Overview: 

Oilfields – whether the drilling sites in West Texas, production fields in the Bakken, or refinery complexes on the Gulf Coast – are among the most dangerous industrial work environments. Heavy machinery, high pressures, flammable hydrocarbons, and often grueling work schedules create a potent mix of hazards. When accidents occur in oilfields, they can cause severe injuries or multiple fatalities, and they often result from failures to adhere to safety protocols or maintain equipment. RHC Law is deeply familiar with the oil and gas industry’s operations and regulations. We have represented roustabouts, drillers, frac crew members, truck drivers, and other oilfield workers injured on the job. We understand that oilfield accidents can involve a tangle of companies (operator, drilling contractor, various service companies) and possibly unique legal scenarios (some oilfield employers opt out of workers’ comp in Texas, for example, allowing negligence suits). Our priority is to identify all causes and responsible parties – whether it’s an equipment failure due to poor maintenance by a contractor, or a safety oversight by an operator – and to hold them accountable. We respect the tough jobs oilfield workers do, often far from home under tough conditions, and we are passionate about securing compensation for those hurt while fueling our economy.

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Typical Causes: Oilfield accidents can include:

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Blowouts and Well Control Incidents: Similar to offshore blowouts, on land a well blowout can happen if pressure is not controlled. During drilling or well servicing, failure of a blowout preventer, improper mud weight, or prematurely removing pressure controls can cause a blowout – leading to explosions or fires. Blowouts not only harm rig workers from the blast/fire, but the aftermath (H2S gas release, etc.) can poison workers. Negligence might lie with the drilling contractor for not maintaining BOPs or the operator for pushing speed over safety. We parse daily drilling reports and investigations to see who missed warning signs (increasing gas kicks, etc.).

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Fracking Accidents: Hydraulic fracturing involves high-pressure pumps, chemicals, and lots of equipment. Accidents include high-pressure line failures (hoses or pipes bursting due to improper connections or wear), storage tank explosions (if volatile vapors ignite), or exposure to toxic chemicals. Truck-mounted pumps and blender units also pose risk if not properly operated (e.g., overpressurizing lines). Recently, there have been incidents of sand silo collapses or dust explosions as well.

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We often find that service companies and operators coordinate frack jobs – if a service company’s employee erred (improperly monitoring pressure) or equipment failed (poorly maintained pump), they’re liable. If the site operator didn’t ensure proper site safety (like clear evacuation routes or emergency shutoffs), they share blame.

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Rig or Derrick Collapse: A drilling rig or workover rig’s derrick (mast) can collapse if not properly rigged up, or if a guy line snaps, or overloading beyond design. These collapses cause multiple injuries (falls, crushing). Causes can be improper assembly (crew error, perhaps due to rushing or lack of training), metal fatigue in structure (maintenance failure), or ground instability (maybe the operator didn’t assess soil for the heavy rig). We get engineering experts to examine the broken components to identify the cause – often a bolt failed or was left out, indicating negligence.

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Equipment Failures and Machine Accidents: Oilfields have myriad equipment: rotating drill strings, motors, high torque equipment, and vehicles. Workers can get clothing or limbs caught in rotating parts (like a power take-off shaft with no guard). Heavy equipment like forklifts or cranes on site can tip or drop loads. If a wireline cable snaps while lowering tools, that’s dangerous. A lot of these accidents tie back to lack of guards, lack of lockout/tagout, or just defective equipment.

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We check if OSHA cited the employer for machine guarding or other violations – quite common in oilfield incidents.

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Also, maintenance logs tell if equipment was past due for service. If a third-party mechanic serviced it last, maybe they did so negligently (they become the target).

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Explosions and Fires (Tank Batteries, etc.): Oilfield sites have storage tanks for oil, gas, and produced water. Vapors in storage tanks can ignite if hot work (welding) is done without proper gas testing – sadly common cause of explosions. If a contractor welds on a tank that isn’t fully cleaned, boom – multiple fatalities. Other fire causes: heater-treaters malfunctioning, gas venting near ignition sources, or trucks (like vacuum trucks) causing static sparks during loading. We review industry standards (API guidelines on hot work, etc.) to show violations. Usually there is clear negligence like failing to use a gas detector or get a hot work permit. Those responsible (employer, site operator, contractor performing work) are liable.

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Truck and Transportation Accidents: Oilfield work involves heavy trucking: moving rigs, hauling equipment, water, sand. Long hours and remote roads lead to traffic accidents – a tired truck driver (maybe employed by a service company) might crash into a crew vehicle; or a poorly secured load falls off and causes a wreck. If our client is, say, a crew being shuttled in a company van and driver crashes – employer liable under respondeat superior or direct if overworked driver. If a third-party truck hits our client, standard motor vehicle case plus maybe larger issues like the trucking company violating hours of service or not maintaining brakes (we examine that too to possibly get punitive if gross violation).

