Colorado Oilfield Injury Lawyers

Oilfield Injuries & Safety Regulations

Safety Regulations on an Oilfield

Some of the different types of safety regulations oilfield workers in Colorado should be prepared to follow include:

• Blowout prevention equipment being installed and tested
• Constant well control
• CPR-trained individual and first aid kits at worksites
• Emergency eye and body wash stations
• Equipment cleaning and maintenance requirements
• Fall protection gear for work 10 feet above the lower surface
• Hard hats, eye protection, and safety-toe footwear requirements
• Hazardous substances properly labeled
• Immediate accident and injury reporting and treatment
• Immediate worker supervision
• Loose or flammable clothing, jewelry that can be snagged, and loose hair prohibited
• Minimum equipment and machinery standards
• Minimum training requirements
• Personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements, including hearing and respiratory protection
• Rig floor supervision
• Vehicle minimum distance requirements

Common Oilfield Accidents

Our team of Colorado oilfield accident attorneys are prepared to help gas and oil workers who have been involved in any of the following types of oil field accidents:

• Struck by object accidents
• Slip and falls
• Poisoning incidents
• Personal protection equipment (PPE) failures
• Other transportation accidents
• Oil well fires
• Oil well blowouts
• Oil truck accidents
• Machinery and equipment malfunctions
• Hazardous material exposure
• Falls from heights
• Drilling accidents

Common Oilfield Injuries

Some of the most common types of injuries you might suffer from while working on an oilfield include the following:

• Chemical burn injuries
• Crush injuries
• Facial and dental injuries
• Bone fractures
• Neck and back injuries, including herniated discs, ruptured discs, and fractured vertebrae
• Respiratory injuries
• Severe lacerations
• Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
• Torn ligaments, tendons, and muscles
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Traumatic or surgical amputations
• Vision or hearing loss
• Whiplash

Oilfield Accident Damages

There are a wide array of damages that could be paid out in your oilfield accident, depending on the specific details of your case. For many oilfield workers who suffered injuries, you may be able to recover workers’ compensation benefits.

Since Colorado law mandates that all employers carry workers’ compensation protection coverage, you may be able to recover for the following:

• Your medical bills
• Costs of going back to school or obtaining further job training
• Disability benefits to replace a portion of your lost income
• Death benefits to surviving family members of deceased oilfield workers

There are certain instances in which employers may not have the insurance coverage needed or you may not qualify for workers’ comp benefits. If this is the case, you may have the option of filing a third-party liability claim. Your personal injury lawyer will need to show that someone else’s negligence contributed to your oilfield accident injuries.

In filing a third-party liability personal injury claim, you may be able to seek compensation for both economic damages and non-economic damages, some of which could include:

• Loss of income
• Loss of employee benefits, including paid time off and health insurance
• Costs of your current and future medical expenses
• Disfigurement, skin scarring, and dismemberment
• Diminished earning capacity
• Professional reputational damages
• Emotional distress and mental anguish
• Fear, embarrassment, shame, anticipation, and shock
• Physical pain and chronic suffering
• Diminished quality of life and loss of consortium

Fatal Oilfield Accidents

If you lost a loved one in a fatal Colorado oilfield accident, you may have additional opportunities for financial relief. By filing a wrongful death claim, you may have the right to recoup certain types of economic and non-economic damages. You must be sure you have the authority to file the claim as well. Your attorney can review your relationship to the decedent to determine whether you have that right.

If you were interested in filing a wrongful death claim for a fatal oilfield accident, you must do so before the two-year statute of limitations expires according to Colorado Revised Statute Section 13–80–102. Failure to file your claim within two years of the decedent’s death means you will lose your right to have your case heard at trial.

Who’s At Fault for an Oilfield Accident?

Although workers’ compensation benefits may not be dependent on proving fault or negligence, a third party claim requires fault to be established.

Some of the parties most commonly named in oilfield accident lawsuits include:

• Oil field workers
• Oil field supervisor
• Oil well operators
• Your employer
• The property owner
• Machinery owners
• Equipment owners
• Equipment manufacturers
• Machinery manufacturers
• Maintenance workers
• Safety inspectors

Oilfield Accident Claims Process

The process for recovering compensation after an oilfield accident is relatively simple when you have an experienced personal injury lawyer at Kemmy Law Firm advocating for you. Here is a general idea of what to expect:

• Your attorney will investigate to gather evidence and establish liability
• Your lawyer goes over the details of your case to determine whether you are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits
• Your lawyer files a claim with the workers’ comp insurance provider if applicable
• Your oilfield accident lawyer determines whether you have the right to pursue the claim and files necessary court documents
• Your attorney negotiates with insurance adjusters and liable parties to obtain a settlement outside of court
• We bring your case to court if we are unable to get the insurance company or liable party to compensate you fairly for your damages

Contact Kemmy Law Firm Today

Oilfield accident injuries can destroy victims’ lives. You must identify all the at-fault parties in your case so you can recover the compensation you need.

Start working on your insurance claims and civil lawsuits as soon as today when you schedule your free consultation with our experienced Colorado oilfield injury lawyers at Kemmy Law Firm. You can fill out our convenient contact form or call us at (432) 400-0000 to schedule your no-cost, risk-free consultation today.