Common Offshore Accidents
Offshore Accident Lawyer
Working conditions in the Gulf of Mexico can be challenging, so maritime workers must anticipate the unexpected to prevent
offshore accidents aboard ships and offshore platforms. Sometimes accidents still occur, resulting in serious injuries. Common offshore accidents include
explosions and fires,
equipment failures,
deck accidents,
falls, collisions and loss of well control.
If you have suffered injury in a serious offshore accident, you need an aggressive offshore injury attorney with the legal skill and experience to seek maximum financial compensation that will help you get back on your feet. You may have the legal right to seek compensation from your employer if you or a family member was been injured in an offshore accident through the fault or negligence of others. The law is on the side of
offshore injury victims, but you have to take the first step to contact an experienced maritime lawyer.
At Arnold & Itkin LLP, we are committed to assisting maritime workers who have been injured in offshore accidents. We are highly experienced in maritime law and represent workers in
Texas,
Louisiana,
Mississippi and
Alabama and throughout the U.S. We have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts for our clients, tirelessly fighting for justice on their behalf.
Legal Help after an Offshore Accident
The offshore injury lawyers at our firm have assisted victims of virtually all types of offshore accidents, including:
- Fires – Explosions and fires are a constant threat aboard ships and offshore platforms, given the large volume of combustible fuels and liquids they use. Loss of well control on drilling platforms can allow plumes of natural gas to erupt from the rig, causing an explosion if the gas comes in contact with an ignition source. Production vessels can contain volatile vapors that can explode if sparked.
- Equipment Failures – Equipment is only as good as its design and maintenance. If equipment aboard a ship or platform isn't properly maintained and repaired, it can seize up or fail, causing a serious accident. Inadequate engine maintenance can cause an engine to fail, causing a ship or vessel to run aground and break up. The failure of a brake on a winch drum can cause a cable under tension to bind or break, causing loss of limbs. The mechanical failure of a safety valve can cause a well blowout. Lack of proper safety equipment is also a type of equipment failure caused by negligence.
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Falls – The decks of a boat or ship in rough weather in the Gulf of Mexico can present treacherous footing, leading to slips and falls on wet surfaces or from slippery stairs. A fall from a ladder, boatswain's chair or open ledge can cause serious and even fatal injuries. A corroded catwalk or loose weld can cause stairs to collapse, resulting in serious
head injuries from falls.
- Jack-up Rig Accidents – A collision or adverse weather can result in the rupture of a platform's production tree, causing a major fire and explosion. An incorrectly installed safety valve can result in a well blowout and the uncontrolled release of oil and gas, posing a threat of serious fire and fatalities. Falling pipe and falls from derricks and rigs also are common hazards on jack-up rigs.
Contact an Experienced Offshore Injury Attorney
If you or a loved one has been injured in an offshore accident while working on a ship or vessel, please contact an experienced offshore injury attorney at our firm. We are aggressive, skilled and experienced and we work hard to maximize our clients' recoveries. We understand how important it is to you to provide for your family and pay your medical bills as you try to recover from a serious accident or injury. We have obtained hundreds of millions in settlements and verdicts for our clients, and we can help you too.
Contact an offshore accident lawyer today.