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Falls from Heights: Oilfield workers often climb rigs or tanks. Falls can occur if safety harnesses aren’t provided or properly attached. An example: a gauger climbing a tank to measure levels falls due to no guardrails or slippery ladder – the site operator likely negligent. Another: a derrickman falls from the derrick board if safety lines fail. We evaluate if proper fall protection was in place per OSHA (probably not if an accident happened). Fall cases in oilfields frequently lead to serious injury or death, as heights can be significant.

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Exposure to Hazardous Gases: H2S (hydrogen sulfide) is a deadly gas encountered in some wells (“sour gas”). If monitors aren’t used or alarms fail, workers can be overcome and die (one breath of high concentration can kill). Negligence might be on the operator for not providing H2S training/equipment, or the contractor who disabled an alarm, etc. We often see that these incidents were preventable with basic detection and breathing apparatus which weren’t provided. That’s strong evidence under OSHA and API rules which require H2S contingency plans in known sour fields.

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Common Injuries: Oilfield accidents can cause:

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Burns: As with any explosion or fire, severe burns are common – often full-thickness over large body portions. Survivors face grafts, infection risk, and disfigurement. We claim extensive future medical and pain and suffering for these, often consulting life care planners because a burn victim might need multiple surgeries even years down the line (contracture releases, etc.).

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Orthopedic Catastrophes: Crushed limbs from equipment, multiple fractures from falls, amputations from machinery. Many oilfield workers cannot return to heavy labor after such injuries, which is their primary skill, thus we push for vocational rehab costs and lost future income. E.g., a rig hand with a crushed pelvis may never be able to climb or lift as needed, meaning that a high-paying field is closed to him, resulting in huge economic loss over a career.

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Spine Injuries and Paralysis: Falling from a rig, being struck by a pipe – can break the back or neck, potentially severing the spinal cord (paralysis) or at least causing chronic back issues requiring fusions. Spinal cord injuries are life-altering – wheelchair, inability to work, needing home modifications. We have experience quantifying these needs (wheelchair accessible vehicle, home modifications, attendant care) – often millions in lifetime costs.

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Brain Injuries: A common scenario: a blow to the head from a falling tool or pipe can cause severe TBI, especially if no helmet or even with one. Brain injury might leave the person with cognitive deficits such that complex tasks or even independent living is hard. We work with neurologists and neuropsychologists to demonstrate these subtle deficits, as an oilfield worker might “look” fine but be unable to process information well enough to do their job. Another scenario: oxygen deprivation from H2S – can cause brain damage if the victim is revived but the brain was without O2 too long. We ensure neuro evaluation in such cases to catch any impairment.

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Respiratory Illness: In addition to acute injuries, some oilfield exposures can cause long-term lung issues. E.g., inhaling chemicals or silica (frac sand dust) can cause silicosis or other lung disease. While those might manifest later, if we have a client with emerging issues, we might include that. Typically, occupational disease goes through comp unless third-party fault (like a silica supplier not warning of need for dust control – could be product liability). But acute inhalation from a specific event (like gas release) is a direct injury – we claim those medical issues too (reactive airway dysfunction, etc.).

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Psychological Injuries: After major incidents like rig explosions, survivors often have PTSD. Also, a worker who saw coworkers die and had to recover bodies could have trauma. We can recover for the emotional distress of those directly involved (and in some cases even for bystanders if closely related to victims – though maritime law might govern if on navigable waters). We handle the interviews gently to get these stories, but present them firmly to ensure compensation includes mental health.

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Legal Challenges:

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Employer Non-Subscription: In Texas, some oilfield employers opt out of workers’ comp, meaning injured employees can sue them for negligence (they lose common law defenses). If our client’s employer is a non-subscriber, we sue them directly in state court for full damages, which is advantageous (no comp bar, possibly punitive if gross negligence). Many large oilfield service companies do have comp though; if so, we pivot to third-party only. We always explore employer status – checking if they have a comp insurance or if they are a subscriber by law. Non-subscriber cases still require proving negligence, but lack of any comp means these cases carry weight for settlement due to no caps.

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Multiple Contractors and Indemnities: Like offshore, onshore oilfield sites involve operator companies and many contractors (drilling co., fracking co., wireline co., etc.). Contracts often have mutual indemnity (each covers its own employees’ injuries, regardless of fault, to some extent – e.g., under Texas Oilfield Anti-Indemnity Act, they can do so if insured). This affects who we sue – typically we sue the negligent party, and behind the scenes their insurance might get indemnified by employer’s insurance if the contract says so. But for our client, what matters is someone pays. We need to navigate these without prejudicing our client (e.g., sometimes an employer will intervene to assert a lien, or co-defendants will cross-claim indemnity – we manage that litigation without letting it confuse the jury).

