Bentonville Oil and Gasfield Refinery Injury Attorney

Oil and gas refineries can be a dangerous place to work when precautions are not correctly followed. Individuals injured at an oil or gas refinery often suffer a severe injury that may leave the victim with long-term or permanent injuries. In some cases, a victim may pass away from injuries sustained during an oil refinery accident. If you or a family member was injured in an oil and gas refinery accident, consult with an experienced Bentonville oil and gas refinery injury attorney.

Ken Kieklak, Attorney at Law, understands how a victim’s life can be devastated after a refinery accident, and he is here to represent you in your time of need. To schedule a free legal consultation to discuss your injury claim, contact Ken Kieklak, Attorney at Law, at (479) 316-0438. You can also contact the firm online.

Common Causes of Oil + Gas Refinery Accidents in Bentonville, AR

Oil and gas refineries are some of the most dangerous places to work because of the many chemicals that are used in many of the processes performed at the plant. While workers may be trained to recognize these dangers, there is still a high risk of a severe accident under certain circumstances. The following is a list of common causes of oil and gas refinery accidents.

Inadequate Safety Precautions

Oil and gas refineries are heavily regulated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Many of these regulations deal with the precautions taken by operators of a refinery to ensure the safety of employees and others that could be affected in an accident. When employers do not strictly follow guidelines set out by OSHA, they may be held liable if an employee is injured during an accident. For example, if employees are not provided with adequate safety equipment to perform their jobs, this could lead to a personal injury lawsuit.

Poor Maintenance

There are various types of heavy machinery that must be used to operate a refinery from boilers and storage tanks to many other types of machinery. With a large amount of heavy machinery constantly in use, an employer needs to ensure these machines are regularly maintained. Unfortunately, some employers may grow complacent when considering the proper maintenance of machinery, which could lead to a serious explosion or other accident.

There are many other causes of oil and gas refinery accidents that are not discussed above:

• Corrosion of machinery
• Unsafe scaffolding
• Use of impure chemicals

To learn more about common injuries caused by oil and refinery accidents, you should consult with an experienced Bentonville personal injury lawyer.

Common Injuries Caused by Gas Refinery Accidents in Bentonville

Refinery explosions and other refinery accidents can leave a victim with a variety of injuries. Many of these accidents have the potential to leave a victim with a permanent or life-threatening injury. The following is a list of common causes of injuries that could be caused by your Bentonville oil and gas refinery accidents.

Burns

As mentioned, oil and refinery plants use a number of flammable and combustible chemicals that can cause a catastrophic accident if they are mishandled. As a result, a person near an explosion could suffer severe burns across their body, leaving them scarred or possibly disfigured.

Blast Injuries

When an explosion occurs at an oil or gas refinery, the pressure from the blast has the potential to cause a person to sustain a severe injury. For example, victims caught in the blast radius can suffer damage to their vision or their hearing, which could lead to blindness or deafness. Victims that are too close to the blast area can also sustain damage to their respiratory system and even lacerations from the debris scattered in the explosion.

Smoke Inhalation

Smoke inhalation of chemicals used at refineries can be especially dangerous. Whether or not there is a fire, employees and others should be provided with breathing masks to combat long-term respiratory damage from the many chemicals used at a refinery.

This is not an exhaustive list. If you suffered an injury at a refinery that is not listed above, our firm could help evaluate your potential claim.

When to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Bentonville, AR

Our firm believes that victims that were injured in an oil and gas refinery accidents in Bentonville should be compensated for their injuries. Ken Kieklak recognizes the burdens faced by many victims, and he is here to alleviate their concerns.

If you were injured at an oil refinery, you should be aware that your potential lawsuit will be subject to the statute of limitations. This means that you will only have a limited amount of time to file your lawsuit with the court. In Arkansas, the statute of limitations for a personal injury lawsuit is three years from the date of the accident. When a plaintiff fails to file their lawsuit within three years, the court has the authority to bar their claim.

If you were employed at an oil refinery when your accident occurred, you should also consider the possibility of filing for Workers’ Compensation. However, it is important to note that a worker cannot file a personal injury lawsuit against their employer and then proceed to claim Workers’ Compensation. Under these circumstances, you should speak with an experienced attorney that can help you weigh your options.

Our Experienced Bentonville, AR Oil + Gas Refinery Injury Lawyer is Here for You

If you or a family member were a victim of an accident that occurred at an oil refinery, contact an experienced Bentonville personal injury attorney today. Gas refinery injury attorney Ken Kieklak possesses over 20 years of legal experience, and he would be honored to help you stand against a negligent company that caused your injuries. You do not have to fight your case alone, contact Ken Kieklak, Attorney at Law, at (479) 316-0438 to schedule a free case evaluation.