If you have been injured in an Alaska oil rig accident, contact The Law Office of Jason Skala, LLC for effective legal representation.

The United States is among the world’s top oil producers, with approximately 1,828 oil rigs located throughout the country. Oil rigs can be found in a number of states across the nation, however, Alaska, Louisiana, New Mexico, California, and Texas are where most of the country’s oil comes from. Most of Alaska’s oil rigs can be found in areas that are considered remote, so those working on oil rigs are generally sent to these areas for weeks at a time. Usually, the oil company they are working for will pay for their room and board as well as other necessary expenses. While earnings are considered high, working on an oil rig is an extremely dangerous job. Due to most Alaskan oil rig workers working strenuous shifts, increased productivity demands are always high, and there is usually always a shortage of oil field employees due to the rate at which they become injured. Working conditions for these employees can be very hectic, chaotic, and dangerous, and for these reasons, the chance of an oil rig accident occurring is high.

While a large percentage of accidents on oil rigs occur due to human error or negligence, severe and sometimes deadly accidents can take place due to equipment failure, harsh element exposure, and exposure to asbestos and hazardous chemicals. In the event that you or a loved one has been injured in an oil rig accident in Alaska, contacting an oil field accident lawyer as soon as you can is in your best interest. You will need an experienced and skilled Alaska oil rig accident attorney on your side in the event that you have sustained injuries due to an oil rig accident.

Oil rig accident injury cases are often evaluated according to admiralty/maritime law, a section of the law that oversees nautical issues and private maritime disputes. You may have been directed to contact an Alaska workers’ compensation lawyer, but most of these types of lawyers do not possess the knowledge and experience necessary to litigate complicated maritime law. It is best to hire a lawyer who is familiar with and specializes in these types of accidents. The Law Office of Jason Skala, LLC has the knowledge and experience necessary in order to provide you or your loved one with the financial compensation you may be entitled to after involvement in an Alaska oil rig accident. Jason Skala, an experienced oil rig accident lawyer in Alaska, will fight to win your claim so that you will be able to recover lost wages, medical bill payments, and more. He may be able to assist you in recovering financial compensation for punitive damages as well depending on the circumstances of your accident.

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Drilling for Oil Is a Dangerous Job

Drilling for oil in Alaska is a dangerous job. A number of things may go wrong at any given moment. Workers on an oil rig usually work an average of 12 hours per day for two weeks at a time. This can be extremely exhausting and cause severe fatigue that can result in delayed reaction times and poor judgment. Other serious risks also come with the job. Oil rig workers are often expected to handle dangerous materials while overhead cranes are swinging around. Extremely heavy equipment can be found all over an oil field. Oil field employers have an obligation to make the conditions in which their employees work “safe” however, navigating the field can be extremely dangerous.

Common Accidents that Occur
During Oil Drilling

When severe accidents on oil rigs take place, they can quickly become catastrophic in nature. Although many larger issues are usually able to be avoided, smaller mishaps can be catastrophic for workers and their families. Oil companies have been fined by the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) for millions of dollars due to unsafe working conditions. For these reasons among others, many people stay worried about the many inherent risks that come with this job.

Some of the most dangerous accidents that occur on oil rigs include:

  • Production tank fires/explosions.
  • Equipment sparking and catching fire with flammable liquids that then trigger explosions.
  • Swinging pipes, hanging cables, or casings striking workers.
  • Being crushed by heavy cargo or loads of heavy equipment.
  • Extremities becoming caught in heavy machinery.
  • Falling equipment due to improper maintenance.
  • Falling from unsecured ladders, derricks, hoists, platforms, unguarded heights, and slippery stairways.

What Types of Injuries Can Result
from These Accidents?

An oil rig accident can cause serious, life-threatening, or life-altering injuries. These can include severe crush injuries, burns, drownings, and near-drownings due to rig explosions and fires.

One of the most common types of accidents that occurs on an oil rig has to do with transportation. Transportation accidents are responsible for causing up to 50% of the industry’s fatalities in 2011. The second most common type of oil rig accident injury involves workers who are struck by equipment, either falling or swinging. These types of injuries accounted for 26 fatalities in 2011. Explosions and fires caused an additional 12 fatalities in 2011. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon to see more than one oil field worker sustaining fatal injuries due to these kinds of accidents.

Other possible injuries include:

  • Broken bones
  • Injuries to the back/spine
  • Head trauma
  • Damage to internal organs
  • Loss of limbs
  • Lacerations
  • Internal/external chemical burns
  • Concussions
  • Whiplash/other spinal cord injuries
  • Paralysis
  • Brain injuries