Houston Platform Accident Injury Lawyer

Working on an oil rig is dangerous, but companies are still responsible for offering a safe working environment. But accidents happen all too often.

Being injured on a platform or oil rig can be devastating, and you can be out of work and cannot enjoy life. The Houston platform accident and injury lawyers at Suits & Boots Accident Injury Lawyers are here to help. You can receive compensation in a personal injury claim or lawsuit and recover compensation for your injuries and losses.

Why Choose Us? 

The Houston platform accident and injury lawyers at Suits & Boots Accident Injury Lawyers have the knowledge, experience, and resources to handle oil rig accidents and obtain favorable case results.

Our Houston platform accident and injury attorneys have obtained many favorable settlements and jury awards for our many satisfied clients. We also have high ratings from our personal injury attorneys, and many testimonials attest to our skill and results.

Suits & Boots Accident Injury Lawyers are standing by. Please call our attorneys today for a free consultation.

Compensation In Houston Platform Accident Claim 

What is a Houston oil platform claim worth? The amount of compensation you might receive depends heavily on the specifics of the incident, the injuries sustained, and the legal framework that applies.

Oil platforms are inherently risky workplaces, and accidents can result in serious injuries due to factors like heavy machinery, flammable materials, or high elevations. If you’ve suffered an injury on an oil platform, here’s an idea of potential compensation:

Medical Expenses

First, compensation typically falls into a few categories. If the injury is severe, you can seek coverage for medical expenses, such as hospital stays, surgeries, medications, or ongoing rehab.

Lost Earnings And Earning Capacity 

Then there’s lost earnings, which kicks in if you cannot work for a while or even permanently. If the accident messes with your ability to earn what you used to, you might also claim a loss of earning capacity.

Pain And Suffering

Other damages beyond what is easy to calculate, such as pain and suffering, are subjective but account for the physical and emotional toll. In some cases, if negligence was egregious, punitive damages might come into play to punish the responsible party, though that’s less common and depends on proving serious misconduct.

Legal Paths

The legal route matters, too. If you’re a worker on an offshore platform in the U.S., laws like the Jones Act might apply if you qualify as a “seaman,” allowing you to sue your employer for negligence.

Also, the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act can cover you if you’re on a fixed platform, providing benefits without needing to prove fault. However, it limits you from suing your employer directly.

Suppose a third party, like an equipment manufacturer or contractor, caused the accident. In that case, you can pursue a personal injury claim against them, potentially stacking more compensation on top of workers’ comp. In places like Texas, where employers aren’t required to carry workers’ comp, you might sue your employer directly if they don’t have it and their negligence contributed.

The best option is to contact a Houston platform accident and injury lawyer at Suits & Boots Accident Injury Lawyers today. We can determine the worth of your case. Our attorneys have successfully handled many complex oil platform accident claims.

What Causes Oil Platform Accidents Around Houston? 

Working on oil platforms on and offshore around Houston is dangerous work. There are many potential causes of these often serious and fatal accidents:

• Human error: Mistakes due to fatigue from long shifts, inadequate training, or oversight can lead to catastrophic incidents like blowouts or equipment mishandling.
• Equipment failure: Faulty or poorly maintained machinery, such as blowout preventers, pipes, or drilling tools, can malfunction, causing leaks, explosions, or fires.
• Negligence in maintenance: Companies skipping or delaying scheduled upkeep to cut costs or save time puts workers at risk of accidents from deteriorating infrastructure.
• High-pressure blowouts: Uncontrolled releases of oil or gas from wells, often due to failed pressure control systems, can trigger explosions or fires.
• Flammable materials: Combustible gases and liquids, like hydrogen sulfide, combined with sparks or electrical faults, increase the risk of fires and explosions.
• Harsh working conditions: Houston’s Gulf Coast rigs face extreme weather, such as storms or lightning, which can ignite materials or destabilize operations.
• Inadequate safety protocols: Lack of proper training, insufficient safety gear, or unenforced regulations can amplify risks.
• Transportation incidents: Helicopter or boat accidents during crew transfers, often worsened by mechanical issues or bad weather, contribute to injuries or fatalities.

Always talk to a Houston platform accident and injury lawyer if you suffered an injury on the job. Your employer or third party can be liable for your medical bills, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and more.

