As an experienced workers’ compensation attorney, Steven H. Heisler, The Injury Lawyer, is concerned over the health and safety issues associated with fracking, or the process of extracting natural gas. If you have suffered a fracking injury, an experienced attorney can help make sure you receive the compensation you are entitled to. Fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation today.

What is Fracking?

Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is a common petroleum and gas extraction technique that involves the high pressure injection of water mixed with sand and chemicals into a wellbore. This causes small fractures to form that allow the desired resources to travel to a well where they are collected. In 2012, around 2.5 million fracking jobs were carried out worldwide, and more than one million of these jobs took place in the United States. Many are concerned over the environmental impacts of fracking, and there has been much political controversy on the topic in recent years; however, equal attention needs to be given to the many hazards fracking poses to oil and gas workers.

The Dangers of Hydraulic Fracturing

Due to the highly competitive nature of the oil industry and the limited availability of drilling sites, fracking crews are often driven by employers to work quickly and for long hours. This leaves them fatigued and vulnerable to accident injuries, especially when operating heavy machinery or other equipment. Common physical injuries suffered in fracking accidents include:

  • broken bones,
  • traumatic brain injury,
  • spinal cord injury, and
  • severe burns.

There are other, more elusive hazards involved in fracking that have the potential to cause severe long-term health issues in workers. Hydraulic fracturing fluid can contain up to 65 chemicals, some of which are carcinogenic. Exposure to these chemicals can have negative impacts on vital organs and biological systems. The fracking process can also produce airborne chemicals with similar qualities that are just as dangerous. Additionally, workers may face increased risk of cancer if they are exposed to concentrated levels of radioactive materials contained in the flowback, or wastewater, produced during fracking.

Dealing with Companies that Don’t Play Fair

Oil companies have plenty of wealth, resources, and connections, and they often employ them to resist injury claims. They are also known to resort to shifty tactics such as obtaining gag orders that prevent physicians from informing injured workers of the nature of their illnesses. They do all this to bully workers into losing hope and dropping their claims, or accepting payments that are far from fair.

Providing Quality Representation for Your Maryland Fracking Injury Case

Do not be intimidated by the oil/gas company that refuses to do right by you. If you have been injured or are currently suffering a severe, life-threatening illness due to a fracking accident, you deserve compensation that will cover all your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages resulting from the incident. With the assistance of an experienced Baltimore fracking injury attorney, you have a fighting chance in court. Steven H. Heisler will consult with medical experts and other professionals who can identify and confirm your injuries’ connection to fracking. If the provided information is solid, he will then use it to gain you a full and fair award. To learn more about what else Steven H. Heisler can do for you, get in touch with The Injury Lawyer by calling (410) 625-4878.