A drilling rig is one of the most dangerous workplaces on earth. You already knew that when you took the job. What you may not know is that if you were seriously injured on a rig — whether you work for the operator, the drilling contractor, or a service company — you very likely have rights that go far beyond filing a workers' comp claim or accepting whatever your employer's insurance offers. The Garza Law Firm has been protecting injured workers and their families in Texas for over 50 years, and drilling rig cases are among the most complex and highest-stakes matters we handle.
Drilling rig injuries commonly involve drillstring failures, blowouts, falling equipment, fires, stuck pipe operations, high-pressure fluid releases, and falls from elevated platforms. These accidents are rarely caused by a single person's mistake — they typically result from a combination of inadequate training, deferred maintenance, equipment defects, and production pressure that causes supervisors to cut corners on safety. Multiple companies may share responsibility: the operator, the drilling contractor, the mud logging company, the cementing company, the wellbore service provider, and equipment manufacturers.
If you or a family member was injured or killed on a drilling rig in Texas — including in the Permian Basin, Eagle Ford Shale, or any other producing region — we want to hear from you. Our Midland office at 507 E. Front Street was opened specifically to serve oilfield workers in West Texas and the surrounding region. Call us before you talk to anyone from the company.
Key Facts About Drilling Rig Accidents in Texas
The oil and gas extraction industry has a fatality rate approximately seven times higher than the overall U.S. private industry average, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries.
Texas Railroad Commission data shows Texas leads all states in active drilling permits and total wellbore count, meaning the volume of rig activity — and rig accident risk — is higher here than anywhere else in the country.
OSHA's Process Safety Management (PSM) standard applies to drilling operations involving highly hazardous chemicals above threshold quantities. Violations of PSM requirements during a rig accident can establish negligence per se, strengthening your legal claim significantly.
Drilling contractors and oil operators frequently classify workers as independent contractors to limit liability. Under Texas common law, this classification can be challenged when the company controls the manner and details of the work, potentially entitling those workers to sue the company directly.
In wrongful death cases arising from rig fatalities, Texas law allows the surviving spouse, children, and parents of the deceased to recover compensation for loss of financial support, loss of companionship, mental anguish, and funeral expenses — separate from any life insurance or workers' comp death benefit.
Common Questions About Drilling Rig Accidents
My drilling company has workers' comp. Does that mean I can't sue anyone?
Workers' comp covers your employer — but only your employer. If any other company contributed to your injury, including the oil operator who leased the rig, a service company on location, or the manufacturer of equipment that failed, you can pursue a full personal injury lawsuit against them. In complex drilling operations, there are almost always third parties whose negligence played a role.
My employer told me the accident was my fault. Does that end my case?
No. Employers routinely attempt to shift blame to injured workers to reduce their own liability. Texas uses proportionate responsibility — even if you share some fault, you may still be entitled to significant compensation as long as you were not more than 50% responsible. An independent investigation often tells a very different story than the employer's initial report.
What if the equipment that failed was defective from the manufacturer?
Texas product liability law allows you to sue the manufacturer, distributor, or seller of a defective product that caused your injury, even if you were not the purchaser. This is a powerful avenue in drilling rig cases involving failed BOP components, defective lifting equipment, or faulty pressure control systems.
Can the family of someone killed on a rig file a lawsuit?
Yes. Texas wrongful death and survival statutes give the family of a worker killed on a drilling rig the right to file suit against every responsible party. These claims must be filed within two years of the date of death, and acting quickly is essential to preserving critical rig inspection and maintenance records.
You Don't Have to Figure This Out Alone
When you hire The Garza Law Firm, we guide you through every step of the legal process so you can focus on what matters most — your recovery.
Free Consultation
We speak with you or your family as soon as possible after the accident to understand what happened, who was on location, and what companies were involved. This conversation is completely confidential and costs you nothing.
Rapid Evidence Preservation
Drilling rigs resume operations quickly. We immediately send legal hold notices to preserve rig inspection logs, IADC tour reports, BOP maintenance records, mud logs, driller's reports, company man communications, and any video footage from the site.
Independent Expert Investigation
We retain petroleum engineers, rig safety experts, and industrial hygienists to independently reconstruct what happened and identify every technical and procedural failure that contributed to your injury.
Multi-Party Liability Assessment
We map every company that had a presence on the rig or a role in the operation — operator, drilling contractor, cementer, mud logger, service company, equipment lessor — and analyze each one's legal exposure under Texas law.
Full Damages Valuation
We partner with medical specialists, rehabilitation experts, and economic analysts to calculate the true cost of your injuries, including future surgeries, long-term care, and the full loss of your earning power in the oil and gas industry.
Aggressive Negotiation and Trial Preparation
We pursue maximum compensation through demand and negotiation, and we are fully prepared to take the case before a jury if a just settlement is not offered. Edward Garza's 50+ years of trial experience is your strongest asset at this stage.
Ready to Discuss Your Case?
Contact The Garza Law Firm today for a free, no-obligation consultation. There is no fee unless we win.
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