Oil Field Injury Accidents

September 29, 2019
While the oil industry is booming and striving in Texas, the fact remains that the job sites are inherently dangerous for the employees.   Oil rig workers can and do get killed and/or seriously injured as a result of preventable accidents.  Investigations into these accidents often reveal that the employers are violating state and federal safety regulations by failing to implement comprehensive safety and training programs placing their profits in front of the workers’ safety. These findings are alarming because accidents are occurring on a daily basis.  Some of the most common accidents can stem from the following: Oil truck accident; Falls and rigs collapsing; Crane failures; Derrick accidents; Fires and explosions;  Electrocution; Defective machinery; Toxic fumes exposure; Compressor stations; Pump jacks; Work jacks; Blowouts; Job Site Deaths A Year – Across Industries  According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”), 5,147 workers died on the job in 2017 [https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cfoi.nr0.htm] (3.5 per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers) — on average, more than 99 people die from work-related / job site accidents per week.  In the United States, MORE THAN 14 PEOPLE DIE FROM JOB-RELATED DEATHS A DAY. https://www.osha.gov/oshstats/commonstats.html  COMMON CAUSES OF OILFIELD ACCIDENTS Without understanding the underlying causes of oilfield accidents, employers can and should take steps to reduce risk on a job site. Some of the most common contributing factors for oilfield accidents include: Inadequate training; Inadequate safety measures; Inadequate supervision of employees; Carelessness; Faulty equipment; Unanticipated environmental hazards; Human error; OIL FIELD DEATH AND INJURIES Unfortunately, these types of accidents are often so significant that either the employee loses his/her life or sustains serious and permanent injuries.  Common Oil and Gas Rig Injuries: Traumatic brain injury;  Amputation of limbs;  Crushing Injury Burns;  Loss of vision; Loss of hearing; Respiratory illness from chemical inhalation and exposure; Nerve damage; Spinal injuries; Internal injuries; Fractures; Disabling injuries; and Permanent disfigurement If you lost a loved one or if you were injured while working at the rig site, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses.      Here at the Caquias Law Group, we have our engineers and other experts that will investigate the facts surrounding your injury to confirm what safety rules were violated, to determine if it was caused by faulty equipment and determine who caused or contributed to your accident.   Call 210-996-2237 today to schedule your free oil rig injury or death consultation. We are here to help and serve clients injured on the oil field nationwide. Read more

Construction Related Death Or Serious Injury Claims

September 18, 2019
Hundreds if not thousands of construction workers are seriously injured or killed each year as a result of dangerous conditions or hazards that exists at a construction site. In fact, work injuries are so common that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has published a “Construction’s ‘Fatal Four.’” (continue reading for figures) In 2017, 4,674 workers died on the job site while working for a private company, 971 or 20.7% of those workplace deaths were in construction — that is, one in five worker deaths last year were in construction.  “The leading causes of private sector worker deaths (excluding highway collisions) in the construction industry were falls, followed by struck by objects, electrocution, and caught-in/between. These “Fatal Four” were responsible for more than half (59.9%) of the construction worker deaths in 2017, BLS reports. Eliminating the Fatal Four would save 582 workers’ lives in America every year.”  Falls – 381 out of 971 total deaths in construction in CY 2017 (39.2%) Struck by Object – 80 (8.2%) Electrocutions – 71 (7.3%) Caught-in/between* – 50 (5.1%) (*This category includes construction workers killed when caught-in or compressed by equipment or objects, and struck, caught or crushed in collapsing structure, equipment, or material) See More Stats: https://www.osha.gov/oshstats/commonstats.html COMMON QUESTIONS: What about the injured workers that have immigration issues? Can I file a claim for a work injury or wrongful death if I am not a United States citizen? Will filing a claim in court affect my immigration status? Many injured workers may feel intimidated by their employers and the risk of losing their jobs if they file a claim, others may be scared to get a lawyer for the fear of being deported because of their immigration status. Because of these fears and assumptions, injured workers don’t get the help that they need to recover and so they continue to work through their suffering. Don’t be that injured worker, seek counsel. Caquias Law Group has helped many injured people in this situation. Call today for your free injured worker consultation. YOUR IMMIGRATION STATUS DOES NOT AFFECT YOUR RIGHT TO FILE A CLAIM. Don’t let your immigration status be a factor in not standing up for your legal right to recover for injuries and damages sustained while in the course and scope of your employment.  Some of the most common situations that lead to these types of claims include: Defective products; Defective construction equipment; Premises liability and dangerous conditions; Defective building materials; Dangerous condition deadly falls; Defective product electrocution; Misuse of cranes; Falling objects;  Dangerous generators; Asbestos products; Defective tires; Defective Cranes; Defective forklifts; Hidden holes,  Lack of proper lighting; Improper design of stairs; Improper security; Negligent use of construction equipment; Hazardous and/or hidden traps; Electrical problems; Dangerous defects; Negligence and careless actions; Negligent co-workers; Negligent construction companies; Negligent subcontractors; Other dangerous conditions; Toxic Exposure Claims- includes Dangerous chemicals; Chemical solvents; Explosive agents; Toxic waste;  Blackwater sewage; Insecticides; Mercury; Asbestos products; and  Petrochemicals When a family member is killed or seriously injured as a result of a hazardous work environment, hazardous work equipment, hazardous work-related activity or the negligence of a person or persons […] Read more

