Oil and gas activity is a constant on Houston roads, with refineries, chemical plants, drilling contractors, and logistics companies operating throughout the region. Given the volume of industrial traffic in the area, serious oilfield truck accidents occur regularly on Houston roads.
The Port of Houston alone generates a substantial volume of industrial traffic that is routed onto nearby highways. The daily movement of oversized equipment, hazardous materials, and specialized oilfield machinery only adds to the danger. With so many high-risk vehicles sharing the road, the likelihood of severe crashes increases.
At D. Miller & Associates, our Houston truck accident lawyers represent people harmed in these often catastrophic collisions. Backed by $650 million in verdicts and settlements, 36,000+ cases won, 66 years of combined experience, and a team of 83 professionals, we are committed to serving as the strong, experienced advocate you need.
Heavy Oilfield Trucks and the Risk on Houston’s Freight Routes
As a centerpiece of the Texas energy industry, Houston sees a wide range of specialized oilfield vehicles every day. These trucks generate constant traffic between drilling sites, storage yards, refineries, export terminals, and other locations integral to the Texas oil and gas industry.
Busy freight corridors such as Interstate 10 (I-10), Interstate 45 (I-45), Interstate 69 / US-59, and State Highway 225 (SH 225) are frequently used by oilfield transport vehicles. Unlike standard commercial trucks, they are often oversized, top-heavy, or designed to carry hazardous or unstable cargo, conditions that can increase the risk of serious accidents.
These vehicles include:
- Oilfield tanker trucks transporting crude oil, wastewater, and chemicals
- Frac sand truck fleets carrying high-volume loads used for hydraulic fracturing
- Oil field vacuum truck units removing waste fluids from drilling sites
- Oil field winch trucks moving drill pipe, compressors, and other heavy equipment
When a collision involves one of these large vehicles, the result is often catastrophic injuries and even wrongful death. Victims are left with difficult questions about how the accident took place and who is liable.
Common Causes of Oilfield Truck Accidents in Houston
In the wake of an oilfield accident, victims and their families deserve answers concerning causation and liability. These questions also become central to potential personal injury and wrongful death claims.
We work diligently to uncover the causes of these accidents, ensuring that our clients have the best possible chance of obtaining the answers and compensation they deserve.
Our investigations often find evidence of negligence, such as:
- Driver fatigue: Long shifts and tight deadlines leave many oilfield drivers dangerously exhausted behind the wheel. These drivers, or the companies that compel them to push their limits, can be held legally accountable.
- Improper loading: Overloaded or unbalanced tanker trucks, frac sand trucks, and other specialized vehicles can become dangerously unstable and prone to rollovers or jackknifes.
- Faulty maintenance: Routine maintenance is essential to the safe operation of oilfield trucks. Worn brakes, bald tires, and other defects can turn an already heavy vehicle into a catastrophic hazard.
- Inadequate training: Oil and gas companies are responsible for training their employees in the specialized skills required to safely operate oilfield trucks. All too often, management fails to properly train and screen its employees, allowing underqualified drivers onto Houston roads.
- Hazardous materials violations: Transporting chemicals, crude oil, wastewater, or other dangerous substances requires strict compliance with federal and state hazardous materials regulations. Violations of these safety standards put everyone on the road at risk.
- Reckless or aggressive driving: Speeding, tailgating, distracted driving, and other dangerous behaviors significantly increase the chance of a deadly collision.
Why Early Legal Representation Is Important
Oil and gas companies, trucking carriers, and their insurers deploy rapid-response investigators, adjusters, and teams of lawyers within hours of a crash. Their priority is to minimize liability and protect their bottom line. That’s why it is critical for accident victims to enlist the services of an experienced attorney as soon as possible after an accident.
By acting immediately on your behalf, we can preserve evidence, interview witnesses, secure vehicle data, and prevent powerful corporations from controlling the narrative before it is too late.
Determining Liability in an Oilfield Truck Accident Case
After a serious truck accident, one of the most important steps is identifying who is legally responsible for your damages and losses. In many cases, liability isn’t limited to just the driver; it may also include the trucking company, oilfield operators, maintenance contractors, equipment manufacturers, cargo loaders, subcontractors, or even government entities responsible for unsafe road conditions.
Our legal team conducts a comprehensive investigation, reviewing everything from vehicle maintenance records and driver logs to accident scene evidence, black box data, witness statements, and company safety practices.
We work to identify all responsible parties, so you can hold them accountable and pursue the full compensation you are entitled to. These claims can also serve as a deterrent, encouraging companies to uphold higher safety standards across the oil and gas transportation industry.
Serious Injuries in Oilfield Truck Accidents
Due to their massive size and high speeds, oilfield tanker trucks can cause devastating injuries, including:
- Traumatic brain injuries: Caused by impact or rollovers, often requiring long-term rehabilitation and care.
- Spinal cord injuries: Paralysis or partial disability that can affect mobility and independence for life.
- Severe burns: From fires or chemical exposure during tanker truck accidents.
- Crushing injuries: Resulting from the sheer weight of oilfield vehicles impacting occupants or pedestrians
- Multiple fractures: Limbs, ribs, and facial bones are often broken in high-speed collisions.
- Amputations: In extreme cases, victims may lose limbs due to crush or trauma injuries.
- Internal organ damage: Life-threatening internal injuries requiring surgery and extended medical treatment.
Pursuing Full Compensation for Life-Changing Injuries
These injuries are not only physically devastating, but they can also bring enormous emotional and financial strain. That’s why it’s essential to have a Houston truck accident lawyer on your side who understands the complex medical and legal issues.
We work to investigate every detail, identify all responsible parties, and pursue the maximum compensation for medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and long-term care needs. While our team fights for your future, you can focus on healing.
Potential Compensation
Truck accidents often leave victims facing serious injuries, mounting medical bills, and lost income. In these cases, pursuing full and fair compensation is essential. Our legal team fights to recover the financial resources you need to rebuild and move forward.
We build every claim to reflect the full scope of your injuries, including:
- Immediate and future medical expenses
- Ongoing rehabilitation
- Lost income
- Reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- In-home care
- Adapted living quarters
By building the strongest possible case, we aim to give you the best chance of recovering the financial support you need to cover your expenses and move forward with your life.
We’re Here to Help After a Serious Oilfield Truck Accident
If you or someone you love has been injured in an oilfield truck accident, you deserve answers and strong legal representation. At D. Miller & Associates, PLLC, our experienced Houston truck accident lawyers are here to guide you through every step of the legal process. We’ll handle the details, protect your rights, and fight for the full compensation you deserve, whether through skilled negotiation or in the courtroom.
Contact us today for a free, confidential consultation. We’re ready to help you take the next step toward recovery.
