Construction / Industrial / Oilfield Accidents

If you’ve been injured on a construction site, industrial site, or oilfield in Bakersfield, California, you may face a difficult situation. Physical pain, emotional stress, and financial uncertainty can be overwhelming. How will you pay your medical bills, make up for lost wages, and keep your household running?

At The Law Offices of Young Wooldridge, LLP, we understand how difficult this can be. Our team of experienced attorneys is committed to helping you receive more than just the minimum compensation that insurance companies may offer. We will take on your legal burdens, fight for your rights, and work tirelessly to help you get the money you need to rebuild your life after your accident.

If you want to learn more about recovering compensation after a construction, industrial, or oilfield accident, contact our experienced lawyers in Bakersfield. We offer a free consultation and case review, so call us today at 661.327.9661 to schedule your appointment.

Why Oil Fields, Construction Sites, and Industrial Sites Pose Significant Safety Hazards

Oilfields, construction sites, and industrial sites all pose inherent and significant safety hazards due to several factors. The nature of the work at these sites typically involves operating heavy machinery, handling hazardous substances, high-pressure systems, or performing physically intensive labor. These facts make oilfields, construction sites, and industrial sites high-risk environments.

These sites can be even more hazardous if they are poorly maintained or if supervisors fail to adhere to strict safety protocols. Equipment malfunctions often result in severe injuries or even worker fatalities. Moreover, the physically demanding nature of the work in these industries commonly leads to overexertion, which can leave workers exhausted and more prone to make dangerous mistakes.

Inadequate training is another serious issue that heightens worker risk in these environments. Workers cannot know how to operate machinery safely or take necessary precautions without proper guidance and instruction.

Maintaining safety in these environments requires constant vigilance, adherence to safety protocols, proper training, and routine maintenance. Lapses in any of these areas can and do result in preventable and devastating workplace accidents.

Common Types and Causes of Construction Site Accidents

Construction sites are filled with potential hazards and accidents due to the industry’s inherent risks. Some common types of accidents that occur on construction sites include:

• Falls – Workers can fall from scaffolds, ladders, roofs, and other elevated areas with poor safety measures or defective, unsafe, or faulty equipment. Falls can also occur on uneven or cluttered surfaces, as well as from a trench collapse.
• Struck-by-Object Accidents – Construction workers can be struck by a falling object, tools, materials, or debris due to poor organization, bad safety practices, or failures in securing materials properly.
• Electrocutions – Construction sites often have live wires, power systems, and electrical equipment scattered around. Electrocution accidents can occur due to improper handling, lack of training, or failure to de-energize electrical systems being worked on.
• Entanglement Accidents – Workers can get caught in or between heavy machinery, equipment, or collapsing structures due to malfunctions or failure to follow safety protocols.
• Explosions and Fires – These can result from faulty gas lines, mishandled flammable materials, or improper storage of combustible materials.
• Hazardous Exposure – Construction sites often house dangerous materials. Construction workers risk chemical burns, respiratory issues, and other health problems without proper protective equipment and handling procedures. Exposure to high noise levels and vibrations from machinery can also lead to hearing loss and other severe health problems.
• Transportation Accidents – Heavy machinery and vehicles are common on construction sites, and accidents can occur due to improper operation, lack of training, or maintenance issues.

Common Types and Causes of Oil Field Accidents

The oil industry presents inherent dangers, and oilfield injuries can be severe. Some of the frequent types of accidents that occur are:

• Well Blowouts and Explosions – These dangerous events can occur due to pressure build-ups within wells that lead to uncontrolled oil and gas releases. Failure to properly monitor pressure levels, perform LOTOs or from defective pressure control devices are typical causes of such incidents.
• Fires – Fires in oilfields often result from equipment failure or the ignition of flammable gases during drilling operations. These fires pose significant risks to workers.
• Falls – Workers can fall from significant heights, such as drilling platforms or machinery. Such accidents often result from poor safety measures, improper personal protective equipment (PPE) use, or dangerous conditions like slick or uneven surfaces.
• Machinery-Related Accidents – Mishaps often occur in oilfields due to equipment malfunctions or mishandling of machinery, whether due to inadequate maintenance, lack of training, or error.
• Toxic Chemical Exposure – Oilfield workers sometimes handle hazardous materials without proper PPE, leading to potential chemical exposure that can result in serious health complications.
• Vehicle Accidents – On-site vehicles and heavy machinery pose considerable risks, particularly when operated without proper training or in poor weather conditions.

