Category: Oilfield and Maritime Accidents

You clocked in and did your job perfectly well. But, something went wrong!

Maybe it was an explosion on the rig or a piece of equipment failed without warning or your employer had been cutting corners for months, and you were the one who paid the price. Whatever happened, you are now dealing with serious injuries, mounting medical bills, and a future that looks nothing like it did before the accident.

Here is what you need to know right now: the oil company already has a legal team working on its side. They are collecting evidence, building their defence, and figuring out how to pay you as little as possible. You deserve someone fighting just as hard for you.

This blog will help you understand what you should do when you get injured while working in McAllen. 

The Alarming Reality of Oilfield Accidents in Texas

Texas leads the nation in oil and gas production, and that distinction comes with a sobering price. OSHA confirmed at least 12 oilfield worker deaths in Texas in 2024, a staggering 57 per cent increase over the prior year, with Texas accounting for nearly 60 per cent of all serious oilfield injury incidents reported nationwide. 

For workers in the Rio Grande Valley and Hidalgo County who are tied to regional energy operations, these figures are not abstract. They reflect real people dealing with real consequences. A McAllen oilfield injury lawyer who understands both Texas law and the regional industry can make a critical difference in how your case unfolds.

What Causes Serious Oilfield Accidents?

Oilfield accidents rarely happen by chance. Most involve some form of negligence by an employer, a contractor, or an equipment manufacturer. The most common incidents that a serious oilfield injury lawyer in McAllen handles include rig explosions and well blowouts, fires triggered by volatile chemicals, equipment malfunctions and machinery defects, falls from elevated platforms, workers being struck by heavy objects, and vehicle crashes on oilfield access roads.

One landmark Texas case resulted in a $90 million settlement for a worker catastrophically burned in a well blowout. Investigation revealed the operator had ignored both its own internal safety policies and the American Petroleum Institute’s required two-barrier safety standard. These failures are preventable and form the core of strong Texas oilfield accident claims.

Injuries That Demand a Catastrophic Injury Lawyer in McAllen, TX

Oilfield accidents rarely result in minor injuries. Workers who survive these incidents often face permanent, disabling conditions that alter their lives forever. The types of serious harm that typically require a catastrophic injury lawyer in McAllen, TX, include severe burn injuries, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, amputations, crush injuries, and long-term toxic chemical exposure.

Because these injuries involve extensive medical treatment, prolonged rehabilitation, and often prevent workers from ever returning to their jobs, the financial toll on families can be overwhelming. This is precisely why having a skilled workplace injury lawyer for oilfield workers in your corner matters so much from the very beginning of your case.

Why Hiring an Oilfield Accident Attorney in McAllen, TX Is Essential?

After an oilfield accident, oil companies act fast. Their legal teams begin building a defence almost immediately, gathering site evidence and consulting with experts while most injured workers are still in the hospital. An experienced oilfield accident attorney in McAllen, TX, levels the playing field from day one.

The Ezequiel Reyna Law Office investigates every angle of your case, identifies all negligent parties, secures expert testimony, and builds a claim that reflects the full, true cost of your injuries. Whether your case involves a direct employer, a third-party contractor, or a defective piece of drilling equipment, the firm pursues every available avenue under Texas law.

You can review decades of results for injured workers and their families on the Case Results page. In the tragic event that an oilfield accident takes a life, the firm’s Wrongful Death practice team fights to hold the responsible parties completely accountable. Families across Hidalgo County dealing with unbearable loss deserve that same relentless advocacy.

What Compensation Can an Injured Oilfield Worker Recover in Texas?

An oilfield worker injury lawsuit in McAllen can pursue compensation for medical expenses, including surgery, hospitalisation, and ongoing rehabilitation costs, lost wages and reduced earning capacity, physical pain and emotional suffering, permanent disability and necessary lifestyle adjustments, and, in cases of especially reckless conduct, punitive damages.

Texas follows a modified comparative negligence rule. This means you can still recover compensation for oilfield accidents in Texas even if you were partially at fault, as long as your portion of fault does not exceed 50 per cent. An oilfield negligence attorney in Texas can assess exactly where you stand and how to build the strongest possible claim.

Do Not Miss the Texas Deadline for Filing Your Claim

Time is one of the most critical factors in any oilfield accident case. In Texas, the general statute of limitations for a personal injury claim is two years from the date of the accident. For workers’ compensation claims, you must report your injury within 30 days and file within one year. Missing either window could cost you your right to recover compensation entirely.

Speak With an Experienced McAllen Oilfield Accident Lawyer Today
You should not have to face a powerful oil company alone after a serious injury. The Ezequiel Reyna Law Office has been a trusted personal injury lawyer for oilfield accidents and workers throughout the Texas for decades. Your consultation is 100 per cent free, and you pay nothing unless the firm wins your case. Contact Ezequiel Reyna Law team today to take the first step toward the compensation you deserve.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can be held responsible for an oilfield accident in Texas?

