Tulsa Drilling Accident Lawyers
Strong advocacy for victims and families of Oklahoma drilling accidents
Oil and natural gas excavation is the lifeblood of the state economy. It provides good paying jobs for workers. The drilling also provides the energy the state and the country needs. There are extreme risks though. Drilling work is extremely dangerous. Many workers die or suffer life-changing injuries due to explosions, fire, falls, and other drilling accidents.
At Biby Law Firm, our Tulsa drilling accident lawyers understand how dangerous oil drilling work is. We understand that each moment of every day, disaster could strike. That’s why we file personal injury claims on behalf of injured workers. We want to help ensure that dedicated oilfield workers are compensated for the risks they took to serve their families, communities, and country. Compensation includes payment for all your medical bills. It includes payment for all your wages. Compensation also includes payments for the daily aches and pains of living with severe burns and other oil drilling injuries.
What are the various types of oil drilling accidents?
There are numerous dangers when drilling for oil. The dangers of drilling for oil are in addition to the dangers of gathering the oil once it’s been recovered, refined, and shipping it through a pipeline network to homes and business throughout the nation.
- Fires. Just one spark can cause a major explosion because oil is highly flammable. Once an oil fire starts, the fire can be extremely hard to put out because the oil acts as continual fuel for the fire. Fires can also lead to explosions.
- Blowouts. Blowouts often occur while drilling. Blowouts are due to excess pressure which can force oil and gases to rise up out of the well and escape above the ground. The released oil and gas can damage the oil rig. The blowout can harm any drilling workers, oil rig workers, roughnecks, or derrick workers.
- Oil derrick incidents. Workers may fall from a tall oil derrick leading to the death, traumatic brain injuries if they strike their head, spinal cord damage, broken bones, and other injuries. Many of the injuries from oil derrick falls are permanent.
- Slips and falls. In addition to falls from derricks, oilfield workers who do drilling work can fall at any time if the oil substances stick to their boots. While rigs should have handrails and “no slip” flooring – falls are still a constant risk in oilfield work.
- Dangerous chemicals. Drilling accidents can also include exposure to dangerous toxins which can be life-threatening. Toxins can cause long-term breathing difficulties, diseases, skin damage, and other consequences. Some of the dangerous chemicals that may be released include methane, mercury-based compounds, hydrogen sulfide, and possibly carbon monoxide. Some chemicals such as methane and benzene are known to cause cancer through constant exposure
- Electrocution incidents. Most drilling sites require diesel generators and electrical wiring to run communication systems, computers, and chemical laboratories. The insulation on the wires can become damaged and deliver electrical shocks and currents.
Many injuries and deaths occur on drilling rigs due to workers being fatigued. However, oil companies are often desperate for workers hire workers with limited drilling experience or even no drilling experience. In addition, Drilling workers who work on rigs may even be struck by lightning if the oil rigs workers are allowed to work in adverse weather conditions.
How can an experienced Tulsa drilling accident lawyer help?
At Biby Law Firm, we care about our clients. Our lawyers take the time to listen to each client to fully understand what happened and why his/her life is not the same due to the drilling accident. We work with the federal and state agencies assigned to conduct any reviews, and with oil field professionals who understand the safety protocols, preventive measures, and the types of modern equipment and machines that should be used. Our Tulsa oil field injury lawyers conduct extensive discovery to determine who is responsible and why they are responsible, such as:
- Oral and written questions. The questions are directed at the companies, the supervisors, maintenance crews, coworkers, and anyone who has knowledge about the accident.
- Requests for documentation. These documents include any contracts that determine ownership and responsibility. They include any complaints or prior investigations. Document requests also include many other records, filings, and reports that can shed light on what safety measures should have been taken.
We work with your doctors, specialists such as burn specialists, and therapists to verify all your medical difficulties – past, present, and future.
What kinds of damages can I seek for an oil drilling injury?
If you are employee, you may be forced to file a workers’ compensation claim. Workers’ compensation is a no-fault program run by the state of Oklahoma to help those who are injured on the job. You can collect 70% of your wages, and may be entitled to additional funds for rehabilitation, scarring and disfigurement, vocational training, and/or the death of a loved one.
If your injuries are truly catastrophic, or if you are an independent contractor, site visitor, or non-employee, you can file a personal injury lawsuit. Your lawsuit can make a claim for:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages and loss of future income potential
- Pain and suffering
- Disfigurement/Scarring
- Property damages and losses
- Permanency of Injuries
- Talk with a premier Tulsa drilling accident lawyer today
- Funeral and burial expenses in the event of a wrongful death claim
At Biby Law Firm, our Oklahoma drilling accident attorneys explain when you can pursue a personal injury or wrongful death claim and when you must file a workers’ compensation claim. We work aggressively and quickly to determine which companies should be defendants. We then fight to show each defendant failed to protect your or you loved one. We’ve obtained many very high settlements and verdicts through negotiated settlements with the insurance companies for the defendants. We try courses in court before a jury when necessary.
Experienced Tulsa oil field injury lawyers representing victims of drilling accidents
For help with your drilling accident case, call Biby Law Firm at 918-505-7662 or fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment. We proudly represent all of Oklahoma including the communities of Tulsa, Broken Arrow, Bixby, Claremore, Grove, Jenks, Sand Springs, Sapulpa, Wagoner, Muskogee, and the surrounding areas.