Seeking Personal Injury Compensation for Oilfield Injuries You Have Sustained
Workplace injuries can usually be expected in environments that involve construction, mechanical, or laboratory work. In other cases, however, the risk becomes a lot higher because of the location of the job itself.
Standard OSHA Guidelines to Reduce Oil Field Injuries and Safety Hazards in Oklahoma
There is no shortage of news when it comes to the oil and gas industry. Just recently, news about a sudden explosion that caused multiple oil field injuries in Oklahoma has been reported by the media. Due to these kinds of unfortunate incidents, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have been tirelessly working to establish a better set of safety guidelines for companies to comply with.
A Few Things You Need to Know About Different Types of Oilfield Injuries
Work in the oilfield industry is difficult and inherently dangerous because of the heavy machinery and industrial equipment involved. In 2008 alone, a total of 120 fatal work injuries were reported in the oil and gas industry, and 4,200 cases of nonfatal injuries and illnesses were reported in 2007.
Accident on the Job? Why You Need an Oilfield Injury Lawyer
Over 1,500 oil workers died on the job from 2008 to 2017. The oil and gas extraction industries are dangerous, and fatality rates are almost 5 times that of all other sectors in the United States. Many oil and gas workers fail to report their injuries, especially if they aren’t severe. If you’ve been injured on the job, though, don’t hesitate to call an oilfield injury lawyer so that you can get the compensation you deserve for your injury, pain, and suffering. Do you want to learn more about what to do about an injury on the job? Keep reading to learn more about what to do after a work site accident and how a personal injury lawyer can help! What Is an Oilfield Injury Lawyer? An oil field injury lawyer is a personal injury attorney specializing in gas and oil industry accidents. They’re knowledgeable about the many different types of accidents that occur on-site. Their experience enables them to assess any injury from different perspectives and a plethora of knowledge. From there, they determine the best course of action and how to build a case. They’re familiar with how oil field companies behave after workplace accidents. If the oil company tries to deflect blame or put pressure on you, your oilfield injury lawyer will handle all correspondence going forward. Personal injury lawyers with experience handling oilfield cases will fight for your rights and ensure the company responsible is held accountable and that you get the compensation you deserve. Types of Oilfield Accidents Many types of accidents occur on-site during oil or gas extraction. For injured workers, an accident can be detrimental to one’s life and their family. Let’s take a look at some of the most common accidents occurring on the oilfield. Explosions and Fires Every day, gas and oil industry workers must face potential fires and explosions on site. Tanks, trucks, wells, and other production equipment releases flammable gases and vapors. Those vapors and flames are easily ignited by static electricity, friction, open flames, or other heat sources. Sometimes drilling companies don’t follow proper safety precautions and protocols. The risk at a well site is extreme, so following regulations is of the utmost importance. If you sustain an injury because of an explosion or fire, it’s likely that you have a claim for damages. Heavy Equipment Failures All drilling sites require workers to operate heavy, dangerous equipment. Sometimes that equipment fails due to things like: Inadequate maintenance Careless safety instructions Overstress Manufacturing defect The law states that heavy machinery must be safe for workers. Employers must maintain and check equipment regularly for accident prevention, too. Plus, employers must provide sufficient training for workers to operate the equipment safely. If you were injured due to an equipment failure, don’t assume it was your fault. You could be entitled to compensation for your injuries in addition to any worker’s comp. Slips, Trips, and Falls Slips, trips, and falls are increasingly common in the oil and gas industry, especially at extraction sites. Workers are often required to work long hours in difficult environments. As a result, the chance of a slip or trip is even more likely. OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) requires employers to ensure that all walking surfaces are safe in order to prevent falls from elevated equipment. However, slips, trips, and falls are still some of the most common causes of severe workplace injuries. If you’re required to get to elevated, hard-to-reach places and fall as a result, you could be entitled to compensation, which is why you shouldn’t hesitate to call a personal injury lawyer who specializes in oilfield accidents. Well Blowouts When an uncontrolled release of natural gas or crude oil gets released during the drilling process, a well blowout occurs. Typically, the blowouts are a result of failures in the pressure control systems. Modern oil wells have advanced technology that allows for blowout prevention and risk reduction. However, the accidents still occur and can be catastrophic. Investigations for well blowouts can take years, which is why you need a lawyer on your side to help you obtain monetary damages as soon as possible. How an Oilfield Injury Lawyer Can Help More often than not, oilfield injury cases are complicated. You need a lawyer to help navigate and investigate your injury and your case so that you get enough compensation to cover your pain, suffering, and losses. Here are some of the ways in which having an oilfield injury lawyer helps: Calculating your damages Determining whether or not you have a worker’s comp claim Determining whether you have a 3rd-party liability claim Proving negligence and determining the cause of your accident Investigating potential OSHA violations Negotiating a settlement Litigating in court (if necessary) If you’ve been injured on an oilfield site, it’s not enough to get some of your medical bills and lost wages covered. Your oilfield injury attorney will fight for your rights to recoup your damages and ensure you have enough to cover future pain, suffering, and medical bills. Missed work, lifetime injuries, and trauma are essential components to the pain and suffering compensation you may be entitled to. Don’t Hesitate to Call an Oilfield Injury Lawyer Oilfield injuries are significantly more likely than other industry accidents, which is why it’s crucial for employers to follow safety protocols and regulations. Unfortunately, many oilfield accidents could easily be avoided, and more often than not, companies try to deflect accident blame onto the workers. Whether your injury is minor or severe, you shouldn’t hesitate to call an oilfield injury lawyer. At the very least, they’ll be able to tell you whether or not you’re entitled to compensation for your injury. For more information contact one of our highly qualified Attorneys at 580-224-0900 for a free consultation.Â
What Does an Oil Field Injury Attorney Do?
