You’re running a top drive system on a drilling rig in the Austin Chalk when a critical component suddenly snaps. The equipment malfunctions and crushes your hand. The pain is absolutely agonizing, and the financial stress that follows feels equally intense. Sure, workers’ compensation might pay for some of your medical bills, but it won’t come anywhere close to covering the full amount of damages caused by defective equipment.
When equipment fails because it was designed poorly, built incorrectly, or not maintained properly, the injuries can be severe. Our Texas oil rig injury attorneys can explain what legal options you have besides workers’ compensation and help protect your family’s financial future.
Common Texas Oil Rig Equipment Malfunctions
Texas oilfields run in tough conditions. The equipment is always under heavy pressure, carrying big loads, and exposed to rough weather. All of this can cause parts to break or fail, which can seriously hurt workers in places like the Permian Basin and the Eagle Ford Shale.
Common Oil Rig Equipment Defects
There are three different kinds of defective equipment:
- Maintenance failures: The equipment should work, but it broke because it wasn’t properly cared for or serviced.
- Manufacturing defects: The equipment was built incorrectly at the factory and was unsafe from the off.
- Design defects: The equipment was made as designed, but the design itself was unsafe and created serious risks.
Malfunctioning Drilling Equipment
Anytime parts break or stop working, the chances of a drilling equipment accident go up. For example:
- Draw works failures: Brakes or cables can break, causing heavy loads to drop suddenly.
- Rotary table problems: Bad bearings or brake issues can make the table spin out of control.
- Top drive malfunctions: Hydraulic parts can fail, or safety systems may not activate when they should.
Imagine you’re working next to a pipe-handling system when a hydraulic cylinder suddenly fails because the seal was made incorrectly at the factory. The huge pipe tongs drop without warning and pin your leg between the equipment and the rig floor. The crushing injuries could require major surgery and may leave you with long-term or permanent mobility problems.
Production and Wellhead Equipment Failures
Wellhead equipment failures can create even more danger for workers. A “Christmas tree,” which is the set of valves that controls production, can fail if a valve stem breaks because the metal was flawed or if the seals wear out too soon. Other production equipment, like separator tanks, can burst if they were designed poorly. Pressure relief systems can also fail and not release pressure when they should, making the situation even more dangerous.
Accidents Involving Heavy Machinery
Heavy equipment failures are another big cause of oilfield accidents. Cranes can fail if their structure is weak, the hydraulic system breaks, or the load was calculated incorrectly. Frac equipment can also break because it works under extreme pressure. High-pressure pumps may have cylinder or valve failures that lead to dangerous, sudden releases.
Third-Party Liability
Fortunately, Texas oilfield workers hurt by equipment failures may have options outside of workers’ compensation. Through a third-party claim, they can seek full compensation from others who may be responsible, such as the equipment manufacturer, the company that handled maintenance, or the engineers who designed the equipment.
Manufacturers and Product Liability
Texas product liability law lets injured people hold manufacturers responsible when a defective product causes harm. Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 82, a manufacturer can be held liable if the product was designed poorly, built incorrectly, or did not include proper warnings about dangers.
Maintenance Contractors and Liability
Independent contractors who work on and maintain the equipment can also be responsible when something fails and causes an injury. They must do their job correctly and watch for safety problems when they service the equipment. If they do poor or careless work, equipment that should be safe can become dangerous.
Imagine this: A maintenance contractor working on a compressor notices stress cracks in a pressure vessel but doesn’t report them. Two weeks later, the vessel bursts while in use and seriously injures a worker. The maintenance contractor could be held responsible for not inspecting the equipment properly and not warning anyone about the danger.
Building a Compelling Case for Equipment Failure
Winning a third-party claim requires strong proof and good record-keeping after a drilling equipment accident. Workers’ compensation mainly looks at your medical care and lost wages, but a third-party claim is different. You must show that someone was at fault and that a defect in the equipment is what caused your injury.
Documentation and Preservation of Evidence
It’s important to save evidence right away because when equipment breaks, it can damage or change the very proof you need to show what went wrong. The broken parts must be kept exactly as they were after the accident so experts can study them. Photos should be taken from different angles, showing the damaged parts, the nearby equipment, and the whole accident area.
Maintenance records are just as important. They can show whether the equipment was taken care of properly or if it was allowed to wear out and become unsafe. Documents like work orders, inspection reports, and records of replaced parts help explain what shape the equipment was in before it failed.
Expert Testimony and Analysis
Equipment failure cases often need experts to explain what caused the problem and to prove there was a defect. Metal experts can study broken metal parts to see if they failed because of a bad design, a mistake in manufacturing, or the way the equipment was used. Mechanical engineers can look at whether the equipment was designed well enough for the job it was supposed to do.
Damages in Third-Party Claims
Third-party claims for equipment failures on Texas oilfields can lead to much higher compensation than workers’ compensation alone. Workers’ comp only pays for medical bills and part of your lost wages. A third-party claim and an experienced Texas oil rig injury attorney can help you collect compensation to cover all your financial losses as well as your pain, suffering, and other non-economic damages.
Discuss Your Texas Products Liability Case
A serious oilfield injury can permanently alter the course of your life, but you don’t have to deal with the aftermath on your own. A skilled Texas oil rig injury attorney can explain your options, protect your rights, and help you fight for the full compensation you deserve. If you have questions, support is available.
Call Parks Law at (713) 979-3500 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free case review.