Hurt on the Job While Working in a California Oil Field? You Aren’t Alone.
You can’t talk about the Bakersfield, California economy without mentioning oil fields. And you can’t talk about oil fields without mentioning employee injuries.
Not counting federally owned lands in the Gulf of Mexico, California is the third-largest oil-producing state in the country. Much of that oil activity is based right here in Kern County.
Oil production is important work. The United States as we know it couldn’t function without the oil industry. But unfortunately, it’s also very dangerous work. Serious, life-changing injuries aren’t uncommon. Neither are fatalities.
To help protect workers, state and federal law impose tight regulations on the oil industry. Among other things, employers in the industry must exercise great care to ensure the safety of their workers.
Sadly, these companies frequently skirt the law’s strict requirements. In the name of efficiency, expediency, and the almighty dollar, employers too often expose their laborers to unreasonable and unnecessary danger.
When that happens, the workers and their families may be entitled to economic compensation for their suffering.
Because the injuries in these cases tend to be rather severe — and sometimes fatal — the claimants are often looking at large sums of money. Accordingly, the employers and their insurance companies take a tough stance on compensation (even in the face of a legitimate claim) in the hopes of saving every dollar they can.
As Bakersfield oil field accident lawyers, it is our job to hold oil fields and other oil facilities accountable to state and federal law. That means fighting back against these companies when they try to unfairly drag out and delay claims. It also means insisting that insurance companies appraise these claims in good faith and pay victims the full value of what they’re owed.
Common Oil Field Injuries in Kern County, California
Few careers are as dangerous as work in an oil field. While some of the dangers are inherent to the occupation, workers are nevertheless entitled to a reasonable expectation of safety.
Stated differently: when you or your loved one goes to work in an oil field — performing difficult but imperative job tasks — you deserve to know that your employer is doing everything required of it to keep you safe from harm.
When oil facilities fail to hold up their end of the bargain, the consequences can be devastating. Typical oilfield accidents include:
- Falling off rigs
- Falls from heights
- Falling tools or equipment
- Slip and falls
- Defective equipment or machinery
- Electrocution
- Fires, explosions, or blast injuries
- Well blowouts
- Chemical spills
- Toxic fumes inhalation / toxic exposure
- Job-related transportation accidents
The injuries stemming from these accidents can be moderate, catastrophic, or even fatal. They might include:
- Broken bones
- Amputation
- Hearing or vision loss
- Disfigurement
- Partial or total paralysis
- Reduced range of motion
- Severe pain
- Amputation
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Spinal cord injuries
- Wrongful death
In many cases, those who survive an oil field injury in California are still too badly hurt to return to work.
Filing an Oil Field Injury Lawsuit in CA: How Much Can You Recover in Kern County?
After an unexpected accident, your employer might tell you that your only recourse is through the California Workers’ Comp system. But that might not be true.
Neither your employer nor the insurance companies have your best interest at heart. You may be entitled to considerable compensation outside of Workers’ Comp.
In fact, your ultimate recovery might include reimbursement for:
• Medical expenses
• Physical therapy
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Lost wages since the accident
• Lost wages in the future due to disability inability to return to work
• Loss of love and support (in wrongful death cases)
• Additional damages related to the injury
The precise value of your claim will depend on the facts of your case, and no one can guarantee a specific outcome. It is, however, in your best interest to consult with an experienced team of Bakersfield oil field accident lawyers before you talk with the insurance company or accept any offers from your employer.
At The Law Offices of Mickey Fine, we can help you understand your rights under the law and arrive at a ballpark estimate of how much your claim might be worth.
Experienced Legal Representation for California Oil Field Injury Victims
If you or someone you love has been injured or killed in connection with the California oil industry, you could be entitled to more money than you realize.
At The Law Offices of Mickey Fine, we are committed to maximizing the value of victims’ compensation in these cases.
We offer years of specific, hands-on experience in oil field accident litigation. We know how to counter these companies and their insurers so that your best interests are heard.
Let us fight for your rights. You’ll only pay for our services if we’re successful in recovering money for your claim.
To set up a free, no-obligation consultation with our Bakersfield oil field accident lawyers, please call us, text us, or use our online form right away.
Additionally, our services are available to oil field victims in any other part of the state. Please contact us as early as possible.