Offshore Oil Rig Employee Injury Attorney
Workers on offshore oil rigs are prone to some of the highest rates of injury among any job in the United States. Not only are these workers at risk for injury from tragic disasters like blowouts and oil rig fires, but they are also at risk from mundane injuries from falling because of dangerous deck conditions or being injured lifting or carrying supplies.
If you or a loved one was injured at work on an offshore oil rig, the attorneys at Rivkind Margulies & Rivkind may be able to help. Our offshore oil rig employee injury and accident attorneys represent oil workers and their families in lawsuits against their employers and the rig owners to get compensation for serious injuries. Call our law offices today to discuss filing a lawsuit for injuries or the death of a loved one. Our law offices can be reached at (866) 386-1762.
Common Injuries You Can Sue for on Offshore Oil Rigs
Injuries on oil rigs can come from dozens of sources. Something as simple as a slip and fall on a wet deck or a burn in the kitchen might not compare to serious injuries from heavy machinery or a crane accident – but many of these injuries still allow you to sue for damages.
Offshore oil workers are not governed by workers’ compensation. This means that they cannot simply file for coverage, but they do typically have the right to sue their employer or the owner of the rig when they get injured at work. To get compensation for your injuries, you must prove that your employer or the rig owner was in some way responsible for the injuries.
Rig owners and employers are often liable for the work conditions as well as the physical conditions on the oil rig. This means that they are responsible for ensuring that there are proper handrails and lighting on steps and catwalks to keep workers safe while going about their day. It also means that oil pressure systems and safety systems need to be in working order to prevent blowouts, fires, and other disasters.
Employers are also responsible for training and equipping their workers. This means they must train all workers in proper techniques and safety procedures – and they typically must do so in a language the worker understands. Your employer should also provide you with safety equipment like goggles, hard hats, protective clothing, harnesses, and other important safety gear. If this equipment isn’t provided in working condition, your employer may be responsible for injuries you face because of the defective or missing equipment. Your employer is also commonly responsible for unsafe conditions or issues they should have avoided through better training or policies in the workplace.
Injuries could also happen during transportation to or from the rig in a boat accident or helicopter crash. Lifting or carrying cargo to load it on or off a barge could also cause injuries from strain or from crane accidents.
Overall, offshore oil workers could face any of the following injuries on the job, and, depending on how the injury occurred, they may be able to sue:
- Amputation
- Back injuries
- Broken bones
- Burns
- Crushing injuries
- Falls
- Head injuries
- Neck injuries
You can also typically sue for the death of a loved one in an offshore oil accident if their employer was responsible.
Damages in an Offshore Oil Injury Lawsuit
In most lawsuits, the purpose of suing is to seek damages. These damages are intended to put the victim back to the same position they were in before the injuries occurred. Of course, money cannot take back the injuries, but it can pay for medical expenses and lost wages so that the victim and their family can move forward without worrying about the impact of the injuries. However, additional damages are often called for to cover the pain and suffering of the injury or, in cases of wrongful death, any additional effects caused by the death of a loved one.
Damages for medical expenses should cover the full cost of necessary medical treatment. This can involve the cost of emergency medivac or other medical transportation to get the victim to shore for treatment as well as the cost of medical procedures, surgeries, follow-up visits, rehabilitation, and occupational therapy.
If the victim missed work during their recovery or suffered injuries severe enough to prevent them from returning to work, they can also claim damages for these lost wages. Wages they already missed can be proved in court by producing financial records, but damages can also be projected going forward. If the worker faced lost earning capacity because of the injury, they can seek ongoing damages for their future lost wages, too.
Damages for pain and suffering are often more complex to prove. The victim usually needs to testify as to how the injury affected their life and their enjoyment of their life. Testimony about how hard it is to care for oneself or participate in activities they used to love can often justify higher pain and suffering damages.
If your loved one was killed in an accident on an offshore oil rig, you can claim additional damages for their funeral, burial, lost inheritances, and other effects their death had on your family.
Call Our Offshore Oil Worker Injury Lawyers Today for a Free Consultation
If you or a loved one worked on an oil rig and faced severe injuries on the job, our attorneys may be able to help. Rivkind Margulies & Rivkind, P.A. represent injury victims and their families in injury lawsuit and wrongful death lawsuits against offshore oil rig operators. We fight to get our clients compensation for their injuries and losses and hold negligent companies accountable when their workers are injured. Our attorneys are experienced maritime injury lawyers who know the ins and outs of these kinds of cases. Call our law offices today at (866) 386-1762 for a free legal consultation.