Multiple parties can be liable, including your direct employer, third-party contractors working on the same site, equipment manufacturers, and property owners. A Hidalgo County oilfield accident attorney will investigate every angle to identify all responsible parties and maximise your recovery.

What should I do right after a serious oilfield injury?

Seek medical attention immediately, even if you believe the injury is manageable. Report the incident to your supervisor before leaving the worksite. Document the scene if you are physically able. Then reach out to an injured oilfield worker’s legal help professional as soon as possible so that critical evidence is preserved and your rights are protected from the start.

Can I sue my employer if they do not carry workers’ compensation?

Yes. Texas is the only state that does not require most private employers to carry workers’ compensation insurance. If your employer is a non-subscriber, you have the right to file a personal injury lawsuit directly, which can lead to significantly higher compensation than a standard workers’ comp claim. 

What can families do if an oilfield explosion kills a loved one?

Families can pursue a wrongful death oilfield accident claim against the responsible parties. Texas law allows surviving spouses, children, and parents to seek compensation for their loss.

While many occupations come with workplace hazards, working in the oil and gas industry can be deadly. Oil and gas workers, especially those working in oil fields, are subject to some of the highest rates of severe injury and death as reported by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Recent reports compiled by the Center for Public Integrity, The Texas Tribune, The Associated Press, and Newsy profiled how catastrophic oil field injuries can be. The report found the death rate was almost five times that of all other industries in the United States combined. Many people wonder why oil field accidents are so dangerous for workers. Data from the US Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that between 2008 and 2017 OSHA issued over 10,000 citations to oil and gas companies, deeming the majority of oil field work environments hazardous to workers and likely to cause death or serious physical injury.

What are the dangers?

Multiple factors contribute to the hazardous working environment surrounding oil and gas extraction. Many of these dangers stem from tension to meet production quotas that tempt oil and gas companies to cut corners. When work is performed under pressure and often in extreme weather conditions, the risks increase exponentially. While OSHA continues to increase its efforts to enforce safety protocols, it can be complicated as many companies in the “upstream” industry sector (including oil and gas refineries, chemical plants, and other high-risk operators) are not necessarily required to comply with all OSHA safety standards. Oil field industry fatalities are often some of the most gruesome because the equipment workers are operating and the chemicals used in the extraction process can be incredibly dangerous. The list of accidents that can occur in the oil field industry is extensive and daunting. Equipment failure, explosions, and unsafe conditions constantly put oil field workers at risk.

The following are some of the most common types of dangerous oil field accidents:

Equipment Failure Accidents

Many oil field drilling sites have extremely large and dangerous equipment that workers must operate to extract the oil. This equipment is required for pulling large pipe, drilling, mixing mud, and many more tasks involved in oil extraction. Because this machinery is so large and heavy, any malfunction or failure can be fatal. This machinery must be well-maintained and inspected before use for workers to be able to do their jobs in a safe manner. Oil field companies must also take the time to properly train their workers on how to use this machinery. Accidents occur when machinery is not properly used, has not been maintained, or malfunctions. Injuries that can occur from equipment failures include dismemberment, being crushed, getting stuck in a machine, broken bones, burns, and even wrongful death.

Fires and Explosions

When working in an oil field, the process used to extract oil and gas can release different types of flammable gases into the air. These can quickly ignite due to the presence of open flames, static electricity, and high-heat machinery, among other triggers. Explosions and fires are especially dangerous because there is so much fuel in the environment with which to create a devastating blaze. With that much fuel in the air, flames can spread quickly and explosions can gain high amounts of energy, making it easy to seriously injure those in the area. Injuries sustained from explosions and fires in an oil field include first-, second-, and third-degree burns, disfigurement, impact injuries, broken bones, loss of limbs, impalement from flying debris, and untimely death.

Hazardous Chemical Releases

Oil field hazards include much more than just explosions or poorly maintained equipment. Many toxic substances are regularly used on worksites during the extraction process. Even though personal protective equipment should be used, some dangerous substances can be accidentally released and put all workers in danger. Some of the toxic chemicals used in the oil field industry include Sulfur Dioxide, Benzene, Nitrogen Oxide, Hydrofluoric Acid, Polycyclic Hydrocarbons, and Petroleum Coke. Many have been shown to cause cancer as well as harm the human immune response. Others have been proven to cause heart disease, severe respiratory damage, or poisoning.

Oil Well Blowouts

During the drilling process, a well blowout can occur that can quickly ignite and injure or kill workers in the surrounding area. A well blowout happens when there is an uncontrolled release of oil while drilling. Usually, a blowout occurs as the result of failing machinery, specifically the malfunction of the pressure control system inside the well. If the oil from a blowout is ignited, the entire oil field is put in danger of explosion.