Common Types and Causes of Industrial Accidents

Working at industrial sites can be challenging due to the complex and often hazardous environments. Industrial workers are at risk of getting injured from various occupational accidents, such as:

• Machinery Accidents – These often occur due to malfunctioning machines, lack of training, or poorly-maintained equipment. Industrial workers can easily be caught in or struck by moving parts, potentially leading to severe injuries.
• Chemical Spills and Exposures – Mishandling or improper storage of hazardous materials can lead to chemical spills and cause burns, respiratory issues, and other serious health issues.
• Fires and Explosions – These can result from uncontrolled chemical reactions, improper handling or storage of flammable materials, or electrical malfunctions in industrial sites.
• Falls – Unsafe working conditions, such as wet or uneven surfaces, poor lighting, or lack of safety equipment like guardrails or harnesses, can lead to falls in industrial workplaces.
• Noise and Vibration – Prolonged exposure to high noise levels or vibrations in industrial sites can lead to hearing loss, tinnitus, and hand-arm vibration syndrome.

What Injuries Workers Suffer in Industrial, Oil Field, and Construction Accidents

An industrial, oilfield, or construction accident can result in a range of injuries that significantly affect workers by reducing their ability to work and reducing the overall quality of life. Some require extensive medical treatment and ongoing rehabilitation or even result in long-term disability or death. Common examples of these injuries include the following:

Your Legal Options After an Oil Field, Industrial, or Construction Accident in Bakersfield

You have several legal options if you get hurt in an oilfield, industrial, or construction accident in Bakersfield. First, if you’re an eligible employee, you could file for workers’ compensation benefits, which cover the costs of your medical care and a portion of your lost wages after a work injury or illness, whether or not your employer is responsible, or whether or not the injury is caused by your own carelessness. In some cases, you could also be eligible for permanent disability benefits if you cannot return to your job.

If your injury resulted from a defective product or the wrongful behavior of a third party, someone other than your employer, you could also have grounds for a third-party injury claim. However, handling these legal claims can be complex, so you should always seek guidance from our experienced Bakersfield construction accident attorney.

Do Injured Undocumented Workers Recover Benefits?

Absolutely. In California, all workers, regardless of immigration status, are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits, including undocumented immigrants. If you sustain an injury while on the job, you can receive medical coverage and income replacement benefits for your injuries.

It’s important to note that the law protects you, and you should not be afraid of deportation or retaliation for filing a workers’ compensation claim. The law is designed to safeguard all workers and forbids employers from retaliating against you for seeking the benefits you deserve.

However, filing a worker compensation claim can be complicated, and undocumented workers may have additional obstacles. So, it’s best to seek help from our construction accident law firm, which can help you through the process and advocate for your rights.

How Working with a Bakersfield Construction Accident Lawyer Could Help Your Case

An experienced Bakersfield construction accident injury lawyer can significantly improve your chances of maximizing your financial recovery after a construction site, industrial site, or oilfield accident injury by:

• Evaluating the intricacies of your construction accident case and explaining your options.
• Identifying all potential sources of recovery for your work injury by identifying potentially at-fault parties.
• Gathering and analyzing evidence to support your construction accident lawsuit.
• Handling the legal and administrative aspects of preparing and filing your claim.
• Ensuring your construction accident claim complies with all relevant deadlines and requirements.
• Negotiating forcefully with insurance companies, employers, and opposing parties.
• Taking your case to court and representing you at trial, if necessary.
• Advising you on whether settlement offers are fair under all the circumstances presented.