Drilling Rig Accidents | Midland Oilfield Injury Attorneys

Carabin Shaw has represented injured oil field workers for over 30 years in South Texas and the Permian Basin. Our oil field accident lawyer has won fair compensation for injured oil rig and field workers. Our personal injury lawyers strive to get maximum compensation for Broken Bones, Hazardous Chemical Burns, Crush Injuries, Spinal Court Injuries, Neck Injuries, and Traumatic Brain Injuries.

The causes of these severe injuries are multifold.

• Slips, Trips, and Falls: Oil fields can be slippery due to oil and other substances, leading to slips, trips, and falls. Uneven surfaces, debris, and inadequate lighting can also contribute to these accidents.
• Equipment Malfunction: Malfunctioning or poorly maintained equipment, such as drilling rigs, pumps, and machinery, can cause serious injuries. Lack of regular maintenance and inspections can lead to equipment failure.
• Fires and Explosions: Flammable materials such as oil and gas increase the risk of fires and explosions. Ignition sources, equipment failure, and human error can all contribute to these incidents.
• Vehicle Accidents: Oil field workers often use vehicles to transport equipment and personnel. Collisions, rollovers, and other vehicle-related accidents can occur due to fatigue, inattentiveness, or hazardous road conditions.
• Falling Objects: Working at heights or near elevated structures exposes workers to the risk of falling objects. Tools, equipment, and materials can fall and cause serious injuries if proper safety measures are not followed.
• Exposure to Harmful Substances: Oil field workers may be exposed to harmful substances such as chemicals, gases, and fumes. Prolonged exposure or inadequate protective equipment can lead to health issues.
• Struck-By Accidents: Workers can be struck by moving equipment, vehicles, or objects. Failure to use warning signs, inadequate training, or poor communication can contribute to these accidents.
• Overexertion: The physical demands of working in an oil field, such as lifting heavy objects, can lead to overexertion injuries. Inadequate rest periods and improper lifting techniques can increase the risk.
• Confined Space Incidents: Working in confined spaces, such as tanks or vessels, can pose risks such as suffocation, toxic exposure, or entrapment. Failure to follow safety protocols can result in accidents.
• Lack of Training and Safety Procedures: Inadequate training, lack of knowledge about safety procedures, or failure to follow established protocols can contribute to accidents and injuries in oil fields.
• Weather Conditions: Extreme weather conditions, such as high winds, storms, or icy conditions, can increase the risk of accidents, especially for workers operating outdoors or at heights.
• Fatigue and Stress: Long working hours, irregular shifts, and demanding work conditions can lead to fatigue and stress, increasing the likelihood of accidents and injuries.
• Human Error: Mistakes or errors in judgment by workers, supervisors, or management can contribute to accidents in oil fields. Lack of communication or complacency can also play a role.

Inadequate Safety Culture: A lack of emphasis on safety, insufficient safety training, or a culture that prioritizes production over safety can increase the risk of accidents and injuries in oil fields.

As Midland's oil and gas industry has grown, so has the yearly number of oilfield accidents. The Permian Basin is often considered to be the heart of the American oil industry and is responsible for approximately one-third of our country's oil production. Although the Basin provides employment and prosperity to local residents, its growth also contributes to a rise in drilling rig accidents in Midland.

If you or a loved one has been injured working at the oilfield and are considering hiring a Midland oilfield injury lawyer, then our Midland accident attorneys at Carabin Shaw are here to give you the information you need to get started. Read on to learn more about drilling rig accidents in Midland and what you should do if you've been hurt on the job.

The Permian Oil Boom According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the 75,000 square mile Permian Basin generated an average of 3.9 million barrels of crude oil per day. A recent TIME Magazine story on the Basin notes that the Permian has resulted in a "windfall" of oil that has helped America move from depending on foreign oil to becoming the world's largest producer of crude oil in only a handful of years and noted that this windfall is expected to continue for years to come.

But despite all of the good things this current oil boom has done for our country, it also means that oilfield injuries are on the rise.

Because the Midland area's oil industry has grown so rapidly in such a short period, the oilfields are now expanding faster than the city's infrastructure. Roads not designed for large commercial vehicles are now traversed by hundreds of eighteen-wheelers daily. These trucks haul oilfield equipment to and from job sites, making the highways much more dangerous for everyone and increasing traffic fatalities. In 2017 alone, there were 1,457 serious accidents in the Basin. Between 2008 and 2017, a staggering 1,566 oilfield workers across the industry died on the job, with many of these deaths occurring in the Basin.

At that time, the Permian Basin had 489 operational drilling rigs. That's more than half of the United States' drilling rigs. And worst of all, the upstream oil industry is still exempt from key OSHA safety regulations. These factors are contributing to making an already inherently dangerous industry even scarier for its employees.

You Need Our Oil Field Injury Lawyer If you've been hurt on the job, call our office as soon as possible to determine your rights and options for your personal injury compensation claim. Our lawyer can help you file a personal injury lawsuit to get your life back on track after your workplace injury, and we can help you get the compensation you deserve.

Here at Carabin Shaw, our Midland accident attorneys have a combined 200 years of legal experience. Our attorneys have over three decades of experience handling oilfield injury claims, meaning we have the experience and the know-how to handle these complex and difficult cases. At Carabin Shaw, we believe that negligent oil companies must be held accountable whenever workers are injured. If you decide to entrust us with your case, we will fight for you tirelessly to get you the settlement you deserve.

To find out what we can do for you, contact an attorney at Carabin Shaw today. We offer all new clients a no-cost, no-obligation initial consultation with an attorney, so you have nothing to lose by giving us a call to start your personal injury claim. For free consultation with a qualified Midland oilfield injury lawyer, contact our office at 432-620-0544.

Visits with the Attorney are by appointment only. Main office San Antonio, Texas.