Injured on a Texas Oil Rig? Morgan & Morgan’s Texas Oil Rig Accident Lawyers Are Here to Help
Key Takeaways
- Texas oil rig accidents are uniquely dangerous, with high rates of explosions, equipment failures, vehicle crashes, and toxic-gas exposure, and injuries often require long-term medical care and financial support.
- Multiple parties may be liable, including rig operators, contractors, transport companies, and equipment manufacturers. In Texas, many employers are also non-subscribers, meaning injured workers may have the right to sue them directly.
- Compensation can cover medical bills, lost income, pain, disability, retraining, wrongful death, and sometimes punitive damages. Offshore workers may also qualify for extra maritime and Jones Act benefits.
- Morgan & Morgan’s Texas attorneys know the oilfield, with deep experience handling onshore and offshore rig accidents, identifying every responsible party, and fighting powerful oil companies to recover the compensation workers deserve.
Injured?
Texas is the energy capital of the United States, and with thousands of active drilling sites, refineries, and offshore platforms in the Gulf of Mexico, it’s also home to some of the most dangerous working conditions in the country. Onshore or offshore, a single failure on a Texas rig can cost a worker their career, their health, or their life.
If you’ve been injured or lost a loved one in a Texas oil-rig accident, you have the right to pursue meaningful compensation. Morgan & Morgan’s Texas attorneys are here to fight For the People, not the powerful companies behind these operations.
What to Do Immediately if You’re Injured on a Rig in Texas
The moments after a rig accident are critical. Here’s what to do to protect your health and your legal rights:
- Get immediate medical attention. Your safety comes first. Texas employers may try to steer you to their preferred doctors, but you have the right to your own medical evaluation.
- Preserve evidence. Take photos or videos of:
- The accident scene
- Faulty equipment
- Your injuries
- Weather conditions
- Any unsafe or out-of-compliance practices
- Report the accident and document everything. Under Texas law, timely reporting matters. Make sure the incident is officially recorded.
- Don’t give recorded statements to the company or its insurer. Texas oil and gas companies often have aggressive legal teams. They may try to use your statements against you.
- Contact Morgan & Morgan for a free case evaluation. Our Texas injury attorneys will walk you through your options, identify liable parties, and help protect your rights from day one.
Why Oil Rig Work in Texas Is Especially Dangerous
Texas leads the nation in oil and gas production, and unfortunately, in oil-and-gas worker injuries and fatalities as well.
Texas rig workers face unique risks, including:
Explosions & Fires
Texas has seen some of the worst rig and refinery explosions in the nation. A single spark near drilling mud, gas pockets, or volatile chemicals can be catastrophic.
Defective or Poorly Maintained Equipment
Drilling machinery, derricks, blowout preventers, pumps, and heavy pipe-handling equipment must meet strict standards. In Texas, fast-paced production schedules can mean shortcuts and life-altering accidents.
Vehicle & Transport Crashes
The Permian Basin has some of the deadliest roads in the U.S., largely due to heavy oilfield traffic, fatigue, and 24/7 operations.
Slips, Trips & Falls
Slick floors, elevated walkways, and fast-moving operations make falls one of the most common sources of serious injury.
Chemical Exposure & Toxic Gas Events
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) poisoning is a known industry killer in Texas, as are drilling-fluid burns and chemical inhalation.
Extreme Weather & Fatigue
Texas heat, Gulf storms, long shifts, and understaffing all amplify worker risk.
Even industry reporting shows hundreds of recordable oil-and-gas injuries in Texas annually and many more that go unreported.
Common Oil Rig Injuries and Their Long-Term Impact
Texas rig accidents often result in:
- Severe burns and smoke inhalation
- Crushing injuries and amputations
- Traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries
- Chemical exposure illnesses
- Vision and hearing loss
- Chronic pain, PTSD, and long-term disability
These injuries can require lifelong treatment, prevent workers from returning to the fields, and place massive financial strain on families, which is why legal representation matters.
What Compensation Is Available for a Texas Oil Rig Injury?
Texas workers injured on rigs may be entitled to significant compensation depending on the nature of the accident and who is responsible.
You may be able to recover:
1. Medical Expenses (Past, Current & Future)
Including surgeries, hospitalization, rehab, medication, and long-term treatment. Texas oil-rig injuries often require lifelong care.
2. Lost Wages & Lost Earning Capacity
If your injury prevents you from returning to the oilfield or reduces your earning power, you may claim the wages and future opportunities you’ve lost.
3. Pain and Suffering
Compensating for physical pain, emotional distress, PTSD, loss of enjoyment of life, and long-term impairment.
4. Permanent Disability & Disfigurement
Especially common with burn injuries, crush injuries, and catastrophic machinery accidents.
5. Vocational Rehabilitation
If you can’t return to oilfield work, you may qualify for retraining or job-placement assistance.
6. Wrongful Death Damages
For families who have lost a loved one in a Texas rig accident, compensation may include:
- Funeral expenses
- Lost income and support
- Loss of companionship
- Mental anguish
7. Punitive Damages (Available Under Texas Law)
If a company acted with gross negligence, such as failing to maintain equipment or ignoring safety regulations, Texas law allows for punitive damages to punish wrongful conduct.
8. Maritime & Jones Act Benefits (For Gulf of Mexico Offshore Workers)
Offshore injuries may qualify for:
- Maintenance & Cure
- Jones Act negligence claims
- Unseaworthiness claims
Texas offshore workers often have rights beyond standard workers’ compensation.
Who Can Be Held Responsible in a Texas Oil Rig Accident?
Multiple parties may share liability, including:
- Rig owners
- Oil & gas companies
- Equipment manufacturers
- Third-party contractors
- Trucking and transport companies
- Maintenance providers
- Safety and compliance contractors
Texas oilfield jobs often involve overlapping corporate responsibilities, and identifying every liable party is key to maximizing compensation.
Can I Sue if I’m Covered by Workers’ Compensation in Texas?
Maybe, and this is important.
Texas is the only state that allows employers to opt out of workers’ compensation, meaning that your employer may be a non-subscriber, allowing you to sue them directly. Even if you do have workers’ comp, you may still have third-party claims against contractors, manufacturers, or others whose negligence contributed to your injury.
Morgan & Morgan’s Texas attorneys can identify every possible avenue for recovery.
How Morgan & Morgan Can Help Texas Oil Rig Workers
Morgan & Morgan has built its reputation on standing up for everyday people against powerful corporations, something especially important in the Texas oil and gas industry.
With over 35 years of experience and more than 1,000 lawyers nationwide, we are the largest injury firm in America, fighting for workers across Texas, including the Permian Basin, Houston, Midland/Odessa, San Antonio, Dallas/Fort Worth, Corpus Christi, and the Gulf Coast.
Our team has deep experience with Texas oilfield and offshore injury cases, as well as knowledge of Texas non-subscriber law, OSHA violations, and maritime regulations.
We fight for the maximum compensation you are legally entitled to, not the lowball settlement the oil company or its insurer wants you to accept.
Contact Morgan & Morgan’s Texas Oil Rig Accident Lawyers
If you were hurt on a Texas rig, onshore or offshore, you don’t have to take on billion-dollar oil companies alone.
Hiring a Morgan & Morgan attorney is easy, and it starts with a free, no-risk case evaluation.
Injured? Getting the compensation you deserve starts here.
