• March 13, 2019
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What damages can I seek if my loved one was killed in an oil rig accident in Texas?

In January, an oil rig explosion killed five workers in Oklahoma.  Survivors reported hearing a loud boom and seeing fire. They fled, but the five workers closest to the explosion died and several others were seriously injured.  Now, months after the accident, a third wrongful death claim has been filed against the oil and drilling company responsible for the rig. For Texas oil workers, the Oklahoma accident is a harsh reminder of the potential dangers of the field.  Our Houston, Texas personal injury lawyers explore oil rig explosion statistics and the rights of the family members of employees killed in these horrific accidents.

Oil Rig Accident Statistics

Oil is big business in Texas, and while working in the oil and gas industry can be profitable, it also comes with risks.  Between the years 2003 and 2013, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 1,189 oil and gas extraction employees died while on the job.  This equates to over 100 deaths per year. Some of the largest oil rig explosions have occurred in the Gulf of Mexico, including the Usumacinta Jack-up disaster and the Deepwater Horizon explosion.

While oil rig explosions garner the most national attention, there are several other types of accidents that injure and kill oil industry employees each year.  The most common oil industry accident is in fact driving. Oil workers spend significant time on the highway and accidents often occur. Oil industry employees also face injuries or death due to machine related accidents and illnesses from chemical exposure.

Wrongful Death Claims Against the Oil Company

Texas law allows the family members of those killed in an oil related accident to seek compensation from the negligent company responsible for their loved one’s death in a wrongful death lawsuit.  Damages in a wrongful death lawsuit are intended to compensate the family members of the individual who was wrongly killed for their losses, which could include: