Dallas Oil Rig Hand and Finger Injury Lawyer

If you or a loved one works on an oil rig in Texas, you know that there is always a risk of injury. In some cases, injuries are debilitating enough to keep you from returning to work, which can make it difficult for your family to continue to get the financial support it needs, especially if you face medical expenses and serious pain and suffering.

In many cases, oil rig workers can file negligence claims against their employers to seek compensation for lost wages, medical costs, and pain and suffering after a serious on-the-job injury. If you or a loved one lost a finger or suffered another serious hand or finger injury while working on an oil rig, contact the Dallas oil rig hand and finger injury attorneys at The Queenan Law Firm today. Our attorneys offer free consultations on injury cases like these. To schedule your consultation, contact us online today or call us at (817) 476-1797.

Types of Hand and Finger Injuries for Offshore Oil Rig Workers

Oil rigs have many dangers that can cause workplace injuries. Many of these potential risks involve moving parts from the heavy machinery and physical exertion necessary in a lot of oil rig jobs. If your finger or hand is caught in moving parts or injured while manually operating tools or equipment, you could face serious injuries. The following are some of the most common and most traumatic hand and finger injuries for oil workers.

Amputation

Losing a finger to heavy machinery is traumatic. In many cases, the loss of a finger will not be fatal if treated immediately, but, even if the finger can be reattached, the pain and recovery period can be substantial. If you lose a hand, the chances of successful reattachment can be far lower, and the effects on your day-to-day life and ability to work can be far greater.

Crushing Injuries

If a hand or finger is caught in the moving parts of a machine or gets pinned under or between various pieces of equipment, you can crush much of the soft tissue and shatter the bones in your hand and fingers. These injuries may not cause immediate, traumatic amputation, but later, surgical amputation may be required if the damage is too severe. Even without losing the hand or the digit, you may suffer permanent loss of function if the injuries were severe enough or they cannot be repaired through surgical intervention

Broken Bones

Broken fingers, wrists, and metacarpals can cause severe pain and discomfort and may make it hard to return to work. We use our hands and fingers for fine, detailed work every day, even in manual labor jobs. Having a broken finger or a broken bone in your hand can make it hard to do your job, and you may need to miss shifts or tours to let your bones recover. Serious breaks may even require surgery and implants to properly set the bones and restore proper function, potentially increasing the time away from work.

Cuts and Lacerations

Although sharp objects are not necessarily common on an oil rig, you can still receive cuts and laceration wounds from dull objects, cords and wires, or other instruments and tools you come across in your job. You could also receive painful, devastating puncture wounds and penetrating injuries that could risk blood loss and infection.

Suing for Hand and Finger Injuries on an Offshore Drilling Rig

Many workers in Texas can file for workers’ compensation to get their needs met. However, workers’ compensation often pays only a portion of the wages you lose after a serious injury, and it does not cover pain and suffering damages. Fortunately, oil workers are often covered by federal acts and maritime laws, such as the Jones Act, that permit them to sue their employers or the owner of a rig if they faced a serious injury. Our Dallas oil rig injury lawyers explain.

When you sue for injuries, you must prove that the defendant was somehow at fault for the harms you suffered. This is typically done by showing that your employer, the oil rig owner, or some other defendant was “negligent.” Negligence occurs when an at-fault party owed you a duty, and their failure to meet expected safety standards or to act with the proper care and skill caused your injury.

Negligence often comes from failing to follow OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) standards, or from violating other common-sense safety requirements. If you can prove that your employer’s failures led to your injury, and you can prove the damages that you suffered, you may be able to recover damages for your lost wages, medical expenses, and pain and suffering.

Call Our Dallas Oil Worker Injury Lawyers Today for Help with Your Hand and Finger Injuries

If you or a loved one faced serious injuries to the hands or fingers during a workplace accident aboard an oil ship or oil rig, contact The Queenan Law Firm today. Our Dallas hand and finger injury lawyers help injured oil workers file lawsuits to seek the compensation they and their families need. To schedule a free consultation, contact our attorneys online today, or call us at (817) 476-1797.