Fort Worth Oilfield Injury Lawyers Fighting for Oil and Gas Workers

TL;DR (In short): Harper Law Firm represents Fort Worth-area oilfield workers injured on drilling rigs, well sites, and related operations throughout the Permian Basin and other Texas oil fields. While many oilfield workers are limited to workers’ compensation, third-party claims against equipment manufacturers, site owners, and contractor companies can provide full compensation for catastrophic injuries. Our litigation-focused approach maximizes recovery for injured workers.

Fort Worth Oilfield Injuries and Energy Industry Job Site Risks

Fort Worth has emerged as a major corporate headquarters hub for Texas oil and gas operations. Major energy companies maintain offices in the Fort Worth area while their workers travel to drilling sites across West Texas, the Barnett Shale, and other producing regions. This concentration of energy industry employment means thousands of Fort Worth residents work in one of America’s most dangerous industries.

Oilfield work consistently ranks among the deadliest occupations in the United States. Workers face hazards from heavy equipment, high-pressure systems, toxic chemicals, and working conditions that would be unacceptable in other industries. When companies prioritize production over safety, catastrophic injuries and deaths result.

Harper Law Firm provides aggressive legal representation for Fort Worth oilfield workers injured on job sites throughout Texas. We understand that workers’ compensation often provides inadequate compensation for serious injuries, and we work to identify third-party claims that can provide full recovery for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.

Fort Worth’s Connection to Texas Oil and Gas

Corporate Headquarters Hub

Fort Worth and the surrounding area host corporate offices and operational headquarters for numerous oil and gas companies. Major players including Range Resources, BKV Corporation, and various midstream and service companies maintain significant operations in the metroplex.

This corporate concentration means thousands of Fort Worth residents work in the energy industry, many traveling regularly to drilling and production sites across Texas. When injuries occur at distant job sites, workers return to Fort Worth for medical treatment and recovery.

The Barnett Shale

The Barnett Shale formation underlies much of the Fort Worth area, and while drilling activity has decreased from its peak, ongoing production and maintenance operations continue to employ workers throughout the region. Wells throughout Tarrant, Denton, Wise, and Johnson counties require regular servicing.

Closer-to-home job sites in the Barnett Shale create somewhat different injury dynamics than distant Permian Basin operations. Workers injured on local sites can seek treatment immediately rather than facing transport from remote locations.

Permian Basin Operations

Many Fort Worth-area oilfield workers travel to the Permian Basin for rotational work schedules. These workers may spend weeks at a time in Midland, Odessa, or more remote locations before returning home to Fort Worth.

The distance from Fort Worth to West Texas job sites complicates both accident response and legal representation. Workers injured in the Permian Basin need attorneys who understand the logistics of representing clients across this geographic span.

Service and Support Companies

Beyond drilling operations, Fort Worth hosts numerous oilfield service companies including equipment manufacturers, rental companies, transportation providers, and specialized service providers. Workers employed by these companies face hazards throughout the supply chain that supports oil and gas production.

Common Oilfield Accidents and Injuries

Drilling Rig Accidents

Drilling rigs present numerous hazards including rotating equipment, high-pressure systems, and heavy lifting operations. Workers suffer amputations, crush injuries, and fatal accidents when drilling equipment malfunctions or safety protocols fail.

Blowouts, while rare, create catastrophic risks including explosions, fires, and exposure to high-pressure oil and gas releases. These events can injure or kill multiple workers and cause lasting environmental damage.

Well Servicing and Workover Injuries

Well servicing operations that maintain and repair producing wells expose workers to many of the same hazards as initial drilling. Workers handle heavy pipe, operate high-pressure equipment, and work around rotating machinery that can cause severe injuries.

Workover rigs that restore production to declining wells present particular hazards related to working with older equipment and wells that may have unknown problems.

Pipeline and Facility Accidents

Pipelines, processing facilities, and storage installations employ thousands of Texas workers who face hazards from high-pressure systems, toxic chemicals, and explosive atmospheres. Leaks, fires, and explosions at these facilities cause burns, toxic exposures, and traumatic injuries.

Fort Worth’s location along major pipeline corridors means local workers are employed in midstream operations that transport oil and gas from producing regions.

Transportation Accidents

Oilfield operations require constant transportation of equipment, supplies, and personnel. Truck accidents, vehicle collisions, and transportation incidents cause many oilfield worker injuries.

Workers traveling between Fort Worth and West Texas job sites face particular risks from fatigued driving on rural highways and the heavy commercial traffic that characterizes oilfield areas.

Equipment Failures

Defective or poorly maintained equipment causes many oilfield accidents. Pressure relief failures, crane malfunctions, and equipment breakdowns create hazardous situations that injure workers.

The harsh conditions in which oilfield equipment operates – extreme temperatures, corrosive environments, and continuous use – accelerate wear and increase failure risks. When equipment isn’t properly maintained or inspected, failures become more likely.

