Have you been injured in an oil rig fire or explosion?
Oil rigs are among the most dangerous places to work, especially for offshore workers. Oil rig accidents happen more often than you might expect due to harsh weather conditions and seas, combined with working with hazardous substances and machinery. In an oil rig accident, oil rig workers can sustain severe injuries, even death. These accidents can result in exorbitant medical bills, health care, and lost wages both temporarily and indefinitely for the victims and their families. If you or a loved one have suffered an injury in an offshore fire or an oil rig explosion, you may be entitled to financial compensation. The experienced oil rig accident attorneys at Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA are here for you. Contact us today online or at (833) 552-7274 for a free consultation to discuss the details of injury and learn how we can help you. The Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA remains empathetic to the financial pressures that come with a severe injury, so we take personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. This means you do not pay for attorney fees upfront or out-of-pocket. Instead, we deduct our fees only from any compensation we secure for you in the form of a settlement or verdict in your favor.
Oil Rig Accidents
Oil rig work is dangerous with long hours. It is physically demanding while working under harsh weather conditions and with heavy machinery and flammable gas and oil. The risks encountered when working on board an oil rig are quite numerous, but the accidents associated with oil rig projects are often times avoidable. These accidents can be caused by defective equipment, unsafe drilling procedures, insufficient maintenance, and non-standardized industry practices. Oil rigs extract oil from deep beneath the ocean floor. In addition to being extracted, oil is stored on an oil rig until it is brought to shore. Although oil platforms are surrounded by water, the most catastrophic danger for an oil rig worker is a fire or an explosion that occurs on the rig. Fire or explosion victims can suffer catastrophic burn injuries, head trauma, and even loss of life.
Causes of Oil Rig Explosions
Fires
One of the most dangerous hazards to oil rig workers is fire. Petroleum is highly flammable, as are the chemicals regularly used in offshore drilling. Because heavy machinery and fuel are is used in the operation of an oil rig, a single spark can be all it takes to set a fire or cause an explosion that can lead to widespread damage and catastrophic injuries.
Blowouts
Blowouts are the most tragic and expensive incidents in the oil industry. A blowout is the uncontrolled release of crude oil and natural gas from an oil or gas well after pressure control systems have failed. Oil rig blowouts can occur when the oil rig applies too much pressure during drilling. If pressure is not adequately monitored, changes in pressure can result in the flow of combustible hydrocarbons. The flow can ignite and cause an explosion if it is not controlled or stopped in a timely fashion. Workers on the oil rig during a blowout may be at risk of catastrophic injury or even death and blowouts can also cause a tremendous amount of damage to the environment.
Defective Equipment
Oil rig work utilizes heavy machinery and equipment that require routine maintenance. The blowout preventer (BOP) is one of hundreds of mechanical parts that maintain the structure of an oil rig and keeps it functioning properly. Modern oil wells have blowout preventers to deal with the sometimes erratic and extreme pressure changes that occur at a drilling site. Oil rig workers need to be trained in how to manage blowout preventer failure Blowout preventers need to receive frequent testing and be well-maintained to prevent a potentially disastrous buildup of pressure.
Negligence
Oil rig workers can be injured or killed due to human error and negligence. In an effort to avoid project delays, oil companies often fail to implement stringent safety standards and provide sufficient employee training. They can fall behind on routine maintenance or fail to upgrade or replace aging or defective equipment, all of which can lead to the avoidable accidents that injure and claim the lives of their oil rig workers.
What If I Am Injured in An Oil Rig Fire or Explosion?
In the event of an injury while working on an oil rig, immediately seek medical treatment and contact a maritime injury lawyer after receiving treatment and BEFORE speaking with your employer. Make sure the accident report (usually made by your employer) is accurate and as detailed as possible, describing any factors that may have contributed to the accident. If you work at sea or any waterway, you are not entitled to workers' compensation benefits. However, there is the potential for financial compensation as your injuries are covered under The Jones Act.
What Is The Jones Act?
Originally enacted by the United States Congress,
The Jones Act, also known as the Merchant Marine Act, is a federal negligence statute that is designed to protect the rights of maritime workers who have been injured while working on the water as a crewmember and gives anyone who has been injured while working on a ship, barge, or oil rig the right to sue their employer for personal injury damages. It provides maritime workers with adequate legal protection against the
negligent actions of owners and crewmembers.
Contact A Maritime Injury Attorney
Oil rig injuries have the potential to be life-altering, so it is important to understand your rights so that you can obtain the medical care and financial support that you deserve. If you or someone you know has been injured in an oil rig fire or explosion, contact an oil rig explosion attorney at Dolman Law Group to schedule a free consultation. Call our office today at (727) 451-6900 or
contact us online.