the dangerous nature of the work. Some of the most common injuries include:

Burns from explosions and fires or chemical burns
Head injuries from being hit by equipment or from getting thrown during an explosion
Amputation from being crushed under equipment
Respiratory issues from breathing in toxic fumes or chemical exposure
Eye injuries due to flying debris
Hearing loss can happen because of the levels of noise from the equipment and machinery

How oil field accidents can be prevented

There are many ways an oil field workplace can be kept safe for the employees to prevent the number of accidents from happening. The following is a list of safeguards every employer should take to keep their staff safe when working on an oil field:

Ensuring all equipment are regularly inspected and maintained.
Proper training for all employees, whether full-time or contractors.
Use of anti-pressure devices to help prevent explosions.
Limit driving time and work hours to prevent exhausted workers.
Utilize respiratory equipment to prevent breathing in toxic fumes
Proper use of safety equipment such as eye masks, gloves and helmets

Oil field regions

There has been a recent boom in drilling and exploration for oil and natural gas in a number of shale fields around the nation. Contact us if you have been injured in any type of accident involving oil or natural gas exploration in any national shale such as the Barnett Shale, Bakken Shale, the Eagle Ford Shale or the Marcellus Shale. We are based in Houston, Texas, the energy capital of the world, and we have the capacity to represent victims of oil and gas exploration accidents nationwide.

Texas: From our Houston law offices, we represent people injured on shale exploration sites such as the Eagle Ford Shale, Barnett Shale and Haynesville Shale.
Louisiana: The Haynesville shale region, also known as Shreveport Shale, stretches between Texas and Louisiana. It is widely thought to be one of the most abundant shale sources of natural gas.
Colorado: Energy companies are spending hundreds of millions of dollars tapping into the shale oil deposits in the Niobrara, Lewis and Pierre shale exploration sites in Colorado.

New Mexico: The Lewis and Pierre shale fields stretch into New Mexico as well, along with the Leonard, Barnett, and Woodford shale sites.
Wyoming: The DJ basin, which includes the Niobrara shale, is an active oil and gas exploration region that extends into Wyoming.
Pennsylvania: The Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania is the subject of heavy exploration due to high concentrations of natural gas.
North Dakota: The Bakken Shale, also known as the North Dakota Shale, located in the Williston Basin, stretches down from Canada into North Dakota and Montana.

Know your rights

Legally employers are required to provide their employees with a safe work environment.

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What types of claims can be made for a personal injury?

When an injury happens on the job, the injured employee will often make a workers’ compensation claim with his or her employer’s insurance company. Unfortunately, the benefits available through a workers’ compensation claim are very limited.

Depending on the facts of the accident, often times there are additional legal claims that can be made such as a claim for negligence against a different company that caused or contributed to the incident or injury, a claim because of a defective product that caused or contributed to the incident or injury, as well as other types of claims.

In these types of cases, you may be eligible for the following compensation:

Medical expenses in the past and future
Lost wages in the past and future
Impairment in the past and future
Pain and suffering in the past and future
Disfigurement

If you have been injured as a result of work in the oil field, there are many factors to consider when evaluating your legal options. That is why it is important to talk with an experienced lawyer who has successfully represented individuals and families in oil field cases.

Get a free case evaluation!

Based in Houston, Texas, the personal injury attorneys at The Callahan Law Firm have the experience, skill and resources to successfully handle oil field injury cases and win. Led by former mechanical engineer and Texas board certified personal injury trial attorney Michael Callahan, we have a proven track record of successfully representing individuals and families in these types of accident cases.

We provide a free case review and if we feel confident that you have a case, there is no fee unless we win.

Click here to schedule your free consultation today