Texas has many oil rigs, gas wells, and chemical storage facilities. People can be seriously hurt when there’s an accident – such as the TPC plant fire in Port Neches, the ITC Deer Park fire, the KMCO LLC fire, or the LyondellBasell chemical leak in La Porte. Sometimes, the only way to get justice is through a lawsuit. Tracey Fox & Walters has experience with these cases and can guide you through the legal process.
In July 2021, two contract workers were killed and dozens injured in a chemical leak at the LyondellBasell facility in La Porte.
Before Thanksgiving Day, multiple explosions were reported at the TPC chemical plant in Port Neches. Three workers were injured, and the blasts blew out windows and rattled houses for miles.
After the devastating ITC chemical fire, more details came to light and Occupational Safety and Health Administration citations shed light on what happened at Deer Park in March.
Whatever the cause of the La Porte chemical leak or the Deer Park and TPC fires, oil, gas, and chemical accidents in Texas often happen fast. In an instant, an oil drilling rig can explode, or a natural gas well or chemical storage tank can catch fire. When they do, the injuries sustained by workers and others nearby can be serious and permanent. In many cases, oil rig accidents prove fatal.
Knowing what to do after such a serious workplace accident or personal injury accident can be overwhelming. Your employer might be telling you to do one thing. Co-workers or family members might say something different. Knowing who to trust can be confusing.
Get straight answers after your oil, gas, or chemical accident. Contact our firm. Our Texas oil rig accident attorneys and chemical accident lawyers can answer your questions and help you get your life back on track. We have decades of experience handling such complex cases and know what it takes to win.
Types of accidents
Accidents involving gas wells, oil drilling rigs, and chemical facilities can cover various causes. Some of the most common - and most serious - accidents we deal with at our law firm include:
- Blowout drilling well accident – An uncontrolled release of oil or gas from a well.
- Drilling well explosion – Pressure built up in wells can release and explode.
- Gas fire – Fires are common since oil and gas are highly flammable.
- Chemical accident – A fire or other type of accident releases dangerous chemicals into the air, ground, or water (for example, the Intercontinental Terminals Company (ITC) Deer Park fire and the KMCO LLC chemical facility fire in Crosby, TX). These chemicals can include benzene and isobutylene.
- Chemical explosion – Combustible chemicals are accidentally ignited and explode.
- Falling debris – Cables, drill strings, pipe tongs, or other derrick parts can fall and injure workers, especially if a fire or explosion occurs.
- Burns – Hazardous chemicals or dangerously hot metal can cause severe burns.
These are just a small sample of common accidents involving oil, gas, and chemicals. Many other types of oil, gas, and chemical accidents are common, and each case has unique circumstances.
Common causes
While each accident is unique, such accidents often have similarities. Some of the most common causes of oil, gas or chemical accidents include:
- Defective equipment
- Poorly maintained gas or oil well
- Reckless or negligent actions of workers
- Mistakes made by untrained workers
- Impaired workers
Accidents occur for many other reasons. And in each case, you must take immediate legal action to protect your rights. That's why we want to meet with you as soon as possible after your accident.
Why choose us
Experience matters regarding oil, gas, and chemical accidents in Texas. That’s why many injured people and their families rely on us to help them when they need us most. In case after case, we consistently obtain sizable settlements and verdicts for injury victims. Results matter here.
What's the secret to our success? We work tirelessly on every single case we handle. That includes our investigation into oil rig explosions, gas well accidents, chemical accidents, and chemical explosions. From carefully reviewing accident reports to previous inspections conducted by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), we leave no stone unturned.
That's just the beginning. We regularly consult with experts in their field. We interview witnesses whenever possible. We provide insurance companies with accurate estimates of the true financial impact of your accident. And if they refuse to compensate you fairly, we're prepared to file a lawsuit against them on your behalf and take them to court.
This may be your only opportunity to get the money you rightfully deserve. Seize it. Contact us and discover what our tenacious Texas attorneys can do for you.