Oilfield Injuries and Their Effects

Amputations and Crush Injuries

The heavy equipment and machinery used in oilfield operations creates serious crush and amputation hazards. Workers lose fingers, hands, arms, and legs in accidents involving rotating equipment, falling objects, and crushing forces.

These injuries require extensive surgical treatment, prosthetic devices, and rehabilitation. Even with successful treatment, workers face permanent disabilities that affect their ability to work and enjoy life.

Burns and Thermal Injuries

Fires and explosions cause severe burns that require specialized treatment including skin grafts and extended hospital stays. Even less severe burns can cause lasting scarring and functional limitations.

Chemical burns from exposure to oilfield substances add to burn injury risks. Hydrocarbons, drilling fluids, and various chemicals used in oil and gas operations can cause serious skin damage.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

Head injuries from falling objects, vehicle accidents, and explosions cause traumatic brain injuries that affect cognitive function, personality, and physical abilities. These injuries may not be immediately apparent but can have lasting effects.

The remote locations of many oilfield accidents delay access to trauma care, potentially worsening brain injury outcomes. Workers injured at distant sites may face lengthy transport times before reaching hospitals.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Falls, vehicle accidents, and heavy equipment incidents cause spinal cord injuries that result in paralysis. These catastrophic injuries require lifetime care and fundamentally alter workers’ lives.

Toxic Exposures

Oilfield workers face exposure to numerous toxic substances including hydrogen sulfide, benzene, and various drilling chemicals. Acute exposures can cause immediate injury or death, while chronic exposures may cause long-term health effects including cancer.

Going Beyond Workers’ Compensation

Workers’ Compensation Limitations

Texas doesn’t require employers to carry workers’ compensation insurance, and many oilfield companies opt out of the system. Even when coverage exists, workers’ compensation provides limited benefits that rarely fully compensate serious injuries.

Workers’ compensation pays only partial wage replacement and medical expenses, without compensation for pain and suffering or loss of quality of life. For workers with catastrophic injuries, these limitations leave them significantly undercompensated.

Third-Party Claims

Many oilfield accidents involve multiple companies and potential defendants beyond the injured worker’s direct employer. Third-party claims against these parties can provide full compensation without workers’ compensation limitations.

Potential third-party defendants in oilfield cases include equipment manufacturers, well site owners, general contractors, subcontractors, and service companies. Identifying all responsible parties requires thorough investigation of accident circumstances.

Non-Subscriber Employer Claims

When employers opt out of workers’ compensation (non-subscribers), injured workers can sue them directly for negligence without workers’ compensation limitations. These claims can provide full compensation including pain and suffering damages.

Oilfield Liability and Responsible Parties

Drilling Companies and Operators

Well operators who contract for drilling services bear responsibility for overall site safety. They select contractors, establish safety standards, and maintain ultimate control over operations.

Service Companies and Contractors

Numerous service companies provide specialized services at well sites, from cementing and stimulation to wireline and testing services. When these companies operate negligently, they can be held liable for resulting injuries.

Equipment Manufacturers

Defective oilfield equipment causes many accidents. When equipment fails due to design defects, manufacturing problems, or inadequate warnings, manufacturers bear liability for resulting injuries.

Transportation Companies

Companies that transport workers, equipment, and materials face liability when transportation accidents cause injuries. This includes trucking companies, bus operators, and helicopter services.

Federal and State Safety Regulations

OSHA Requirements

Federal OSHA regulations establish baseline safety requirements for oilfield operations. These regulations address hazard communication, personal protective equipment, process safety management, and numerous other areas.

OSHA citations and violations provide evidence of negligence in civil lawsuits. Companies that violate safety regulations demonstrate a failure to protect workers that supports liability claims.

Texas Railroad Commission

The Texas Railroad Commission regulates oil and gas operations throughout the state. Commission rules address drilling safety, well control, and various operational requirements.

Harper Law Firm’s Oilfield Injury Approach

Industry Knowledge

Our attorneys understand oilfield operations, terminology, and hazards. This knowledge allows us to quickly grasp accident circumstances and identify liable parties.

Expert Resources

We work with oilfield safety experts, engineers, and industry consultants who can analyze accidents and testify about safety standards and violations.

Geographic Reach

We represent Fort Worth oilfield workers regardless of where their injuries occurred. Whether accidents happen in the Permian Basin, Eagle Ford Shale, or other Texas producing regions, we have the resources to investigate and litigate effectively.

Contact Fort Worth Oilfield Injury Lawyers Today

If you’ve been injured working in oil and gas operations, you may have claims beyond workers’ compensation that can provide full compensation for your injuries. Harper Law Firm offers free consultations to evaluate your potential claims.

Free Case Evaluation

We’ll review your accident circumstances, explain your legal options, and discuss how third-party claims might supplement your workers’ compensation benefits.

Contact Harper Law Firm today – Fort Worth oilfield injury lawyers fighting for oil and gas workers.