Texas Oil Field Accidents and Injuries by the Numbers

In West Texas, Pecossits at the crossroads of Interstate-20 and state route 285, a road that has been called “Death Highway” by locals due to the number of fatalities involving commercial trucks going to and from oil fields. Vehicle accidents are only one of the many dangers facing workers in the oil and gas industries, though.

The Pecos oil field accident lawyers at Carabin Shaw have a great deal of experience representing oilfield workers that have been injured by accidents on the job. Our lawyers pride themselves on advocating for the rights of workers, and we’d be happy to speak with you about the details of your claim.

Pecos and the surrounding Permian Basin had nearly 500 drilling rigs in operation as of December 2018—more than half of the nation’s total. In 2018, these rigs employed 170,600 operators. Over roughly the past ten years, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited oil and gas companies nation-wide for over 10,000 safety violations. More than half of these were labelled “serious” violations, meaning they could very well lead to catastrophic injuries or fatalities.

The dangers in oilfields are real, and the results for workers and their families can be catastrophic. For that reason, our Pecos accident lawyers firmly believe that worker safety should always be priority number one. It is a step in the right direction to see that OSHA is studying common oilfield accidents including slip and fall, struck-by, caught-in/between, electrocution, and heat illness hazard. Heavy equipment failures, explosions and fires, and well blowouts are other common accidents.

Pecos oil field accident lawyers on our staff routinely study Texas oil field accidents and injuries by the numbers, and the available studies and statistics paint a sobering picture. E&E News reports that the oil and gas industry has one of the highest rates of serious injuries in any profession in America, if not the highest. In 2015-2016, there were 349 severe injuries reported by oil and gas workers for a rate of 148.9 injuries per every 100,000 workers.

And it is relatively common knowledge among attorneys that some companies are not always diligent and forthright in reporting worker injuries. Some companies support a workplace culture in which workers may be actively discouraged from reporting their injuries, further endangering workers and hindering their rights to certain forms of compensation.

Amputation is a common injury experienced by oilfield workers, most often fingers or fingertips. Other injuries that our lawyers routinely deal with include broken bones, concussions, burns, torn ligaments and tendons, as well as neck and back injuries. Any of these can have a lasting negative impact, and hinder one’s ability to earn a livelihood.

Texas oil field injury attorneys know that the energy sector along with state and federal regulatory bodies could do much more to prioritize the lives and safety of oilfield workers.

Much of this work will require making safety protocols, oversight, and reporting requirements more robust.

Oilfield workers perform some of the riskiest labor in America—the statistics make it very clear. However, the Pecos accident lawyers on our staff know that the numbers don’t tell the whole story, so we always treat our clients like individuals with unique circumstances. You can expect a personal touch with our firm.

As a team of Pecos oil field accident lawyers, we’ve helped many clients like you win the rightful compensation they deserve and desperately need in order to recover from their losses. If you’ve been injured in oilfields of Pecos, don’t hesitate to contact the attorneys at Carabin Shaw for a free initial phone consultation. It could be one of the most important calls you ever make. Call us today at 915-779-2301.