If you were hurt in an offshore oil accident, you might have to endure a protracted rehabilitation period or possibly a permanent handicap, which would impair your capacity to work and support your family. You might be experiencing pain and distress in addition to your financial burden. Your employer, the business, owes you damages for the harm you experienced.
Each year, numerous oil rig workers suffer injuries or fatalities. Six offshore workers died and 160 were injured in 2020, according to the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, which compiles statistics on offshore fatalities.
Even while such figures are alarming, they do not provide a complete picture. According to New Orleans Public Radio, “an investigation by Drilled News and Southerly discovered that the agency is undercounting the number of deaths involving offshore workers. The offshore sector appears safer than it actually is due to inconsistent and missing statistics, loopholes that allow some fatalities to go undetected, and other factors.
Workers are not always treated fairly in the oil business. After an accident on an oil rig, you’ll have to take on big oil’s legal team if you file a personal injury case. You need a Houston maritime attorney with experience on your side because it can feel scary.
Our skilled marine attorneys at Armstrong Lee & Baker LLP defend hurt oil employees. We have in-depth knowledge of the Houston oil sector and are aware of the strategies that oil firms may employ to reduce your remuneration.
You owe it to yourself to work with a knowledgeable lawyer who can assist you in obtaining the funds you require. For more information on how we may help with your claim, get in touch with us. Learn more about your legal options following an injury sustained offshore by reading on.
What Are Offshore Hazards?
On offshore oil rigs, a number of hazardous circumstances can cause injuries to workers. These risks frequently result in accidents:
- slippery ground,
- leaked chemicals,
- Fires,
- Explosions,
- falling machinery,
- faulty equipment, or
- rough winds or waves.
A lot of dangerous situations can be avoided with the right training, checks, and maintenance. An employer may be responsible for the harm caused to their employees if a safe workplace is not provided.
How Are Workers Injured?
Any of the aforementioned risks can cause life-altering injuries in offshore workers. The following injuries could be caused by oil rig hazards:
- Broken bones,
- Concussions and brain injuries,
- Spinal cord damage,
- Burns,
- Lacerations, or
- Crushed or severed limbs.
An individual suffering from these wounds may experience excruciating pain and be unable to work and support their families. Sadly, each year workers also perish on oil rigs. You might be able to file a lawsuit for the damages you sustained if your loved one was killed while on the job.
What Compensation Is Available?
The amount of compensation made available following an offshore accident depends on the specifics of the incident. Our offshore accident attorneys inquire about the following to identify which law applies to your claim:
- Were you a remote worker?
- Were you a member of the company’s staff?
- You were on a moving vessel, right?
- Was your boss careless?
Several maritime regulations may apply to your claim depending on the answers you provide to these questions.
What to Do If an Offshore Accident Occurs?
Your top goal after an offshore disaster should be seeking medical care. It can be challenging to find medical treatment in a far-off offshore area. You might need to be airlifted to the closest hospital by medical helicopter, or you might have to receive medical care in a foreign country where the local language is not yours. As soon as you are medically stable, try to request transfer to a hospital in the United States.
Following your accident, if there is no medical emergency, follow these steps:
- photograph the scene of the collision;
- Inform a manager about your accident;
- Note the names and contact details of any witnesses;
- seek out medical care;
- Save your medical bills and records, and speak with a marine lawyer.
You can be in discomfort as you heal from your accident and deal with high medical costs. By handling talks with the insurance provider and ensuring that you receive the required care, an offshore accident attorney can assist take some of the stress off your shoulders.
Make a call to an experienced Houston offshore injury lawyer.
After your offshore incident, you ought to speak with a knowledgeable maritime injury attorney. Our offshore injury lawyers at Armstrong Lee & Baker LLP assist injured workers in seeking the money they are due. We fight for the money you need by treating clients with respect, compassion, and kindness.
Our attorneys are knowledgeable about maritime law, which sets us apart from other personal injury law firms. It is advantageous to select lawyers with in-depth knowledge and expertise handling offshore damage cases because maritime law is complicated. Contact a law firm with experience in successfully representing hurt oil workers rather than merely looking online for a keyword like “maritime lawyer near me.”
