What to Do If You Suffer a Crush Injuries Working on a Texas Oilfield

One moment, you’re going about your daily duties as a roughneck in the oil patch, next thing you know, your arm is crushed between unyielding metal surfaces. The pain is excruciating. Oilfield crush injuries are a harsh reality for many workers in the oil and gas industry, leaving them grappling with physical trauma and an uncertain future.

At Terry & Thweatt, P.C., our oilfield injury lawyer has witnessed firsthand how devastating these types of injuries can be on these professionals and their families. Working in the oilfields can be dangerous, but all employees deserve to be fairly compensated when they’re hurt on the job. Allow us to guide you through this challenging process.

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Serious Crush Injuries on Oilfields Explained Simply

With much of South and West Texas covered by the oil-rich Eagleford Shale and Permian Basin, it’s home to a significant number of oilfield workers. Unfortunately, like many other Texas oilfields, it’s the site of many workplace accidents. Crush injuries are among the most common.

A crush injury occurs when a part of your body is caught between two heavy objects or surfaces. The trapped area—usually an arm or a leg, though any part of the body can be affected—suffers severe damage. In an oilfield, a worker’s forearm could get pinned between heavy machinery, for instance. The force damages bones, tears muscles, and mangles nerves. Many of our clients suffer bruising, bleeding, fractures, and even limb loss in extreme cases. There’s also the risk of infection that causes further health complications.

Crush injuries often cause long-term disability, dramatically affecting your ability to work, as well as your ability to enjoy life. Most people require long recovery periods, sometimes involving months of rehabilitation and physical therapy. Unfortunately, some crush injuries are also fatal.

How Texas Oilfield Crush Injuries Happen

There are many inherent health risks to working in a Texas oilfield. Workers deal with invisible airborne threats like hydrogen sulfide, which is known to cause respiratory problems. They may also experience hearing loss from constant exposure to loud noises.

While employers are expected to take reasonable precautions to provide a safe environment, workplace accidents still happen. Possible causes of oilfield crush injuries may include:

Falling equipment or heavy materials
Getting caught between machinery and/or structures
Inadequate safety training and unsafe equipment operation
Equipment failure due to lack of repairs or maintenance
Human error caused by excessive fatigue or overconfidence
Vehicle crashes
Equipment accidents involving cranes, pipes, and other tools
Poor communication or coordination between workers

Protect Your Legal Rights to Fair Compensation

The financial burden created by an oilfield injury is difficult to handle. At Terry & Thweatt, P.C., our skilled attorneys help you explore the various options for possible recourse and take the necessary steps to safeguard your legal rights to payment.

Workers’ Compensation Claim

Under most circumstances, Texas employers have immunity from most negligence-based personal injury claims involving their staff. Instead, injured employees must turn to their workers’ compensation insurance coverage for compensation. As of 2024, the maximum weekly income benefit is $1,174.

While the policy typically covers medical expenses and vocational rehabilitation, it doesn’t cover non-economic damages. If your employer doesn’t have workers’ comp coverage, or you were working as an independent contractor, you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against them for damages.

Filing a Third-Party Lawsuit

If other parties are to blame, even partially, for causing the oilfield accident, you may file a third-party liability claim. For instance, you may be able to sue manufacturers for defective equipment. You may also sue oilfield contractors if their negligence caused the accident.

Steps to Take After an Oilfield Crush Accident

According to our Houston oilfield injury lawyer, to improve your chances of recovery, follow these key steps:

Seek emergency medical attention.
Report the accident to your supervisor within 30 days.
Request a copy of the incident report.
Preserve relevant evidence, like photos, witness statements, and medical records.
Decline making a recorded statement to insurance or workers’ comp adjusters without legal counsel.
Speak with an experienced oilfield accident lawyer.
File an injury claim within two years of the accident.
Negotiate for a fair settlement with the guidance of your attorney.

Possible Recoverable Damages in an Injury Claim

The total damages you may recover from an oilfield accident can be significant. Our team conducts a thorough investigation of the incident and the actions of all potentially liable parties to determine the value of your claim. You may be able to recover:

Medical expenses, like hospitalization and surgery
Ongoing medical care, such as rehabilitation and physical therapy
Lost wages from time taken off work due to the injury
Reduced future income as the result of permanent disabilities
Damage to any personal property involved in the accident
Pain, suffering, and emotional distress
Reduced quality of life
Funeral and burial expenses in wrongful death cases
Punitive damages in extreme cases

Seven-Figure Settlements for Fatal Oilfield Accidents

The complex landscape of the Texas oil industry and its workplace standards make it difficult to seek fair compensation for your crush injuries. It’s not a process that the average worker should try to manage on their own. At Terry & Thweatt, we offer years of experience handling catastrophic injury cases just like these.

For example, attorneys Joe Terry and Lee Thweatt represented the family of a floorhand who was crushed to death while working on an oil rig in Yoakum County, Texas. A traveling block fell from the oil derrick. After 30 depositions and several mediations, we secured a settlement of over $1.3 million for a portion of the victim’s family. Of course, this action can’t begin to fully compensate them for their loss, but at least it provided some element of justice and security for the future.

Contact Our Oilfield Injury Lawyer in Houston for a Free Case Evaluation

If you or your loved one suffered crush injuries while working on a rig in Eagle Ford Shale, Permian Basin or the surrounding areas, our Houston oilfield injury lawyer can help you and your family recover financially.