CALL (800) 863-5312 to speak with boulder oil field injury lawyers
Everyone in the country counts on having a dependable source of energy to power their cars, heat their homes, and cook food for their family. The majority of this energy comes from fuel sources taken from the ground in the form of natural gas or oil products. Because of its vast amounts of natural resources, energy has always had an important role to play in Colorado’s economy. Extracting these petroleum products requires heavy machinery, different types of chemicals, and lots of manpower. If you worked in an oil field and suffered an injury on the job, speaking with Boulder oil field injury lawyers is the best way to preserve your legal rights.
If you or a family member has suffered an oil field injury in Boulder, call (800) 863-5312 to speak with a Boulder injury attorney now to learn how Zinda Law Group can help you with your potential claim.
Causes of oil field injuries
While even the most mundane desk job harbors the risk of a physical injury, the risk is especially pronounced for workers at an oil field. There are many risks in an oil field that present dangers for workers when the proper procedures aren’t followed. Ultimately, no two accidents are the same, but some of the common causes of oil field injuries include:
John (Jack) Zinda
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Over 100 years of combined experience representing injured victims across the country.
Available 24 / 7|Free ConsultationExposure to Toxic Chemicals
Certain types of petroleum extraction techniques, including fracking, use chemicals that can be hazardous to both the surrounding environment and the workers handling them. Both state and federal lawmakers are working to establish a framework of legislation that keeps workers safe, but there is no such thing as eliminating the risk when it comes to something like toxic chemicals. Injuries can be caused quickly by an event where someone is exposed to a large amount of chemicals all at once, but they can also occur through smaller amounts of exposure over a longer period of time.
Neil Solomon
Partner
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You don’t need a chemical engineering degree to know that oil and gas are extremely combustible. Because of this, the risk of a fire or an explosion happening at an oil field is common. Safety protocols enforced by the government and the companies running the oil field can drastically reduce the risk of a fire or an explosion, but the possibility is always there.
Jason Aldridge
Attorney
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Oil fields rely on many different types of heavy, complex machinery running smoothly to extract material from the ground. This machinery requires regular upkeep from expert mechanics to stay in good working order. If anything goes awry in the machinery, injuries can soon follow. Even when the machinery is operating correctly, user error or insufficient training on how to use it can also potentially lead to danger.
Cole Gumm
Attorney
We are here to ensure you won’t have to face this difficult time alone.
Available 24 / 7|Free ConsultationFailure to Comply with Industry Regulations
Oil fields are subject to strict regulations that govern how they are to operate in a safe way. However, the need for quick production combined with worker shortages means that managers of oil fields may, at times, cut some corners. When corners are cut on important safety regulations, the results can be catastrophic.
If you were hurt on an oil field, speak with a Boulder workplace injury lawyer to determine what your case could be worth and how to effectively pursue it.
What to do after an oil field injury
Immediately after sustaining an injury on an oil field, your two main priorities should be looking after your physical health, followed closely by preserving any claim for compensation that you may have. A Boulder injury attorney can analyze the facts of your specific case to help determine what’s next, but the following are steps that you should Immediately after an accident:
Notify a Supervisor
If you are hurt while on the job, stop working immediately and let your supervisor know what happened. Notifying your supervisor is not only important for workers compensation, but it also makes it clear that the injury happened at work and gives you a chance to put your version of events on the record first. While you should notify your supervisor as quickly as you can, this does not mean that you need to go into extreme detail on the accident before you have had the chance to speak with a Boulder injury attorney.
Seek Medical Attention if Injured
Even if you think your injuries are relatively minor, consider seeking a medical examination. If you do see a doctor, follow all of your doctor’s recommendations and keep all of the paperwork that you receive throughout the treatment process. Getting medical attention quickly is important for a couple of different reasons. For starters, injuries that seem minor might be more severe than they initially appear and letting a doctor check them out can prevent them from getting worse. In addition, seeing a doctor soon after the accident happens prevents the other side from arguing that your injuries are not are serious as you’re claiming that they are or that they are unrelated to the accident.
Document the Accident
After an accident, take some time to document what happened as thoroughly as you can. In an oil field accident, this can include taking pictures of the scene and your injuries, getting contact information for anyone who may have also witnessed or been present for what happened, and writing everything that down in detail as soon as you get the chance.
Speak with a Boulder Workplace Injury Lawyer
If you attempt to negotiate a fair settlement for your injuries on your own, the other parties involved will likely make offers that do not fully compensate you for what happened, downplay your injuries, and take advantage of the fact that you are not a lawyer. The best way to safeguard yourself against attacks like this is to hire the right attorney to look out for your interests. Zinda Law Group Boulder oil field injury lawyers have the experience to advocate on your behalf and help you pursue maximum compensation.
