Transportation accidents are the most common cause of fatal workplace injuries in the oil and gas extraction industries. This type of accident was responsible for causing close to 50 percent of the industry’s workplace fatalities in 2011. The next most common type of accident involves workers being struck by an object or piece of equipment, resulting in 26 fatalities in 2011 alone. Fires and explosions led to another 12 fatalities during this period of time. It is not uncommon to see more than one worker sustaining fatal injuries in these types of accidents.
The most common non-fatal injuries in the oil industry include:
- Lacerations
- Fractures and broken bones
- Burns
- Internal or external chemical burns
- Whiplash or other neck injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Concussions
- Brain injuries
- Paralysis
Oil Industry Accident and Injury Statistics
The oil and gas industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the nation. With more workers on the job comes more risk for injury. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the oil and gas extraction industries account for approximately 70 percent of all mining industry fatalities. This breaks down to 155 fatal occupational injuries in 2011, with 112 coming from the oil and gas industries.
In 2011, the Texas oil and gas industry employed 225,496 workers. In addition to having the highest number of employees working in these particular fields, Texas also recorded the most occupational fatalities for the oil and gas industry.
During this same year, the oil and gas industry also saw approximately 12,500 non-fatal injuries. The most common types of non-fatal workplace injuries involved accidents where the victim was struck by an object or caught between objects, in a piece of equipment or by worksite material.
Does workers’ compensation cover injuries sustained in oil industry accidents?
Most oil industry workers who are injured during the course of their jobs will be eligible to seek benefits by filing a claim with their employer’s workers’ compensation insurance policy. Workers’ comp benefits pay for medical treatments, rehabilitation, as well a percentage of loss of income. Individuals who work on oil rigs may qualify to pursue additional compensation, particularly in cases where the accident and injuries sustained can be attributed to negligence. Families who lose loved ones in oil rig accidents may also be eligible to receive compensation in a wrongful death claim.
As an employee, you have the right to be compensated if you are injured while working on the job, especially in a high-risk profession such as the oil industry. In many cases, a third party can be held liable for acts of negligence, and there are frequently other legal avenues through which compensation can be pursued beyond worker’s comp benefits.
How the Workers’ Compensation process works in Texas
The Texas workers’ compensation program provides compensation to individuals who are injured or fall ill while working on the job. This type of insurance pays for a percentage of the injured employee’s lost income during the course of recovery, as well as paying the costs of medical care and treatment. To file a claim with Workers’ Comp an employee simply needs to:
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- Report the injury to his or her employer within 30 days of the accident, or from the time the employee became aware that the injury or illness is job-related. Failure to provide proper notification could result in the denial of benefits.
- Fill out and send in DWC Form-041, Employee’s Claim for Compensation for a Work-Related Injury or Occupational Disease to the Workers’ Comp Division of the Texas Department of Insurance.
Sources:
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: //www.bls.gov/iif/oshwc/cfoi/osar0018.htm
- Texas Department of Insurance: //www.tdi.texas.gov/wc/employee/
CONTACT HERRMAN & HERRMAN IF YOU HAVE BEEN INJURED IN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF ACCIDENTS:
Our Texas personal injury lawyers help clients who have suffered injuries in various accidents.We can help you if you have been harmed by the following:
- Car accidents – Our lawyers have extensive experience handling car accident cases. We will work to identify the party or parties at fault for the crash and build a case to demonstrate persuasively how the parties caused the accident and your injuries. We will seek fair and full compensation through a negotiated settlement or at trial if necessary.
- Truck accidents – Thousands of large commercial trucks travel the roads of Texas every single day. Unfortunately, careless truck drivers and trucking companies disregarding safety put innocent people at risk of serious injuries. If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, let our experienced Texas personal injury lawyers stand up to the trucking companies and insurers on your behalf.
- Motorcycle accidents – Motorcycle riders often suffer grievous injuries in crashes caused by other motorists. Too many motorcycle accidents in Corpus Christi are caused by careless drivers who don’t look for motorcycle riders or violate their right of way. Our personal injury lawyers will work to cut through the bias and stigma against motorcycle riders. Our goal is to seek the financial compensation that you’ll need to recover from a serious motorcycle accident and injuries such as bone fractures, road rash, or traumatic brain injury.
- Product liability – Product manufacturers have a legal obligation to make products that are safe for their intended uses and to warn consumers of any risks that may come with the product. When products have design or manufacturing defects or undisclosed dangers, the product manufacturer may be legally responsible for injuries suffered by consumers. Our attorneys can help you evaluate whether you have a valid product liability claim.
- Brain injury – Brain injuries can leave accident victims with disabilities that leave them unable to work or perform many tasks of daily living. Seeking compensation for a brain injury in an accident often proves incredibly complex. The brain injury survivor may seek compensation for anticipated future medical care and the medical care already provided. Our personal injury lawyers can help you through the difficult recovery process following a brain injury and will fight to make sure you have the resources you need.
- Spinal injury – Spinal cord injuries could cost millions of dollars of care over the course of the victim’s lifetime, especially when those injuries result in partial or complete paralysis, such as paraplegia or quadriplegia. If you or your loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury, you deserve compassionate legal representation. Our attorney can help you determine whether you may be entitled to claim compensation for your injury and expenses related to living with the disability, such as making a home more accessible.
- Wrongful death – If you have lost a loved one due to the negligent or reckless actions of another party, your family deserves to seek accountability and compensation from those at fault for the wrongful death. Our caring and dedicated attorneys can help guide you and your family through this difficult and painful time and seek justice for your loved one.
ABOUT HERRMAN & HERRMAN PERSONAL INJURY LAWYERS
With over 100 years of combined experience among the legal team of Herrman & Herrman, P.L.L.C., our Texas personal injury attorneys have successfully resolved over 20,000 cases. When representing injured Texas residents, we fight for justice against wrongdoing and aggressively pursue the best resolution to complex personal injury claims.If you or a loved one was injured, please get in touch with us for a free initial consultation and case evaluation. Herrman & Herrman, P.L.L.C., is a locally based law firm that holds negligent individuals and companies accountable for their wrongdoing. We are not a personal injury mill that advertises nationwide. We provide individualized advocacy in attending to all aspects of claims that involve. Our firm has offices in the following locations: Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi South Side, Dallas, Brownsville, McAllen, San Antonio, Austin, Houston, and Ft. Worth, TX.We remain by our client’s side, handling all aspects of their claims and attending to all legal, medical, and financial needs. That dedication combines experience, legal knowledge, and insight from a former insurance adjuster and several former insurance defense attorneys. Whether our clients suffer from physical pain from an accident or the emotional grief of death, we treat clients with compassion. We put their mind at ease during difficult times by answering their questions concerning the length of their claim, medical bills, financial compensation, and their overall need for a lawyer.Check out some of our other blogs!
