The oil industry is booming, with more people working the oil fields than ever before. Unsurprisingly, many more workers are suffering injuries as well. No one should underestimate how dangerous working in an oil field is.
If you have suffered an injury, you need a committed North Dakota oil field injury lawyer by your side from the very start. In many cases, it is possible to receive full compensation for your injuries, but you will need to act fast.
Types of Oil Field Accidents
An oil worker can suffer an injury in a variety of ways, such as:
- Carbon monoxide poisoning or exposure to sulfur hydroxide fumes.
- Explosions and chemical fires often caused by defective equipment, safety lapses, or poorly trained employees.
- Trench or mine collapses.
Often, the cause of these accidents is a lack of adequate safety or emergency protocols. Many employers overwork their workers, who become careless and end up causing accidents as a result. Had your employer been more safety-conscious, many of these accidents could have been avoided.
Oil Field Injuries
Many workers suffer devastating injuries in the field, including:
- Burns
- Broken bones
- Cuts or lacerations
- Crushed limbs or amputations
- Internal organ damage
- Nerve damage
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injury
- Head injuries
- Back injuries
Lastly, we should mention that many workers end up dying in the field. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), 823 oil field workers were killed on the job between 2003 and 2010. This represents a fatality rate that is seven times greater than the fatality rate for all other industries.
If you have suffered an injury, no matter how small, you should immediately seek medical attention. Also, tell your employer so that they know.
Oil Field Injuries and Workers’ Compensation
North Dakota’s workers’ compensation system exists to provide quick medical benefits to injured workers.
So long as you were injured on the job, your employer’s insurer should pay all reasonably necessary medical expenses. It does not matter who was to blame—workers’ compensation benefits are “no fault,” and you could be to blame for your own injuries.
Workers’ compensation also has a disability benefit that covers a portion of your lost wages if you cannot return to work. The amount you receive will depend on your current wages and how injured you are.
Suing for Your Injuries
One negative of the workers’ compensation system is that injured employees cannot sue their employer, even if the company was negligent and responsible for the accident that injured them. This is the trade-off for receiving no-fault benefits.
But in certain circumstances, you might be able to bring a lawsuit against a party responsible for the accident. For example, if the equipment was defective, then you can often sue the manufacturer that is to blame.
Bringing this type of third-party lawsuit can significantly increase the amount of compensation you receive. You can get full lost wages as well as compensation for pain and suffering and mental distress. To see if you have a valid third-party claim, you should meet with a North Dakota oil field injury attorney as soon as possible.
We are Here to Help
Injured oil field workers need financial help to recover and support their families.
However, injured workers also need to focus full-time on getting well. At Fadduol, Cluff, Hardy & Conaway, we can do the heavy lifting and help you get the money you need to pay for all of your sudden expenses.
Two of our attorneys, Jeffrey Cluff and Josh Conaway, are licensed in North Dakota. We have won cases against some of the largest oil companies in the United States and are prepared to fight for you.
If you need assistance, please reach out to us today by calling us or sending us a message online. You can meet with one of our North Dakota oil field injury attorneys for a free initial consultation.