Who’s at fault for an oil field injury?
One of the key initial steps in any claim for damages is to determine who is potentially liable for causing them. This not only determines who a claim is filed against, but the identity of the party against whom a claim is filed determines in large part what an effective strategy for seeking compensation will be. For oil field injuries, there are a few different parties who could potentially be held liable.
Employers
In most cases, the company that is in charge of running an oil field is responsible for any accidents that occur onsite. Employers are required to follow all applicable safety regulations, provide their workers with the proper equipment to get their jobs done safely, and conduct regular safety inspections to make sure things are running smoothly. Failure in any of these areas can result in an injury to an employee.
Negligence cases on an oil field will typically be handled through workers’ compensation claims. Worker’s compensation is a form of insurance that covers the costs of an employee’s injuries when they are injured on the job. In Colorado, all businesses with employees are required to have workers’ compensation insurance, which means an oil field company may not be held directly liable for their negligence. However, an employee may be able to file a claim directly against the company if their employer exhibited something more than negligence, such as gross negligence or even recklessness.
Manufacturers
Sometimes, oil field accidents can be caused by faulty equipment. While the companies who run oil fields are responsible for conducting regular checks and making sure that their machines are properly maintained, the manufacturers themselves are responsible for providing the fields with fully-functional machines free of defects. If a piece of machinery is defective, either because of defective design or production, the manufacturer could be liable for worker injuries.
Third Party Liability
Sometimes, oil field accidents can be caused by the negligence of third parties as opposed to the company running the worksite themselves. For example, a driver may run their car into someone driving a vehicle on behalf of the oil field. It is critical to seek the advice of Boulder oil field injury lawyers to determine what your case could be worth and discuss how the identity of the liable party affects your next steps.
Common injuries from oil field accidents
Given the variety of ways that injuries can occur at an oil field site, there are several types of injuries that may result from an accident. These injuries can range greatly both in terms of type, as well as severity:
Head and Brain Injuries
There are many different kinds of head injuries, but common examples include concussions and skull fractures. They can range from minor issues that can be treated with a few days of monitored rest, to more severe problems that require lengthy stays in the hospital and even multiple surgeries. Head injuries also present another potential problem in that their symptoms can sometimes resemble other conditions, so it is critical that you consult a doctor for a diagnosis.
Burns
Because fires and explosions are one of the inherent risks to working on an oil field, burn injuries are a common occurrence. Small fires might not cause a bad burn, but an explosion could cause extremely intense burns. Burns can also worsen if they involve some sort of chemical as opposed to a burn that only involves fire.
Neck and Back Injuries
Working in an oil field is different from many other types of jobs because workers are often asked to complete many physically demanding activities. These activities often include lifting heavy objects or straining to move heavy machinery. If not done properly, this type of activity can lead to neck and back injuries. Neck and back injuries can result from a lot of stress on the body over time, or they can happen suddenly.
Soft Tissue Injuries
Soft tissue injuries, like sprains or tears, are other types of injuries that occur as a result of repetitive physical movement. Again, depending on exactly how they come about, soft tissue injuries can range from mild to severe. No matter what type of injury you sustained, the Zinda Law Group Boulder injury attorneys can help you pursue fair compensation.
What is my case worth?
By now, you are probably wondering what your case could be worth in monetary compensation. Dealing with the aftermath of an oil field injury isn’t cheap, and this is an important consideration for accident victims and their families. There is no surefire way to estimate what you may be eligible to receive in compensation at the outset of every case, but there are a few factors that can help give an idea of what a case could be worth.
Damages in a case are typically comprised of both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are the objective, tangible damages that victim sustains because of an accident. They can include things like medical bills, damaged property, or lost wages from the time that you were unable to work due to injury. Non-economic damages, on the other hand, are more difficult to quantify. This category of damages refers to the mental, physical, and even emotional pain and suffering that an accident victim undergoes because of their injuries.
Some accident victims may also be able to ask for punitive damages, which are damages that serve to punish a wrongdoer and serve as a warning to deter others from acting the same way. These kinds of damages, however, are reserved for cases where someone acts particularly recklessly or even purposefully.
Call zinda law group’s Boulder oil field injury lawyers today at (800) 863-5312 for a 100% free consultation
At Zinda Law Group, we believe that an injury victim shouldn’t have to worry about their ability to afford legal representation. That’s why we offer our No Win, No Fee Guarantee, which means that you won’t pay us anything until we win your case for you. Call Zinda Law Group’s injury attorneys now to learn more.
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Jason Aldridge
Attorney
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