Texas Worker’s Compensation

September 3, 2019
Employees injured on the job are entitled to receive benefits under the Texas Workers’ Compensation Act, including medical expenses, lost wages, and disability benefits. However, these benefits are only available to the employee if the employer carries workers’ compensation insurance, which is not required in Texas. While it is encouraged, many companies do not carry this coverage, leaving injured workers in a precarious position fearing the incurring of medical bills, pharmaceutical bills and the inability to work and provide for his or her family. If an employee is killed on the job, his or her spouse and minor children may be entitled to lifetime “death benefits.”  In some cases, employers offer other benefit plans to compensate for on-the-job injuries, but these “plans” typically offer fewer or minimal benefits compared to what would be available through workers’ compensation. Other companies fail to provide any coverage at all. Whether a company chooses to obtain workers’ compensation insurance for its employees or not, they are still held to a higher standard to assure that they provide a safe work environment, safe equipment and proper training for workers. When an employer fails to maintain these standards, they may be held liable for damages caused by your injuries. Some of the most common situations that lead to these types of claims include: Defective products; Defective construction equipment; Premises liability and dangerous conditions; Defective building materials; Dangerous condition deadly falls; Defective product electrocution; Misuse of cranes; Falling objects;  Dangerous generators; Asbestos products; Defective tires; Defective Cranes; Defective forklifts; Hidden holes,  Lack of proper lighting; Improper design of stairs; Improper security; Negligent use of construction equipment; Hazardous and/or hidden traps; Electrical problems; Dangerous defects; Negligence and careless actions; Negligent co-workers; Negligent construction companies; Negligent subcontractors; Other dangerous conditions; Toxic Exposure Claims- includes Dangerous chemicals; Chemical solvents; Explosive agents; Toxic waste;  Blackwater sewage; Insecticides; Mercury; Asbestos products; and  Petrochemicals When a family member is killed or seriously injured as a result of a hazardous work environment, hazardous work equipment, hazardous work-related activity or the negligence of a person or persons you need an Attorney who will be compassionate to the grieving family’s needs, an Attorney you can trust to be your voice and an Attorney who will work endlessly to assure that you or your family are compensated for your loss.  Our team of experts are ready to investigate what Workers Compensation benefits are available, if any, the facts surrounding the specific accident, to investigate all persons who had knowledge regarding the dangerous condition or element (construction site owner, the property owner, premises owner or property maintainer) in order to prove liability of the culpable party and to assist my staff with compiling a strong case against the at-fault party or parties.   Call 210-996-2237 to schedule your Texas Workers Compensation consultation today. Read more