Oil Field Accidents: An Overview of the Causes and Impacts (Pt. 2)

Picking up from where Oil Field Accidents: An Overview of the Causes and Impacts (Pt. 1) left off, below we will resume our discussion of oil field accidents.

While the first part of this blog series took an in-depth look at the types and causes of oil field accidents, here, we will focus on some of the things that can be done to protect workers, as well as their options for compensation if they end up being involved in oil field accidents.

Mitigating the Damage Caused by Oil Field Accidents

While Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) officials and other safety regulators have recognized the need to step up the monitoring and regulation of oil field companies’ operations, there are some things that can be done immediately to help protect workers in the event oil field accidents occur during their shifts. 

Specifically, some of the ways that the damage from oil field accidents can be mitigated include by:

• Properly training new workers on safety procedures
• Conducting ongoing safety training for oil field workers
• Providing workers with essential personal protective gear (like helmets, safety googles, gloves, safety vests, etc.)
• Installing safety railings and other features that can limit the risks of falling and other accidents
• Posting warning signs near heavy machinery to alert workers to be especially careful in and around such areas.

After Oil Field Accidents: Injured Workers’ Options for Compensation

Despite all of the measures that workers and oil companies may take to try to reduce the incidence of oil field accidents and better protect workers, the tragic reality is that these accidents will still happen and, as a result, will still cause some people to sustain serious injuries.

For these injured workers, the following may be some of their options for obtaining compensation after being involved in oil field accidents: 

• Filing workers’ compensation claims – This option can provide people with essential benefits, including compensation for their medical bills and lost wages as they focus on recovering from the injuries they sustained in oil field accidents.
• Filing a personal injury lawsuit against the negligent parties – When a negligent party may be a contractor, vendor or some other entity (aside from an oil company that employs a worker), filing a lawsuit against the negligent party may also be an option for injured workers.

Whether injured workers should pursue one option over another (or whether possibly both of the above options are viable) will depend on the specifics of the accident, and an experienced attorney can lay out the best options for obtaining the maximum possible compensation after oil field accidents.

Mount Vernon Oil Field Accident Lawyers at the Law Firm of Hassakis & Hassakis, P.C.

Have you or a loved one been hurt in an oil field accident? Or have you lost a loved one in a fatal oil field accident? If so, the Mount Vernon oil field accident lawyers at the Law Firm of Hassakis & Hassakis, P.C. are here for you. Since 1950, we have been dedicated to:

• Providing our clients throughout Southern Illinois with the highest quality of legal services
• Helping them get the maximum possible compensation for their losses and injuries so they can focus on recovery and moving on with their life.

Contact Us Today

You can receive a professional, free case evaluation by setting up an initial consultation with us. To schedule this meeting, call (888) 896-9381 or email us using the form at the upper right-hand side of the page. We can provide you with a thorough assessment of your case, along with professional advice regarding the best manner in which to move forward with your claim.