What Damages Can Oil Field Workers Recover From an Oil Company?

Between  long hours, fatigued workers, heavy machinery and hazardous chemicals, oil field workers suffer injuries all too often. If you’re an oil field worker who suffered an injury on the job, you can seek compensation. 

The damages you can recover depend on your injuries and the circumstances surrounding your accident. An oil field accident attorney can help you determine what your options are. 

Filing a Claim Through Workers’ Compensation

Many states require employers to have workers’ compensation insurance. If your employer complies with this rule, you can likely collect workers’ compensation benefits to cover your lost wages and medical bills. 

If your company has workers’ compensation, then you will likely be prevented from filing a personal injury claims against your own employer; however, because there are so many situations in the oil field where numerous companies work together, many times the reason why injuries occur may be because of the negligence of individual who work for different companies.   You can bring personal injury claims against individuals and companies which are not your own.  

Factors That Determine What Damages You Can Collect

Not every oil field accident case is the same. Your oil field accident attorney will help you consider these factors to determine how much compensation you can pursue. 

What Was the Cause of the Accident?

First, you must identify the cause of the oil field accident. Common causes of oil field accidents include: 

• Chemical explosions
• Fires
• Vehicle accidents
• Collapsing platforms
• Heavy equipment accidents 
• Equipment failure
• Being forced to work at an unsafe speeds or excessive hours 

Who Is Liable?

Several parties could be liable for an oil field accident. In addition to the oil company, liable parties may include: 

• Manufacturing companies
• Contractors or subcontractors 
• Machine operators
• Drilling operators
• Regulatory agencies
• Maintenance companies 
• Company men or women

What Injuries Did You Sustain?

Your injuries can determine what damages you collect. Depending on the type of accident, you can suffer various injuries after an oil field accident, including: 

• Spinal cord and back injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries 
• Broken bones
• Burns
• Organ damage
• Amputated limbs

The more serious your injuries are, the more damages your oil field accident attorney can help you pursue. 

Types of Damages You Can Recover in a Personal Injury Lawsuit Against an Oil Company

When you win a personal injury lawsuit against an oil company, you may collect several types of damages.

Economic Damages

Economic damages account for your calculable losses due to the accident. This encompasses both immediate costs and future losses. Immediate costs may include medical and legal expenses, while long-term costs account for loss of income and reduced earning potential. 

These damages are simpler to calculate, as you can reference medical bills and pay stubs to add up your losses.

Non-Economic Damages

When you suffer injuries from an oil field accident, the damage isn’t limited to your bank account. You suffer emotional and physical pain. Non-economic damages account for these intangible losses, such as trauma, pain and suffering, and loss of quality of life. 

These damages can be more difficult to calculate, as it’s hard to put a value on trauma. However, an experienced oil field accident attorney can help you calculate this portion of your damages. 

Punitive Damages 

While punitive damages are rare, you may seek punitive damages if the liable party caused your accident intentionally. These damages seek to punish the guilty party rather than compensate you for your losses.

Injured in an Oil Field Accident? Contact Experienced Oil Field Accident Lawyers

The lawyers at Fadduol, Cluff, Hardy & Conaway, P.C. are ready to help you pursue damages for your oil field accident case. Now that you know what damages you can collect, an oil field accident attorney can help you understand the value of your claim based on the facts of your case and help you file the necessary paperwork.

Don’t wait. Each state has a statute of limitations for personal injury cases. If you wait too long, you could lose your chance to collect compensation. Call Fadduol, Cluff, Hardy & Conaway, P.C. at (800) 433-2408.