Is Preserving Evidence Vital at an Oilfield Accident Scene?

Oilfield accidents can produce devastating injuries in an instant. If you sustained an injury in an oilfield accident, you may be overwhelmed and unsure how to proceed. Following the right process can help ease some of the burden.

One actionable step you can take after your accident is preserving and collecting evidence to support your compensation claim. Preserving as much evidence as possible after the accident can assist your case. 

Evidence Supports Your Claim for Compensation 

Evidence is key in your oilfield accident claim. The more evidence you have when filing a claim, the smoother it will go, and the better your chances of securing fair compensation. 

When filing a claim, you’ll need to show that:

• There was an accident.
• The accident injured you.
• You experienced damages (i.e., medical bills, pain and suffering, and/or time off work).

Preserving evidence at the scene gives you access to more proof to use in your accident case. 

Valuable Evidence Is Lost Once You Leave the Scene

You’ll want to preserve as much evidence as possible at the scene of the oilfield accident. Once you leave the scene, much of the evidence of the incident becomes lost. 

If you can, take photos and videos of the accident scene showing what happened. Take note of who was nearby when the accident occurred; you may be able to use their testimony as evidence in your case. 

You should also call a supervisor to the scene of the accident to write an incident report. This report will detail the accident’s time, date, location, and other pertinent details to include in your claim. 

Walking away from the accident scene without completing these steps will only make securing compensation more challenging. Instead, collect as much evidence as possible before leaving the scene. 

You May Want Be Able To Hold A Third Party Directly Liable 

Sometimes, oilfield accidents happen because of misjudgment or because the circumstances happened to align to cause an accident. In the oilfield its not unusual for a number of different companies to be on location working together.   When companies, who are not your direct employer, may have caused or contributed to your accident, you can make a claim directly against them.

It may be that the other company  violated Occupational Safety and Health Administration guidelines and failed to take the proper safety measures to prevent an accident. Or maybe they neglected to maintain equipment that then malfunctioned and caused your oilfield injuries. 

If you suspect someone other than your employer was directly liable for the accident, you may be able to seek compensation through a lawsuit instead of a workers’ compensation claim. With the help of an oilfield accident lawyer, you could seek both economic and non-economic damages, such as:

• Medical bills
• Time off work
• Loss of ability to work
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress

In any event, evidence is key in accident cases and lawsuits. You’ll need to preserve as much evidence at the scene as possible to show that your employer was liable for the accident. 

Fadduol, Cluff, Hardy & Conaway: Your Oilfield Accident Lawyers

Fadduol, Cluff, Hardy & Conaway, P.C. is dedicated to helping oilfield workers maintain safe working environments. When accidents occur, we help oilfield workers maximize their compensation through a workers’ compensation claim, a claim against their employer, or a third-party claim. 

We’ll help you gather evidence to support your case. Contact Fadduol, Cluff, Hardy & Conaway, P.C. today by filling out our contact form or giving us a call at (800) 433-2408.