If you have been involved in an accident whilst working in an oil field, you may need to seek help or representation. You may not know this but there are specialized attorneys that work in oil field injury. Making sure that you get the best type of representation and lawyer is key to winning your case. In this article, we will explain exactly what an oil field injury attorney does and how they can use their specialist knowledge to help fight your case. Read on to get yourself acquainted with the information you need to begin the process to claim compensation or damages. Oil Fields and American Jobs The USA is one of the leading producers of oil in the world. It is also a field in which over 145,000 employees work in some capacity. Many of these employees are directly involved in the extraction of the gas and oil themselves. Even though this is an industry where a large number of people work, things such as a lack of safety standards, professional training, and a negation of professional culpability occur. There is a disturbing reality that oil field workers are up to 7 times more likely to suffer a fatality at work than other professions. And this isn’t taking into consideration the number of people who are severely injured or hurt as a result of workplace accidents in the oil fields. Oil field injury lawyers can assist individuals or individual’s families that have been affected by any accidents that weren’t their fault, by helping them seek appropriate compensation. What Can an Oil Field Injury Attorney Do? Oil field injury attorneys will specialize in the area of oil field accidents and be knowledgable in the different types of accidents that occur. They will be able to assess your case with a wealth of experience and advise you on the best course of action to take. They will be able to recommend whether a settlement with the company or individuals can be reached without the need to go to trial. Or whether it is something that needs to be pursued in court. The benefit of hiring an oil field injury lawyer is that they know exactly how an oil field company can behave after a workplace accident. Oil companies with their own legal team and medical staff might not be acting in the best interests of you or your family. Oil companies often try to remove themselves from responsibility and deflect blame. They also hide evidence and pressure individuals into insufficient medical treatment. Sometimes they even try to terminate employment. An oil field injury lawyer has the necessary experience to tackle this kind of behavior and treatment head-on. They are able to fight for the employee’s rights and settlement and hold the oil companies accountable for their lack of duty and care. If your case does need to go to trial they can also hire appropriate medical experts and professional oil and gas expert witnesses to help strengthen your case. Common Reasons and Types of Oil Field Workplace Injuries Accidents don’t usually happen without a reason. Often an accumulation of factors or reasons will end up causing a workplace injury or fatality. Things such as a lack of supervision, poorly maintained equipment, a lack of training, defective machinery, overworked employees, and flawed policies are all reasons that can attribute to people getting injured. This is where an oil field attorney can step in and make sense of what exactly happened leading up to the accident Due to the heavy machinery and heat that can be involved in oil extraction, unfortunately, severe injuries can occur. Things such as traumatic brain injuries, severe lacerations, spinal cord injuries and paralysis, third-degree burns, crush injuries, and traumatic amputations are all injuries that have happened on an oil field. With these types of injuries, you may be able to claim for loss of earnings, medical bills, pain and suffering, reduced quality of life, and other economic or non-economic damages. What to Do First When An Accident Occurs An oil field injury attorney’s job is to get to the bottom of a case or a claim and determine liability or an employee’s negligence. This will also be dependent on whether you have workers’ comp insurance. If you have workers’ comp insurance and a co-worker or employer is at fault then you can only file a claim through a workers’ compensation claim. There are other options that can be classed as a personal injury claim or wrongful death claim, but this will depend on your circumstances. You will also have two years to file a lawsuit to be within the statute of limitations if your injury happened in Oklahoma or Texas. It is three years if it happened in New Mexico. The main thing is that as soon as the accident happens, you seek medical attention. Then consult a lawyer who can advise you on the best steps going forward with your claim. Do not rely on the oil company to be transparent or act in your best interests. Most importantly, do not sign any paperwork or statements from the oil company or receive any money before retaining an attorney. Hiring an Oil Field Injury Attorney: Where Can I Find Out More? We hope that you have found this article on hiring an oil field attorney helpful and informative. If you have been involved in an accident in an oil field, you must seek legal advice as soon as you possibly can. Severe accidents can really affect the overall quality of your life and you need to be properly compensated. This is essential for you and your family’s future. If you have any questions or queries about anything discussed in the article, why not contact us directly?
