Oil field work can involve demanding tasks, specialized machinery, heavy equipment, pressurized systems, and hazardous materials. When an accident occurs, determining who may be responsible can become complicated, particularly when multiple companies, contractors, equipment operators, or property owners are involved.
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), oil and gas extraction activities can involve vehicle collisions, struck-by or caught-between incidents, explosions and fires, falls, confined spaces, and chemical exposures. Examining the specific hazards involved can help provide context when reviewing an oil field injury case and determining what factors may have contributed to the incident.
At Guerra Law Firm PC, we can review what happened, gather evidence, identify the companies that may share responsibility for your injuries, and handle communications and negotiations with insurers on your behalf. If a fair resolution can’t be reached, we can prepare your case for court.
From our office in McAllen, Texas, we serve injured workers and their families throughout Southern Texas, including Brownsville, Harlingen, and the Rio Grande Valley. Contact us to schedule a free consultation.
What Makes Oil Field Liability Complicated?
An oil field accident doesn't automatically establish legal liability. The circumstances surrounding the incident must be carefully examined. Depending on the facts, a claim may involve allegations concerning unsafe working conditions, defective equipment, inadequate training, improper maintenance, or other contributing factors.
According to OSHA, employers in oil and gas operations are subject to applicable workplace safety requirements, including OSHA standards and the Occupational Safety and Health Act's General Duty Clause. These requirements can provide context when determining whether recognized hazards were appropriately addressed.
Multiple Parties May Be Involved
Oil field operations can involve employers, contractors, subcontractors, equipment providers, site operators, and other businesses. Because responsibilities can be divided among multiple parties, it may be important to identify each company's role rather than assuming that an injured worker's direct employer is the only potentially relevant party.
Contracts, work assignments, equipment records, safety procedures, and communications may help establish who was responsible for specific tasks or conditions. Our Texas personal injury attorney can review these details and consider how they relate to the circumstances of the accident.
Common Sources of Oil Field Injuries
According to OSHA, common oil and gas extraction hazards include vehicle crashes, struck-by and caught-in hazards, fires, explosions, falls, confined spaces, and high-pressure lines and equipment.
Equipment and Machinery
Heavy machinery and rotating equipment can create serious risks when equipment malfunctions, is improperly maintained, or is operated without appropriate safeguards. According to OSHA, oil and gas workers may encounter pumps, compressors, conveyors, drawworks, and other rotating equipment.
Determining whether equipment was properly maintained, inspected, guarded, and operated may become an important part of an injury investigation.
Fires, Explosions, and Chemical Exposure
Oil field operations can involve flammable gases, vapors, chemicals, and high-pressure systems. According to OSHA, workers may face fire and explosion hazards when flammable gases or vapors are released and encounter an ignition source.
Chemical exposure can also complicate an injury claim. OSHA identifies potential health hazards in oil and gas extraction that include hydrogen sulfide, hydrocarbon gases and vapors, silica, noise, diesel particulate matter, and temperature extremes. Medical documentation may be especially important when an illness or injury develops following exposure rather than immediately after a traumatic event.
What Evidence May Matter After an Accident?
Evidence can become more difficult to obtain as time passes. Injured workers should consider preserving information that may help document what happened, including:
Photographs of the accident scene, equipment, and visible injuries
Medical records, treatment documentation, and related bills
Employment and wage information
Workplace incident or accident reports
Names and contact information for potential witnesses
Communications concerning the accident or working conditions
Information about equipment inspections, maintenance, or repairs
OSHA notes that companies use job safety analyses and other hazard-identification processes to identify job-specific risks and controls. Records relating to these processes may provide useful information about the work being performed and the hazards that were recognized.
We can help identify potentially important evidence and determine what additional documentation may be relevant.
Contact Our Personal Injury Lawyer About Your Oil Field Injury
Oil field injury cases can involve much more than the immediate circumstances of an accident. Equipment, worksite conditions, contracts, training, maintenance, medical evidence, and the responsibilities of multiple parties may all become relevant when evaluating liability. Understanding the specific risks involved and how they relate to the accident can be an important first step in determining what happened and what legal options may be available.
If you or a family member has been injured in an oil field accident, consider speaking with our firm about your situation. Manuel Guerra, our founding attorney at Guerra Law Firm PC, can help you understand the legal issues that may apply, identify potentially important evidence, and discuss the next steps based on the circumstances of your case. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
