Oil Rig Injuries On Maritime Job Sites | What to do after experiencing an injury

Maritime oil rig workers do some of the most important work for our economy. Both offshore and onshore oil rigs are fitted with heavy equipment vital for extracting resources. Rig workers operate these large machines with specialty training and are required to wear safety equipment. That said, oil rig injuries are still very common, ranging from mild and severe injuries to fatalities. Oil rig injuries can be catastrophic, or sever in nature. Either way, immediately seeking out legal advice from our experienced oil rig injury lawyers at Zinda Law Group is a must.

But oil companies often have seasoned lawyers on their team, making it difficult to take them on by yourself. Even workers’ comp insurance agents are experts at offering you a minimal settlement when they know you’re desperate in recovery.  

If you or someone you know has suffered oil rig injuries, you could be entitled to more compensation than you think.

Common Oil Rig Injuries On Maritime Job Sites – Key Takeaways 

• The most common types of oil rig injuries include: 

• Burns

• Accidental Amputation

• Bone Fractures

• Head Injuries

• Back and Spinal Cord Damages

• Hearing Impairment

• Eye and Facial Damages

• Toxic Chemical Exposure.

• Due to the nature of rig work and the heavy machinery, hazardous chemicals, and combustible materials, oil rig injuries are extremely common. 

• Maybe someone’s careless actions or negligence caused the accident, or maybe the job site wasn’t up to ‌code. In these cases, the injured worker may be entitled to financial recovery for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.

• An oil rig injury lawyer from a trusted firm like Zinda Law Group can help you determine who was legally at fault for the oil rig injuries and how to get the compensation you deserve. 

This article covers the most common oil rig injuries. We’ll also explain how to determine who’s at fault for an oil rig injury. Finally, we’ll explain how a free consultation with an oil rig injury lawyer from Zinda Law Group can offer legal guidance for oil rig injuries.

What Are the Common Types of Oil Rig Injuries On Maritime Job Sites?

Oil rig injuries are frequent due to the nature of rig work, which involves heavy machinery, toxic chemicals, and flammable materials. The most common oil rig injuries on maritime job sites are:

Burns

Oil and gas are highly combustible or flammable. Fires and explosions can be more common on rig sites, which often leads to burns. Oil rig work also requires specific chemicals and solvents, which can cause chemical burns. 

Accidental Amputation

Oil rig machinery is complex and heavy. If fingers or limbs get caught in this machinery, it could lead to ‌accidental amputation, one of the more severe oil rig injuries. This can be caused by a lapse in attention, either of the victim or one of their coworkers, or from poorly maintained equipment.  

Bone Fractures

Slips, trips, and falls, explosions, and heavy machinery accidents can all lead to fractured bones.

Head Injuries

Another common oil rig injury is head injuries, which may or may not include traumatic brain injuries or TBIs. Explosions, heavy equipment, injuries, and falls can all lead rig workers to suffer head trauma. 

Back and Spinal Cord Damages

Another unfortunate common oil rig injury workers may face is a back or spine injury. Whether caused by falls or a heavy equipment injury, back and spine damage can cause various degrees of paralysis. 

Hearing Impairment

Hearing explosions, loud machinery, or toxic fumes can cause impairments. Whether the hearing loss is partial or complete, workers who suffer these types of oil rig injuries may be entitled to compensation. 

Eye and Facial Damages

Damage to a rig worker’s eyes or face can occur from explosions or from exposure to hazardous chemicals. Not only can exposure to these chemicals cause permanent disfigurement, but it may also cause vision impairment. 

Toxic Chemical Exposure

Hazardous chemicals like hydrogen sulfide are required for various steps in the extraction process. Hydrogen sulfide is incredibly flammable, and its fumes can damage a worker’s nervous system if ‌ventilation is poor. This type of nerve damage can be fatal, especially after long chemical exposures without fresh air. 

What to Do After an Oil Rig Injury

Your employer should provide you with the exact steps to take after a workplace accident, especially if it causes injuries. If you or someone you know has suffered one of these common oil rig injuries, here’s what we suggest:

• Seek immediate medical attention after an accident, especially if you have suffered a traumatic injury. Some oil rig injuries, such as those caused by chemical exposure, may not show symptoms right away. Seeing a doctor can prevent further injury and strengthen your claim by documenting the connection between your injury and any symptoms that haven’t surfaced yet.
• Report the accident to your employer after seeking medical attention. Follow your employer’s protocol for accidents and injuries. That could mean reporting it to HR or a supervisor. Provide the important details on your injury and the events leading up to it in a timely manner. That said, don’t give every little detail until you consult an oil rig injury lawyer.
• Document the incident and gather detailed evidence, such as photos of injuries and the accident site. Track medical records, witness reports, and witness contact information. When going up against oil company lawyers, it’s better to be overprepared than underprepared.
• Consult an experienced oil rig injury lawyer for a free consultation. Navigating a lawsuit or claim for an oil rig or fracking accident can be complex, especially once oil company lawyers and insurance adjusters get involved. A seasoned oil rig injury attorney can assess your case and advise on pursuing maximum compensation.

Determining who’s at fault for oil rig injuries on maritime job sites

Oil companies have a legal duty to provide and maintain a reasonably safe workplace on all their rigs. If your employer carries workers comp insurance, workers who suffer oil rig injuries may be able to collect a settlement regardless of who’s at fault. That said, if negligence or carelessness contributed to the accident, you may be entitled to more than just workers’ comp. 

And since you may lose your right to sue for negligence once you cash your workers’ comp check,  it’s vital to know how to determine what’s at fault for your oil rig injury.

• Negligent Employer: If your employer didn’t maintain a safe working environment or maintain the equipment, they could be considered at fault for your injury. If your employer failed to provide personal protection equipment or safety education or to keep the rig site up to code, they may also be held liable. 

• Negligent Equipment Manufacturers: Heavy machinery manufacturers have a legal duty to provide oil rigs with safe equipment that’s free of defects. If faulty or defective machinery was the cause of your oil rig injury, the equipment manufacturer may be held at fault.

• Negligent third party: Sometimes a third party, such as a transportation or maintenance provider, subcontractor, or consultant, causes an injury. If they failed to uphold safety standards or act within the scope of their job duties, you may be able to sue them for financial recovery. 

• Negligent Co-Worker: Co-worker negligence is typically covered by workers comp insurance. That said, proving their negligence was indeed responsible for your accident may require legal guidance for your oil rig injuries. 

Should you hire an oil rig injury lawyer? How Zinda Law Group can offer legal guidance for oil rig injuries

Oil rig injuries occur often due to the demanding work conditions and the presence of dangerous chemicals, flammable substances, and heavy machinery. 

The most common types of oil rig injuries are burns, accidental amputations, bone fractures, and head trauma. Other frequent injuries include damage to the back and spinal cord, hearing loss, injuries to the eyes and face, and exposure to toxic chemicals.

Still, oil companies typically employ experienced lawyers. Workers comp insurance agents are notorious for providing low settlements when they know you’re vulnerable and going through the healing process. 

This makes fighting for fair compensation alone intimidating, especially when your opponent is an oil company. Zinda Law Group has experience fighting these battles alongside our clients. We offer a free consultation where we can discuss the details of your accident. 

We’ll help decide if workers comp is the best option or if negligence played a role in your oil rig injuries.  And the best part is our No-Win, No-Fee Guarantee makes sure that you won’t pay us anything unless we win your case‌.

If you or a loved one has suffered an oil rig or fracking injury, contact Zinda Law Group today. Call (800) 863-5312 to schedule a free consultation with one of our oil rig injury lawyers.