When oilfield equipment is defective, left in disrepair, or improperly trained workers are left to operate these dangerous pieces of machinery, there can be serious accidents as a result. Unfortunately, these kinds of situations are far too common. With an industry in heavy demand, oil and gas drilling companies will cut corners in an attempt to save money and push untrained workers into action before they are ready.
Oilfield equipment accidents can leave workers with painful, life-altering injuries. These injured workers can get the compensation they need by making a personal injury claim against the oil and gas company. Oil and gas companies will often put up a fight before paying an injured worker what they are due. We are here to hold them accountable. If you have been injured in an oilfield equipment accident due to someone else’s negligence, contact Pringle & Herigstad.
Causes of Oilfield Equipment Accidents in North Dakota
The heavy equipment used on oilfields must be properly maintained to function safely. Workers involved in the operation of these large-scale types of machinery must be properly trained in order to be able to safely and properly operate them. Unfortunately, these are things that fall by the wayside. Oil and gas companies do not want to pause production in the name of proper training or proper maintenance and that rush towards profits over people can leave workers exposed to great risk of injury due to an oilfield equipment accident.
Oilfield equipment accidents will often arise due to malfunctioning equipment. These malfunctions are commonly caused by:
- Improper use
- Lack of maintenance
- Manufacturing defect
- Defect in design
- Improper welding
- Fatigued metal
- Corrosion
- Overstress
When an equipment accident occurs, the oil rig itself can collapse. Workers may be pinned under the collapsed equipment and may be struck by broken rig pieces and debris. The resulting injuries can be devastating. This is just one tragic scenario of an oilfield equipment accident laying waste to all involved.
Common Types of Oilfield Equipment Accident Injuries
When oilfield equipment fails or malfunctions, workers are often injured as a result. The heavy machinery and equipment used in an oilfield are dangerous. Workers are likely to have sustained multiple injuries in such accidents, which commonly include:
- Crushed limbs necessitating amputation
- Burns
- Broken bones
- Head injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Contusions
- Lacerations
- Neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Burn injuries
It is also important to note that many times these accidents prove fatal. Oil and gas work is dangerous and this industry has some of the highest numbers of fatalities.
Damages Available in an Oilfield Equipment Accident Claim
For those injured in oilfield equipment accidents, it can be difficult to process the fact that the accident was preventable. With proper equipment maintenance and adequate training for workers, oilfield work may remain dangerous, but many accidents can be avoided. Bringing an injury claim following an oilfield equipment accident can remind oil and gas companies that they must take reasonable steps to keep workers safe.
Bringing an injury claim can also provide an injured oilfield worker much-needed compensation after such a traumatic life event. Injured workers are often left with insurmountable medical bills and the prospect of needing ongoing care and physical therapy. They are also often left facing the reality that they may not be able to go to work again and, if they can, they may need to take a job that pays significantly less. For families that depend on oilfield workers for financial support, this can be devastating news. In successfully bringing an oilfield equipment accident claim, however, workers can be compensated for:
- Medical costs
- Cost of future medical care
- Rehabilitation costs
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Pain and suffering
You do not have to carry the financial burden that can befall an injured oilfield worker. There are legal mechanisms in place to help move that burden to those responsible for the accident.
Contact Our Oilfield Equipment Accident Attorneys in North Dakota
After an oilfield accident leaves you injured, you do not have to go it alone. Our team is here to support you during this difficult time. There is no need to carry the heavy burdens left piled on you all by yourself. We are skilled at pursuing oil and gas companies and seeing to it that they pay injured workers what they are due.
It can be easy to be intimidated by standing up to these companies, but we do not shy away from a fight. Our vast experience handling such claims means that we know the games they try to play in avoiding paying out what an injured worker is legally entitled to and we are not falling for them. After an oilfield equipment accident, do not hesitate to reach out to our office for assistance. Contact our office today so we can begin fighting to enforce your legal rights to full and fair compensation for the harm you have suffered.
Pringle & Herigstad, P.C. is committed to supporting individuals in North Dakota, including Grand Forks and Minot, as well as the surrounding areas, who have suffered from oilfield equipment accidents. Our dedicated team is here to provide legal assistance and guidance to those facing the complex challenges that arise from these incidents.