How Workers Can Safeguard Against Oilfield Injuries and Other Occupational Hazards
The oil and gas extraction industry has one of the most dangerous work environments, and oil workers constantly face numerous occupational hazards. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports 529 fatal injuries in the industry from 2007 to 2011, with the highest number of fatalities occurring in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana respectively. It also estimates that in 2011, there were 1,400 nonfatal injuries and illnesses in oil and gas extraction, 5,900 of the same in support activities for oil and gas operations, and 2,600 from drilling oil and gas wells.
Personal Injury Lawyer For Oil Field Injuries
Ever watch the movie Deepwater Horizon? The dangers of working in the oil and gas industry are featured in it. While of course, Mark Wahlberg plus the special effects don’t really paint the real thing, they drive the point home; working in oilfields is a deadly job! In fact, according to data from OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), severe injury rates for support activities for oil and gas operations 2015-2016 was 148.9 per 100,000 workers. By relating the number of injuries to the size of the oil and gas industry, it is clear that the aforementioned rate of severe injuries is pretty high. So, why the extremely high rates of injuries in the oil and gas industry? Oil extraction is not only complicated but also involves many employees working together with different equipment and machinery. The lucrative oil and gas industry has brought considerable job growth to Oklahoma City. While jobs are a big win, it is impossible to ignore the elephant in the room, workers at Oklahoma oil fields face considerable risks while on the job. The dangers range from exposure to toxic chemicals, fires and explosions, hazards of operating heavy machinery, and so on. Dangers Oil Field Employees Face 1. Oil Field Vehicle Collisions Some of the fatal injuries in the oil industry result from transportation accidents. Often, oil fields are located in remote areas. As a result, there is a lot of long distance travelling usually with heavy trucks. While most of the drivers undergo rigorous training to operate the vehicles used, driving in uncharted territory and the long driving shifts can be overwhelming even for the most experienced drivers. 2. Falls on Oil Fields Falls on oil fields cover both workers falling from oil rig platforms and falling objects falling on workers. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show that employees being struck by falling equipment or objects is the most common type of oil field accidents. When working on an oil rig, it doesn’t take much to lose balance or slip and fall. Imagine falling from a height of say 330 feet! Or being crushed by a 40-ton metal bar! It would be fatal. And if you survived either, the chances are that you would suffer from severe neck, brain or back injury, plus multiple broken bones. Potential Injuries For Oil Field Workers Examples of injuries that employees might incur in an oil field include: Vision loss Brain damage Bone fractures Burns Lacerations Finger, toe, arm or leg amputation Why You Need A Personal Injury Lawyer Oilfield workers in Oklahoma City face genuine and deadly risks. Moreover, potential injuries range from minor to severe injuries. Sometimes, these injuries have life-long effects. Have you been injured while working on an oil field? If the answer is yes, then you need a personal injury lawyer. A reputable worker’s compensation law firm such as Little Oliver Gallagher can not only help you understand the claims process but also help you pursue compensation. Regardless of the nature of the injury, remember that your life will no longer be the same; you need an experienced and conscientious lawyer to get you the compensation you rightly deserve. For more information contact one of our highly qualified Attorneys at 580-224-0900 for a free consultation.Â
Steps You Should Consider to Stay Protected from Different Oilfield Injuries
With oil booms comes the influx of eager workers hoping to make a large profit. This was certainly the case with the 1926 oilfield discovery at Seminole, which launched the Greater Seminole Oil Boom.
What You Should Do after Sustaining Oilfield Injuries and the Role of a Personal Injury Lawyer
In 2015, the oil industry had contributed around $1.7 trillion to the economy. That’s bigger than the annual market sizes of all major metals and minerals combined. Such a thriving industry is not going downhill soon, and it continues to provide jobs to millions of people all over the world. This is primarily because over a hundred basic products are petroleum based.
