Danger in the Field
In 2010, the offshore oil rig, Deepwater Horizon, exploded off the coast of Louisiana. Over one hundred people escaped the catastrophe, but eleven people did not.
Land or sea, drilling is dangerous work. In April of this year, an oil field accident in Oklahoma City took the life of a 45-year-old man pinned beneath a broken hydraulic line. By the time several workers were able to free him, his heart had stopped.
With growing economic interest in domestic oil production, drilling work reliably provides what we need — jobs and petroleum. However, roughneck work is dangerous and unpredictable, and is growing more hazardous with the toxic chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing today.
A media report on the dangers of the drilling boom in Oklahoma cites nine oil field deaths since October 2011. Large, fast-moving equipment, high pressure and dangerous materials combine to cause a range of injuries, including:
- Crush and caught-between injuries
- Burns, explosions, fire and electrocution
- Falls
- Hits by falling or moving equipment
- Injuries from defective equipment
- Poisoning and exposure to toxic chemicals
Compensation for oil field injury
If injured in the field, talk to an oil field lawyer in Oklahoma City. While compensation for most injuries is provided through workers compensation, third party damages may be available from a contractor, manufacturer or other party. Contacting an experienced legal counsel is vital if you are seriously injured or disabled, or if a loved one is killed.
Struck by a boom, suffocated under debris, burned by accident — the perils of drilling and extraction jobs are great. If you are injured, make sure you know your options. Contact Cunningham & Mears when you have questions about danger in the field.
Ryan Y. Cunningham is a founding partner of Cunningham & Mears. Mr. Cunningham devotes his practice to protecting the rights of injured Oklahoma residents. In addition to assisting injured clients, Mr. Cunningham endeavors to improve personal injury representation by speaking on issues related to personal injury law to attorneys in continuing legal education courses and to law students. Learn More