Shell Accident Attorneys
We Hold Companies Like Shell Accountable for Negligence
Shell plc, formerly known as Royal Dutch Shell, is one of the largest energy companies in the world. Shell is a global group of energy and petrochemical companies based in London that employs more than 90,000 people with operations across more than 70 countries. The exploration and production sector of the company searches for oil and gas reserves, drills wells, and extracts crude oil and natural gas to sell on international markets or use for refining.
Shell's History of Preventable Accidents & Casualties
With all the resources of an international corporation, Shell plc has the ability to provide its workers with all the safety equipment and hazard mitigation they need. However, in an inherently dangerous industry, Shell's safety record is subpar:
- In 2003, a gas leak on an oil platform in the North Sea killed 2 workers. An investigation determined that Shell was negligent, having failed to perform urgent repairs. These workers’ deaths were entirely preventable.
- In 2011, during what should have been a routine transfer of crude oil onto a tanker, a leak started that ended up sending 40,000 barrels of oil into the Gulf of Guinea, which would become known as the Bonga Spill.
- In 2012, the Kulluk drilling rig grounded in the Arctic, injuring 4 crew members. The NTSB officially blamed Shell for failing to properly assess the risk of towing the Kulluk, which in turn meant they had an inadequate towing plan.
- In December 2017, 3 workers on an offshore oil rig sued Royal Dutch Shell for the severe injuries they sustained when their platform, the Enchilada, caught on fire, forcing the evacuation of 46 crew members.
- In June 2019, a routine lifeboat drill ended in catastrophe, killing 2 workers and injuring another.
In years past, Royal Dutch Shell has been known to have twice the fatality rate of even BP. In 2007, 2 employees and 28 contractors died while on the job for Shell, whereas in that same year, 3 employees and 4 contractors for BP died, and 8 contractors were killed while working for ExxonMobil. All three are behemoth corporations that have experienced serious accidents, but Shell's fatality reports show a noticeable pattern of markedly worse safety records.
Arnold & Itkin Is Here to Advocate for & Protect Workers
As one of the largest energy companies in the world, Shell has a team dedicated to protecting them from litigation, and they’re very good at what they are paid to do. Shell is focused on protecting their assets and reducing liabilities, but for too many companies, “reducing liability” means forcing injured employees and their families to go without the money they need to move forward. When workers experience an accident, or when families are left reeling from a wrongful death, even the clearest case can be delayed or weighed down by endless investigations and maneuvers. We’ve seen it happen firsthand, and our Shell accident lawyers won’t stand for it.
When companies like Shell protect their bottom line instead of their workers, Arnold & Itkin goes after them to demand answers and pursue justice. We have experience litigating against the world’s largest oil companies. We know their strategies and how to counter them. We have won more than $20 billion for our clients, helping them to rebuild their lives, because we know how to put the pressure back onto employers and their insurance companies.
If you suffered a serious injury or lost a loved one, don’t let the company push you around. Contact our Shell accident attorneys today at (888) 346-5024.