Oilfield Accidents

Oilfield deaths and serious injuries remain a concern in Texas.

Construction work of any kind is risky. In San Antonio and across the state, construction work comes with unique hazards.

• Falls are the leading cause of death in construction. OSHA reports 389 fatal falls to a lower level among 1,034 construction fatalities nationwide in 2024. Source: OSHA.
• Fall protection's general requirements were OSHA's most frequently cited standard in fiscal year 2025. Source: OSHA's most frequently cited standards.
• Construction statistics and oilfield statistics describe different industry groups and should not be treated as interchangeable.

Oilfield workers also face substantial risks of severe injury and death.

Failures to follow safety procedures can contribute to oilfield accidents. Preventable accidents can occur because of negligent conduct, inadequate training or experience, improper maintenance, or equipment failure. The cause of an individual accident must be established through an investigation.

Were you injured in an oilfield accident in Texas? Call Shaw at 866-216-5356 for immediate assistance today.

Despite safety standards and products designed to prevent oilfield accidents, workers continue to suffer serious on-the-job injuries. Hazards and contributing factors can involve:

• Improperly maintained equipment
• Slips and falls
• Defective machinery
• Pipeline hazards
• Exposure to dangerous fumes
• Tank explosions
• Inadequate safeguards
• Poorly trained workers

A CDC study published in 2024 examined 2,101 severe oil and gas extraction injuries reported during January 2015-July 2022 across 32 federal OSHA jurisdictions. These are historical findings, not current nationwide totals. Texas accounted for 1,134 reports, or 54%.

Leading injury sources were:

• Machinery: 633 injuries, 30.1%; construction, logging, and mining machinery accounted for 483, or 23.0% of all injuries.
• Parts and materials: 460 injuries, 21.9%.
• Structures and surfaces: 174 injuries, 8.3%.

Affected body areas were:

• Upper extremities: 895 injuries, 42.6%; hands accounted for 771, or 86.1% of this category.
• Lower extremities: 376 injuries, 17.9%; legs accounted for 254, or 67.6% of this category.
• Multiple body parts: 216 injuries, 10.3%.
• Trunk: 211 injuries, 10.0%.

Oilfield accidents can result in severe injuries or death. An injured worker may be unable to return to work and earn a livelihood, leaving the family facing substantial financial hardship.

The study classified 2,090 injuries, or 99.5%, as traumatic injuries and disorders:

• Open wounds: 740, 35.2%.
• Bone, nerve, or spinal cord trauma: 589, 28.0%.
• Other traumatic injuries and disorders: 307, 14.6%.

Contact with objects and equipment accounted for 60.9% of the study's injuries; slips, trips, and falls accounted for 17.6%.

Don't become another statistic. Call Shaw for your oilfield injury at 866-216-5356.

Oilfield injuries can have lasting consequences for workers and their families.

An immediate investigation is critical to help overcome some of the obstacles in determining liability for your oilfield accident. Having an understanding and knowledge of federal and state regulations governing oilfields is foundational when developing a case against third parties who may be responsible for an accident. It's also essential to have someone who knows how to stand up to the attorneys working for the gas and oil companies.

When you call Shaw, we begin the job of determining what went wrong and who is responsible for the accident. In many cases, numerous contractors and subcontractors are involved at the job site and may carry varying degrees of responsibility.

Our lawyers, investigators, and oilfield experts in San Antonio can assess the accident, begin the process of preserving evidence, and identify and question critical witnesses.

The compensation available depends on the facts and the type of claim. Workers' compensation benefits differ from damages available in a negligence lawsuit. Depending on your case, you may be entitled to benefits or compensation addressing:

• Ambulance costs
• ER treatment
• Surgeries
• Treatment and care for traumatic brain injuries
• Treatment and care for spinal cord injuries
• Disability
• Lost wages
• Loss of earning capacity, where recoverable
• Death benefits or wrongful death damages, where applicable
• Other legally recoverable losses

The oilfield injury lawyers of Carabin Shaw represent injured workers and families of workers killed on oilfield sites in San Antonio and across Texas. We serve clients in cities such as:

• Abilene
• Amarillo
• Austin
• Brownsville
• Corpus Christi
• Dallas/Fort Worth
• El Paso
• Houston

Schedule your free consultation with one of our attorneys today. Call Shaw at 866-216-5356. There is no fee or obligation for the consultation. We put our clients first because we care.

We look forward to serving you.