Common Offshore Accident Injuries In Houston 

Oil platforms, whether offshore in the Gulf of Mexico or onshore in Texas oilfields, are high-risk environments, and injuries tend to follow patterns based on the nature of the work. Some of the common injuries you may suffer in an oil platform accident are:

• Falls: Workers often operate at heights, on rigs, derricks, or elevated platforms. Slippery surfaces from oil, water, or weather make falls a leading injury. Broken bones, head trauma, or spinal injuries are frequent outcomes.
• Caught-between/crush injuries: Heavy machinery like pumps, cranes, and drill pipes dominate platforms. Workers can get their hands, arms, or legs caught in pinch points or crushed by shifting equipment. 
• Burns and explosions: Texas oil platforms, especially offshore rigs, handle flammable materials under high pressure. Blowouts, fires, or chemical spills can cause thermal burns, chemical burns, or blast injuries. 
• Struck-by injuries: Tools, pipes, or debris falling from above, sometimes called dropped objects, often hit workers. 
• Overexertion and repetitive strain: Rig work involves heavy lifting, awkward postures, and long shifts. Back injuries, hernias, or tendonitis in the shoulders and wrists are widespread.
• Respiratory issues: Exposure to hydrogen sulfide, benzene, or silica dust, common in drilling and fracking, can lead to acute poisoning or chronic lung conditions. 
• Hearing loss: Constant noise from drilling, generators, and machinery exceeds safe levels. Without proper ear protection, workers suffer permanent hearing damage over time.

These injuries can be severe and cause hundreds or millions in financial losses over the years. If you are hurt on an oil platform while working, always speak to a Houston platform injury attorney.

Fighting The Insurance Company 

Suffering an injury on an oil platform in and around Houston often leads to a contentious insurance battle for compensation. These situations often involve complex policies, multiple parties, and many back-and-forths that can frustrate claimants. Navigating these challenges without the right legal support can delay compensation and leave you without the resources you need for recovery.

Who Is Liable? 

One big issue is determining who’s liable; oil platforms involve employers, contractors, equipment manufacturers, and sometimes third-party vendors. Insurance companies might argue over whose coverage applies, delaying payouts while they sort it out. For workers, this can mean waiting months or even years for compensation to cover medical bills or lost income.

Obtaining Evidence 

Then there’s the evidence problem. Offshore accidents happen in chaotic, remote environments, so getting solid proof, like witness statements, incident reports, or equipment logs, can be tough. If the paperwork isn’t airtight, insurers can deny claims or lowball offers, claiming there’s not enough to prove negligence or fault. Without experienced legal representation, you may struggle to secure the evidence you need to strengthen your case.

Scale Of Damages 

Another hurdle is the sheer scale of damages. Explosions, fires, or blowouts can rack up millions in medical costs, property damage, and environmental cleanup—not to mention lost profits if the platform’s down. Insurers might cap payouts or dispute the numbers, especially if the claimant can’t fully document every loss. For individuals, navigating this without legal help is challenging and exhausting. Always consult an oil platform accident attorney in Houston for legal assistance.

Insurers May Underestimate Your Injuries

Also, insurers might say claimants exaggerate injuries or losses to milk the system, something they always seek in industries like oil. But the reality is that these accidents are brutal, with burns, crush injuries, or worse, and the costs are real. The process doesn’t prioritize speed or fairness; it’s a slow legal grind that benefits the side with more resources and patience.

Can you imagine being forced to collect evidence of an oil platform accident or determining which company is liable? All while you suffer from severe injuries, such as shattered bones or burns? You are not alone. Our Houston platform accident and injury lawyers at Suits & Boots will take on the insurance company so you can focus on rest and recovery.

What To Do After A Houston Oil Platform Accident

Being injured on an oil platform in the Houston area is a crisis. You need immediate medical attention, and you must take other steps to ensure the best-case outcome:

• Get medical attention and follow-up care: Always get medical attention the same day, and follow your doctor’s treatment plan. Your health is paramount, and following the doctor’s orders will preserve your legal options.
• Report the accident: Notify your supervisor or employer about the incident immediately. Most oil platforms have specific protocols for reporting accidents, so follow them closely. 
• Document everything: Gather as much evidence as you can. Write down your detailed version of events while it’s fresh in your mind. If possible, take photos of the accident scene, damaged equipment, or hazardous conditions. 
• Follow company procedures: Offshore platforms typically have emergency response plans. Cooperate with any investigations or safety reviews your employer conducts.
• Know your legal rights: Different laws may apply based on the platform's location and job status. If you’re a seaman on a floating rig, the Jones Act can allow you to seek damages for employer negligence. State workers’ compensation or the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act might offer coverage for workers on fixed platforms. 
• Hire an oil platform lawyer: These accidents are usually serious, so you should retain a Houston platform accident and injury lawyer to fight for you. 

Contact Our Houston Platform Accident And Injury Lawyer Now 

Suffering an injury on an oil platform or offshore is terrifying and stressful. You can have a severe injury, such as a crushed hand, severe burns, lung damage from inhaling chemicals, or other devastating damage.

However, it can be bewildering to determine how to get your injuries and damages fully covered. Your employer and their insurance company might not have your best interests in mind. When you suffer severe injuries in an oil platform accident, you need an experienced personal injury attorney.

Contact our Houston platform accident and injury lawyer at Suits & Boots Accident Injury Lawyers today. We are skilled in handling these platform injury cases and can handle the challenges they bring. We only get compensated if we secure your compensation in a claim or lawsuit. We are highly motivated to obtain the compensation you are owed.