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Colorado Men Killed in Oklahoma Dam Explosion

by  on  Personal Injury

Two men from Colorado were reportedly killed in an underground explosion while working at a dam outside of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

A 22-year-old and a 48-year-old were killed in the explosion, according to the Associated Press. The men were working for DA Smith Drilling Co., a drilling firm based in Grand Junction, on a project at the Robert S. Kerr Dam.

The Grand River Dam Authority says the explosion occurred about 80 feet below the surface of the ground, according to the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel. The entity that operates the dam said a preliminary investigation showed that the blast was caused by a pocket of naturally occurring gas underground.

The federal Occupational Health and Safety Administration said it is investigating the accident. DA Smith declined the Daily Sentinel’s request for comment.

Injuries on the Job Particularly Heartbreaking 

Stories like this are particularly heartbreaking. Losing your life, or sustaining a life-altering injury while at work, just trying to make a living is a special kind of devastating. Anyone who is injured in an accident on the job has the right to seek compensation, whether it is through workers’ compensation benefits or a personal injury lawsuit. This also applies to family members who lose a loved one in a work-related accident or injury. In the tragic case that a person dies in an accident on the job, his or her family is entitled to certain death benefits. They can also pursue a wrongful death action against those responsible for the accident. 

Workers’ compensation is a “no-fault” insurance program that allows injured employees to get workers’ compensation benefits for missed wages and medical bills. An injured worker seeking these benefits only has to show that he or she is covered by the benefits program, rather than prove that a specific person or entity is legally responsible for the accident.

There are a number of important steps that you must take to preserve your right to these benefits, which include reporting the injury to your employer and seeking medical attention from a list of approved providers. You also have to be able to prove that your injuries actually occurred at work.

It is vital to have a seasoned attorney in your corner. Employers and their insurers often fight tooth and nail to avoid or limit workers’ compensation and other payouts.

Talk with a Denver Injury Attorney

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident on the job in Colorado, a Denver injury attorney at Levine Law can help you get the full compensation available. We have a long track record of successful results for our clients.

We are pleased to serve clients throughout Colorado, including in Denver, Colorado Springs, Ft. Collins and Loveland. Call us at 303-333-8000 or contact us online to speak with a Denver injury attorney.