Hazardous Oil Field Worksite Conditions

A poorly maintained oil field can create a hazardous work environment that can lead to many different types of injuries. Workers may slip, trip, and fall as a result of poor lighting, slippery surfaces, or equipment laying around that has not been put away properly. The ground may also be uneven, as drilling can change the landscape. Workers may also be exposed to open heating elements, machinery that sparks, or other poorly maintained equipment that can cause a serious accident.

What can oil field workers and their families do if they are injured or killed?

Most oil field workers are considered contractors, not employees. They have the right to file a lawsuit against the company that hired them if that company failed to follow standard industry safety protocols or failed to take appropriate steps to prevent workers from being injured or killed. While it may be daunting to think about filing a lawsuit against a big oil and gas company, these companies must be held accountable for the workplace injuries that result from their negligence.

Explosions and fires have drastic consequences, not only for those directly affected but for their friends and family who help pick up the pieces. Medical expenses can quickly pile up, and if you are the sole earner in your household, these additional expenses can be a burden when you already have a number of other financial obligations.

When you call the Ezequiel Reyna, Jr. Law Office for a free consultation, there is no obligation. We want the best for you and your family.

Working in the oil and gas industry is no easy feat, especially for oilfield and rig workers. In addition to the work being physically demanding, the environment surrounding oilfield work is full of potential hazards that could inflict serious, life altering injuries and death to workers. Oil and gas workers trust their lives to the safety measures implemented by their employers. When safety regulations are blatantly ignored and heavy machinery and other workplace materials go without proper service and inspection, the odds of an oil and gas worker suffering a catastrophic accident greatly increase. Being able to identify potential hazards and understand the common causes of oilfield accidents, workers can better mind their surroundings and to call out unsafe jobsite practices.

Sadly, many issues of oil and gas worker safety are either overlooked or simply not taken seriously enough considering the nature of the industry. Like construction, energy industry work comes with a notorious reputation for occupational injury and accidents. While fatal workplace accident statistics clearly paint a picture of occupational dangers, there’s still no excuse for the lack of responsibility oil and gas companies take for = worker safety. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), in just four short years – from 2013 to 2017 – a reported 489 oil and gas extraction workers were killed on the job.

Common Threats to Oil and Gas Worker Safety

Ongoing oil and gas worker injuries and deaths signify much needed and critical room for safety improvements. Oil and gas companies can directly affect workers’ safety and improve conditions by following both state law and federal OSHA guidelines. The following are some of the most common threats to oil and gas worker safety:

Vehicle Collisions. Oil and gas extraction and refining requires the use of vehicles to transport cargo, materials, and workers across Texas and beyond. Not only are vehicles heavily relied on for day-to-day operations, but workers must also often be transported between jobsites and travel accommodations. Because of their frequent use, work vehicles require routine maintenance and inspection, especially when hauling cargo loads. Vehicles with mechanical issues present dangers unknown to drivers until it is too late, causing roadway accidents. Additionally, frequent use of work vehicles should prompt oil and gas companies to rigorously train drivers in safety courses, as well as enforce rules requiring fatigued drivers resting and prohibit the operation of vehicle while intoxicated.

Faulty Equipment and Machinery. Just as heavily utilized motor vehicles require routine maintenance and inspection, so do equipment and heavy machinery. When equipment and machinery malfunctions, the consequences can be catastrophic. Workers rely on equipment and machines properly functioning so they can do their jobs safely. Additionally, machines should be outfitted with proper safeguards that provide a barrier between moving parts and workers.

Fires and Explosions. Due to the sensitive materials and hazardous chemicals frequently used in the various phases of oil and gas extraction and refinement, fires and explosions pose a great danger not only to oilfields, oil rigs, and refineries, but also to the surrounding areas. Chemicals and sensitive materials must be properly stored so they do not interact with each other or with other substances that could cause a powerful reaction.

Lack of Training. While mistakes and human error do happen, employees are not responsible for adequately training themselves for complicated energy industry work. Oil and gas companies should provide employees with quality training specific to not only in the scope of their jobs but also in safety. Training should be provided in a language that all employees understand; and, proper safety and warning signage must be placed throughout the workplace.

Rio Grande Valley Oilfield Injury Attorneys

Oil and gas worksite threats are responsible for hundreds of senseless and preventable worker deaths annually. Just because a person’s occupation is potentially dangerous does not mean they should suffer injury. If you or a loved one has been injured while working in the oil and gas industry, contact the Rio Grande Valley workplace accident attorneys of Ezequiel Reyna Law Office today to discuss your case at no cost. There is limited time to act following a work accident in Texas, so don’t delay.