FAQ about Oil Field Accident and Injuries
31st May 2021
Oil field injuries are dangerous and can be fatal. Severe injuries often cause a change in one’s quality of life—affecting many different aspects such as ability to continue working, mental health, and ongoing physical pain and pain management.
Oil fields rank as one of the most dangerous places to work. There are an average of 46 fatalities per 100,000 workers. Approximately 20 of these fatalities occur in the United States, as of 2018.
If you or someone you love has been injured as the result of an oil field accident, keep reading to have all of your questions about oil field injury answered.
What are some of the dangers associated with working in an oil field?
There are various hazards associated with working in the oil drilling industry. The use of heavy machinery puts many at risk for crushing injuries, and the loud work environment can make it much more difficult to properly communicate. Communication is essential in hazardous situations, with poor communication, someone could easily get hurt.
Oil is also highly flammable, so explosions and fires are possible. Overall, the work is incredibly hard and dirty, making for long days that result in careless or tired workers that could put others in danger.
What do I do if I’ve been involved in an oil field accident?
After you’re injured in an oil field, you should immediately alert your supervisor and let them know what happened. This will ensure that there is proper documentation of the incident.
You should then seek emergency medical treatment to have your symptoms and injuries evaluated. If you don’t seek medical attention immediately, insurance companies may try to argue that your injuries must not have been that serious.
After seeking medical attention, you should contact an experience oil field injury attorney for help with your case. An oil field accident lawyer will have experience working on cases just like yours, and will be able to walk you through the personal injury lawsuit process easily.
Can I still file a personal injury claim even if I received worker’s compensation?
Even if you received benefits from worker’s compensation, you may still have a claim. Filing personal injury lawsuit for your oil field injuries will allow you to receive compensation past what you received in worker’s compensation.
Can I file a claim if I was exposed to chemicals while working in an oil field?
Yes! Harmful chemicals can cause many problems for oil field workers. If you’ve been exposed to harmful chemicals such as carbon monoxide, methane, or hydrogen sulfide, you should seek emergency medical attention to have your symptoms evaluated.
There are many other dangerous chemicals that you could come into contact with when working on an oil field. If you find yourself experiencing symptoms related to the inhalation of these chemicals, you may have a case.
What can I do if I can’t work anymore because of my injuries?
If you find that you’re unable to work after your oil field accident, you may be entitled to addition compensation. Losing your ability to earn compensation in your field is a huge life-changing event, one that deserves adequate compensation.
Our attorneys here at Sand Law will help to make sure you are fairly compensated for your damages—including your loss of earning capacity or inability to return to work.
Can I claim lost wages after being injured while working on an oil rig?
If your injuries result in lost wages (most often because you require time off from work to receive medical treatment and recover), you can receive compensation to make up for those lost wages. You may also receive compensation for future lost wages if you will continue to lose wages in the future because of your injuries.
What if I was previously injured in an oil field accident and got re-injured?
Re-injury is just further proof that your industry is dangerous. It’s completely possible for someone to be re-injured within the same industry at no fault of their own. A second injury may also prove that your employer is more negligent, as the working conditions they’ve provided have caused not only one injury, but multiple.
The insurance company may try to argue that you must be the problem in the case of re-injury. But a good, experienced attorney will be able to easily dispute these claims.
What is my oil drilling injury case worth?
It’s hard to determine exactly how much your case is worth without first sitting down with an attorney and discussing your damages. Your case’s worth is determined based on a variety of different factors. Every case is different. Therefore, your attorney won’t be able to give you an accurate estimation until they’ve reviewed your case.
Your case’s value is determined based on:
- The severity of your injuries
- Your total damages (including medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering)
- How much your quality of life has changed
- Whether or not you’re able to return to work
- How much insurance coverage your employer has
Based on these factors, your attorney will be able to help you determine how much compensation you should expect. Your attorney, if you choose to work with Sand Law, will go above and beyond to ensure that you get the best settlement offer possible for your claim.
Do I need a lawyer for an oil field injury?
If you’ve been injured in an oil field accident, you should contact an experienced oil field accident attorney ASAP. Our talented team of attorneys will be able to help you get the most compensation possible.
At Sand Law, we focus on our proven process to get our clients the compensation they deserve. We’ll investigate liability, determine how the accident occurred, and argue a high settlement offer on your behalf. In the meaning, you get to focus on your recovery.
For more information or a free case evaluation, please contact us online or at 701-609-1510.