Oil Rig Accident Lawyers in Bakersfield, CA
Hundreds of people in Bakersfield, California are employed in the oil industry. While oil rigs provide numerous employment opportunities and are a boon to both our local economy and energy independence, they also provide numerous opportunities for traumatic injury. If you or a loved one has been involved in an oil field accident, you may need help from ourBakersfield Oilfield Accident Attorney.
If you were injured working in an oil field or a loved one was killed, you may be entitled to significant compensation.Bakersfield Personal Injury AttorneyMickey Fine has over 37 years of experience supporting victims of these accidents and is ready to take your case, fight for your rights and make sure you get the compensation you deserve.
Accident statistics on oil fields in California
According to a 2014 CDC report, 2 of the 43 deaths that occurred in the oil industry nationwide that year occurred in California. That number could have been reduced to zero if employers had made oil rigs a safer place for their employees.
Stunning statistics indicate that deaths and injuries in the oil fields are often the result of poor ground transportation policies. If land transport is proving to be extremely dangerous for workers in this sector, the oil companies must take action to reduce incidents in this workplace.
If you have been injured or someone you know has been injured or killed while working in a California oil field, we encourage you to speak to an oil field accident attorney about your rights. Compensating workers may not be the best course of action depending on the situation. Therefore, it is recommended that you speak to a personal injury attorney if your oilfield injury was caused by someone else's negligence.
Common causes of accidents in oil fields
Unless safety is a priority at work, drilling for oil can quickly become one of the most dangerous jobs in California. Between 2013 and 2014, the mortality rate in this occupation increased by 27%, with 142 deaths during that period. In fact, this was the highest mortality rate of any profession at the time.
There are many scenarios that can lead to injuries in the oil industry. Some of these include:
fires and explosions
Fires and explosions are the most common accidents in the oil industry. When drilling, flammable gases can escape from holes, react with air and cause explosions. Cutting and welding is also a common practice in the petroleum industry. Welding near these combustible materials can cause fire and explosion.
water falls
Worker falls are common in the oil industry. They are most common in areas with elevated platforms where workers can fall off the platforms onto the hard ground below and in some cases into the sea. These accidents are very dangerous, but many of them can be avoided by following the right safety guidelines.
electric shock
Chemicals and water are excellent conductors of electricity, and both are found on oil rigs. When they are present, they can make the simplest of tasks, like changing a lightbulb, very risky. Workers should always use electrical isolators to avoid electrocution and regularly conduct periodic safety inspections of their electrical equipment.
Getting hit by heavy objects
Oil field workers are constantly at risk of being hit by falling or moving objects on the job site. Cases of high-pressure rotating cables, pipes, chains and hoses hitting workers are not uncommon.
Get stuck in the machines
An oilfield worker's clothing and limbs are almost always at risk of becoming entangled in machinery while on the job. Accidents involving rotating chains, turntables and pipes can entangle workers' limbs and cause serious injury. Workers must be aware of their surroundings at all times to avoid serious injury.
Platform crashes and outages
An oil rig can collapse if it carries more weight than it should. Breakdowns also happen when proper maintenance is not followed. Any mechanical problem resulting from improper maintenance and upkeep greatly increases the likelihood of the platform collapsing.
dangerous chemicals
Oil rigs often encounter difficult-to-detect harmful chemicals such as hydrogen sulfide. The long-term effects of exposure to harmful chemicals like these often include respiratory paralysis, irregular heartbeat, burns, and death. It is important that workers take proper precautions to avoid exposure to chemicals, such as B. Wearing the correct gas mask.
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Frequent oilfield injuries
The most common fatal accidents on oil rigs are accidents in transit, accidents involving equipment and property, and explosions. However, these and other types of oil field accidents do not always result in death. Common injuries on oil rigs include:
burns
Oil rig equipment can generate fire, electricity, steam, and hot materials, all of which can severely burn a person's skin. Minor burns can heal relatively quickly, but severe burns can cause permanent, lifelong disfigurement, nerve damage, and severe pain.
brain injuries
Working near heavy equipment always poses a risk of head injury to the workers involved. Head injuries, both minor and severe, are very common injuries in the oil field and can have lifelong consequences.
deafness
Oilfield workers who work near noisy equipment most of the week often lose their hearing, preventing them from working efficiently and leading quality lives.
vision loss
Proper eye protection is essential when working with hot materials and oil to avoid loss of vision. If workers do not have proper eye protection, eye injuries can often result, resulting in partial and sometimes permanent loss of vision by the worker.
Amputation
Oilfield workers are almost constantly in the presence of heavy machinery, high temperatures, and harmful chemicals. When workers are close to these dangerous scenes on a daily basis, accidents are almost certainly a daily occurrence. Oilfield accidents can occur due to worker negligence and faulty equipment. If they happen and a serious injury occurs, the worker may lose a limb in the process.
Negligent homicide
In extreme circumstances, an accident at an oil field can result in death. While these circumstances are unfortunate, many of them could have been prevented. Luckily, with the help of personal injury attorney Mickey Fine, the family of the deceased is able to file a wrongful death lawsuit on their behalf.
These types of injuries result in excessive medical costs and can require long-term rehabilitation, although recovery is never guaranteed. An oil field accident can have catastrophic consequences that extend to all aspects of life, combining medical expenses with lost wages, the opportunity for home and lifestyle changes, and personal aches and pains.
How to avoid injury in oil fields
It is important to understand that both workers and employers have a responsibility to do their best to prevent accidents or injuries in the oilfields. There are some instances where injury is unavoidable, but there are steps you can take to ensure maximum safety for everyone involved:
- One aspect of the job that's often overlooked is simply following the oil company's safety recommendations. These must be taken very seriously by workers and employers alike. Employees are often given manuals that contain appropriate security measures that maximize their security. This material should not be forgotten.
- Workers must do everything in their power to stay alert while on the job. We understand that this may not be a foolproof strategy, but it's important to realize that vigilance can save your life.
- Workers and supervisors must be aware of unsafe working conditions in the workplace. Recognizing these hazards will prevent a number of avoidable accidents.
Compensation in oilfield injury cases
An oilfield injury attorney like Mickey Fine will make sure you get the proper compensation for your oilfield injury. The exact amount of compensation you can receive in your case will depend on a number of circumstances. In an oilfield injury case, you may be able to claim back compensation for losses including:
- medical bills
- pain and suffering
- emotional stress
- inability
- distortion
- Lohnausfall
In addition to the above claims for damages, you may also be entitled to punitive damages in your oilfield injury case. These represent additional awards you may receive for your claim. Mickey Fine can recover this damage if he proves that his injuries were the result of another party's negligence in his accident. Punitive damages not only get you extra money in your case, but also hold the guilty party accountable for their actions that led to your injury.
Why you should choose Mickey Fine
At Mickey Fine Law Firm, we firmly believe that victims of oil rig accidents deserve compensation for all of their injuries. For more than two decades, our Bakersfield oil rig accident attorney has been fighting for the rights of injured workers and helping them receive maximum compensation in the wake of these tragic events.
Mickey Fine works with each client individually. He will take the time to understand how your accident has and will continue to affect your life and will work through your case as much as necessary to ensure you get every penny that is due to you.
If you were injured or a loved one died in an oil field accident in or around Bakersfield, California, pleaseContactMickey Fine Law Offices to schedule a free initial consultation with our Bakersfield oilfield accident attorney today.
Law Offices of Mickey Fine - Bakersfield Office
Truxtún Avenue, 930, Buro 110
Bakersfield, CA 93301
(661) 333-3333