Workplace injuries are a scary thing. In 2021 alone, there were up to 2.6 million reported cases of workplace injuries and diseases. On the other hand, 5 thousand workers suffered fatal work injuries.
However, when you get injured at work, do you know what you should do? How about if the equipment was unstable or the site was risky and this led to you getting severely injured? If you’re not at fault, you can always get yourself compensation and legal representation for oil field injuries.
Read on to learn what you need to know about oil field injury compensation.
What Should You Do After an Oil Field Accident?
Do you possess genuine readiness when confronted with unforeseen accidents? The ominous potentialities from oil field accidents are enough to terrify anyone due to their capacity for a life-and-death situation.
Reinforcing yourself against whatever is hurled your way while working provides two-fold benefits: potentially saving countless lives – both yours and your fellow coworkers’ – while also assisting you in obtaining suitable financial compensation following severe injuries suffered on-site.
Knowing what to do in advance can become your secret move to receive the best price for your compensation. This can be essential when you get a serious injury in the field. Being prepared for what to do after an oil field accident will also help you find the right oil field injury lawyer in advance.
Your oil field injury lawyer will help you to fully cooperate with the authorities during the investigation. Also, follow the words of your medical professional and attend necessary follow-up checkups for your injuries. Cooperating with the investigation proves your commitment to finding the truth and can also help prevent similar accidents in the future.
So, what should you be doing after an oil field accident?
Find Help
Accidents can cause serious injuries so your first task is looking for injuries or damages in your body. Of course, you should look for a medical professional to check you over just in case.
Make sure you don’t delay your medical treatment since you may risk worsening your injuries. With delay, your employers will also doubt your injuries or assume you’re uninjured. This will definitely trouble you when you plan to recover your compensation.
Don’t be pressured by yourself or others to go back to work before you fully recover. Going back to your usual activities before your recovery date might make things worse. After all, oil accidents don’t only create physical injuries but also psychological and mental damage.
So to help yourself heal, be sure to take part in self-care activities to manage any emotional trauma you may have undergone. This includes exercise, therapy, or support groups. Prioritizing your recovery is the next big step for returning to a healthy and productive life.
Tell Your Employer
It’s essential to inform your enterprise or supervisor of the accident after ensuring you are safe. No matter the severity of your oil field accident, they must be informed as soon as possible.
Be sure to give them the intensive details of what happened. Bringing up any injuries received and any damage incurred. For insurance and criminal reasons, it’s vital to report the accident as soon as possible.
Gather Information
To strengthen your case and help any future claims, it is vital to document the accident scene. Take a few photos and videos of the accident site. Be sure to include pictures of the hazardous conditions and equipment involved.
What else should you be keeping as evidence for your compensation? Well, this includes…
- Medical bills
- Photos of injuries
- Prior safety investigation reports
- Witness statements
Those visual records can serve as valuable evidence for insurance claims and legal complaints. Additionally, ensure to observe the names and contact numbers of any witnesses who were present during the accident.
Available Financial Assistance Options
Oil field work always has unique risks to employees, and that means accidents can happen even with all precautions in place. So what can you do if you’re involved in an oil field accident but don’t have the cash for it? Here are your options:
Worker’s Compensation
What’s terrifying about oil field accidents is that they can cause some serious injuries. This includes fractures, burns, traumatic brain injuries, and spinal cord injuries. These injuries will definitely force you to stay home to take time off of work for some physical and mental healing. Some of these injuries might also need serious medical care and can lead to permanent disability, or even death.
The law can help you out here as employers are fully required to carry workers’ compensation insurance coverage. This is a type of insurance that can give you all that you need when you suffer from work-related injuries or illnesses.
Here are a few things that worker’s compensation can cover:
- Lost Wages: These are typically paid at the percentage of your average weekly wage that you earned prior to your injury
- Vocational Rehabilitation: Learn new skills and trades that will help you return to your workplace in a different capacity
- Disability or Death Benefits: You or your family will give additional compensation, including benefits that will cover your future medical bills, lost wages, and other financial losses as a result of the injury
Take note: worker’s compensation provides ‘no-faults’ benefits, which means that you gain these benefits regardless of whose fault it was. Of course, if you want this compensation, it’s best to talk with an oil field accident lawyer to guide you and support you during the claims process.
Personal Injury Lawsuit
Another way to get compensation for oil field injuries is by filing a personal injury lawsuit. If you’re going to file one, you’re going to have to find proof for the following:
- Duty of Care: Show that the responsible party has a legal duty to exercise care to prevent harm in oil field sites
- Breach of Duty: Demonstrate that the responsible party breached their duty of care through reckless behavior, negligence, or unsafe workplaces
- Causation: Show that the actions or negligence of the responsible party is what directly caused or contributed to your accident and injuries
- Damages: Provide proof of the injuries and damages that you’ve suffered as a result of the accident
The best way you can win your lawsuit is by hiring a workplace injury lawyer. They specialize in personal injuries and will be there for you from the gathering of evidence to representing you in court if needed.
Conclusion
When an accident occurs, you need to be ready for whatever happens, including financial preparation. We all know the risks that come with oil field jobs, so we should learn all about the rules and compensation in your workplace.
Browse through the rest of our guides to learn more about financial compensation! Not only those available from oil field injuries but for other work risks and injuries as well.