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Comparative Fault Arguments: Defendants might claim the injured worker caused or partly caused it (oil companies love to say “he violated safety rules or was improperly trained by his employer, not our fault”). We counter by safety experts showing how overall site safety management by operator or general contractor should have prevented it. Also, non-subscribing employers cannot claim contributory negligence in Texas – so if we sue a non-subscriber employer, they can’t blame the employee (just one example of nuance). In other cases, we reduce comparative fault by highlighting inadequate training or that any mistakes were foreseeable by those in charge. We often have to overcome a “rough and ready” culture defense – sometimes they say the worker knew the risk and did it anyway (assumption of risk is largely abolished in modern law except sometimes for co-employee suits or inherent risk in sports, so we shoot that down).

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Regulatory Investigations: OSHA likely investigates fatalities or serious accidents. Their findings can be powerful – e.g., citations for lack of guardrails or for not following H2S safety standards. 

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We obtain those reports via FOIA and often have the OSHA compliance officer testify (some courts allow OSHA experts to talk about violations, though others limit as it can prejudge negligence – we strategize accordingly). But often defendants will admit to basic facts if OSHA already cited them. Also, state agencies (Railroad Commission for oil in TX, etc.) might have findings if a pollution event or so occurred – we check those too.

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Insurance Disputes and High Damages: Oil companies and contractors usually carry significant insurance, but injuries can produce multi-million needs. We sometimes have to fight for policy limits or find multiple policies (primary, excess). Some may try to split blame and thus insurance contributions. We are diligent in discovery to find all coverage. In catastrophic cases, if insurance is still insufficient, we explore parent company assets, etc., but usually, there’s decent coverage in this industry.

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Venue Battles: Oil companies may try to transfer cases to a more conservative rural venue (if an accident in a rural county), whereas often the injured prefers where they reside or where company HQ is (maybe more urban). We push to keep in the plaintiff's chosen forum if legally allowed. Some contracts have venue clauses (for disputes between contractors, not usually binding on injury suits, but they might attempt).

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Statutes of Limitation and Notice: One must also consider if any government entity is involved (rare in oilfields, but possibly if an accident occurs on government land? Usually not, land is private or state-owned but leased – rarely an issue). Standard 2-year limit for personal injury in TX for example, which we abide by. If a product defect, product manufacturers might argue for sealing some evidence – we fight to do robust discovery. We also ensure to secure evidence quickly (e.g., request to preserve a broken part or scene – though often after immediate investigation it might be cleaned up; we coordinate with OSHA or do our own site inspection ASAP).

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Potentially Liable Parties:

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Well/Lease Operator: Usually the oil company that owns the well or lease, who often coordinates multiple contractors. They owe overall site safety perhaps, and have their “company man” on site making some decisions. We sue them if they had any contributory role (lack of oversight, scheduling that led to hazard, providing faulty equipment, etc.). Even if they try to push blame to contractors, juries often include them if they didn’t enforce safety at their site.

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Contractors (Drilling, Frac, etc.): The employer of the injured (if non-subscriber or if third-party to another) and any other contractor whose employees’ negligence or equipment caused the accident. E.g., if a drilling contractor employee is hurt by a wireline crew’s mistake, the wireline company is the key defendant. If a fracking pump explodes injuring a drilling crew member, the frack company is the defendant. We cast net to anyone directly involved.

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Non-Subscribers: If the injured worker’s employer opted out of comp (like some drilling contractors do), we sue them directly for negligence. They can’t blame workers or coworkers as defense. We just show any employer negligence (lack of training, rushing job, equipment failure, etc.). We also might then forgo suing the operator if evidence is more on the employer – but often both have some fault so we do both and let them sort contributory fault at trial.

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Equipment Manufacturers: Could be heavy equipment like drilling rig manufacturer, BOP manufacturer, chemical supplier (if mislabeled acid that hurt someone), or vehicle manufacturer (if vehicle defect contributed to a crash). Many times, negligence covers it, but if a product clearly fails, we add product liability to maximize sources.

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Trucking Companies: If our client was e.g. driving on site or on highway and a contracted hauler’s truck caused an accident (commute to remote sites often involve company buses or third-party transport). Those can be separate suits or combined if related to work scenarios.

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Property Owners: If, say, an accident partly due to property condition (not common – usually the operator is effectively controlling property). If an outside landlord owned land and something like an unsafe access road caused an accident, maybe they – seldom needed.

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Insurance Carriers (Bad Faith): If dealing with a subscriber employer under comp, we can’t sue them but sometimes there is an angle to sue their insurer for third-party claim if they had some involvement (rare). Or if a non-subscriber tries to lowball, possible Stowers demand issues. But mostly, we go after the main negligent players.

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In all oilfield cases, RHC Law stands ready with knowledge of the industry and passion to advocate for injured workers. We’re not afraid to face oil giants or their legal teams; our track record shows we can succeed by carefully investigating, leveraging safety regulations, and crafting a compelling case for our clients. Your fight is our fight, and that’s as true in the oil patch as anywhere else.

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