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OIL FIELD INJURIES - WAS IT NEGLIGENCE?
Working on oil fields is certainly dangerous work, even with the many safety precautions in place, accidents can and do happen. People have suffered severe injuries on oil fields before and, sometimes, this was due to another’s negligence.
Oil fields need to uphold a certain level of safety standards for the workers and, if these standards are not upheld, someone can be held liable for any injuries that occur. Whether you are a worker or not, you should be able to safely do whatever you need to do on an oil field.
In this post, we will talk about the most common oil field injuries that can happen, common oil field accidents, and what you can do legally if you were injured on an oil field.
COMMON TYPES OF OIL FIELD INJURIES
Injuries on an oil field or rig can swing from mild to severe depending on the nature of the accident and the victim. Below are a few of the more common kinds of injuries that can happen to a person on an oil field if there are not proper safety measures in place.
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken or fractured bones
- Crushed or amputated limbs
- Burn injuries
There are many other kinds of minor and major injuries that could happen and these are just some of the more common injuries. If you were working on an oil field and were injured in one or more of these ways, you should contact an attorney as soon as possible to see if you can file a personal injury claim.
WHAT STEPS DO I TAKE FOR AN OIL FIELD INJURY?
If you are an oil field worker who was injured on the job, you will likely be able to receive workers’ compensation that will cover your medical expenses and some lost income. However, workers’ compensation may not always be enough to cover the more serious injuries.
It will be extremely helpful to understand exactly how the injury occurred and if there were any additional circumstances surrounding the incident. Some oil field injuries are due to the negligence of a supervisor, another employee, or defective equipment.
If this was the cause of your injury, you can build a strong personal injury case which can get you higher compensation and cover your noneconomic damages as well. Personal injury claims can help cover costs like pain and suffering, emotional distress, and other impacts that workers’ compensation might not address.
For those who were injured on an oil field but did not work there, a personal injury claim is the only avenue you could take. For your case, you will have to prove you were not trespassing and that another party had a duty of care they neglected to give you. This might involve showing that the company or property owner failed to maintain a safe environment or did not warn you of potential dangers, which led to your injury.
Oil field work is inherently dangerous, with risks such as explosions, fires, falls, and equipment failures. Safety protocols and proper training are essential to prevent accidents, but sometimes these measures are not adequately implemented. When safety standards are ignored or equipment is not properly maintained, the likelihood of accidents increases significantly.
Injured workers or visitors to oil fields should seek legal advice to understand their rights and options. An experienced personal injury attorney can help gather evidence, such as accident reports, witness statements, and expert testimonies, to build a solid case. They can also negotiate with insurance companies and represent you in court if necessary, ensuring you receive the compensation you deserve for your injuries and losses.
THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF OIL FIELD ACCIDENTS
Oil field workers typically have to deal with heavy machinery and dangerous equipment. Plus, oil is highly flammable and toxic if ingested, so there are plenty of horrible accidents that can occur on an oil field. Here are a few examples of what kinds of accidents can happen:
- Equipment malfunctions
- Explosions or fires
- A well blowout
- Fracking mistakes
- Truck accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
In any oil field, you will find some kind of heavy machinery that helps perform the job they do. This equipment serves an important purpose and can absolutely cause injury if it is defective or is handled improperly.
If you were injured by a piece of equipment malfunctioning on the job, you could file a personal injury claim against the parts manufacturer or the machine’s manufacturer. It is also up to the supervisor of these pieces of equipment to make sure they are properly maintained before use.
Fires and explosions can also occur at an oil field easily. The oil itself is flammable and there are many processes that are capable of releasing flammable gasses in the area as well. For the most part, oil fields have a strict rule against having open flames on the premises.
However, other accidents could cause a spark which will result in a larger fire that can cause severe injuries or even death. Fire and explosion injuries can be some of the worst when it comes to oil field accidents.
Another accident that can happen on an oil field is a well blowout, this is when natural gas or crude oil is released uncontrollably while drilling. Most oil wells will have blowout measures in place but if these measures fail due to a pressure control system failure, the damage could be devastating.
Fracking is the process of shooting a high-pressure water injection into a borehole which creates cracks in deep-rock formations where petroleum or gas can flow. This process has revolutionized the oil industry but is also inherently dangerous.
Chemical spills and other fracking accidents can easily happen during fracking that could lead to serious injuries.
Also, while it is rare, vehicle accidents can occur on oil field sites. These accidents could involve two work trucks colliding, one of these work trucks striking another person, or a vehicle malfunction causing injury to the driver and others.
If you were injured in some kind of vehicle accident at an oil field, many different people could be held liable for your injuries. What’s more, these accidents usually cause serious damage because of the dangerous material being carried by the trucks.
Oil field workers can work long and tiresome hours, and oil is a very slippery substance to handle. Slips and falls are not an uncommon occurrence and can lead to a severe outcome if it happens over high ground or on a hard surface.
Employers are required by law under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to make sure that surfaces are safe to walk on and do their best to warn everyone about any slippery surfaces.
CONTACT TRUSTED LAWYERS FOR POTENTIAL OIL RIG AND OIL FIELD INJURY CLAIMS
Oil field injuries can be extremely severe and be life-changing for the people involved. Oftentimes, workers’ compensation will not be enough to cover your personal injuries.
However, legal organizations like Law Leaders are available to fight for your case. The Law Leaders team of expert lawyers has helped many other Americans with their personal injury claims and are committed to getting the compensation you deserve.
Get a free consultation when you call today and ask to discuss your potential oil field or oil rig injury claim.
