Types of Offshore Accidents in Texas

The Risky Workplace of Maritime Workers

There are numerous different types of accidents that a maritime worker may be involved in. These may be caused by negligence, lack of proper training, negligent implementation of safety procedures, defective equipment or any of a number of other situations. No matter their cause, they have the potential to leave an offshore worker seriously injured.

Work with a Texas Jones Act Attorney

Involving a Texas offshore injury attorney is a wise choice in the time immediately following an offshore accident of any kind. You may have the right to seek financial compensation, but without legal counsel you may find that your ability to recover a fair settlement will be limited. Your employer or the ship owner may actually try to avoid paying your claim or may offer you far less than what your claim is worth. A lawyer can ensure your rights are fully protected under the Jones Act or other applicable maritime laws.

At Arnold & Itkin LLP, we are skilled in dealing with all types of offshore accident claims, including:

Accidents on Deck – The deck of a ship may prove a hazardous place, particularly in heavy weather. An object may fall on a worker, a raised load may swing violently and strike a deckhand or a slippery catwalk may prove deadly for a worker when he loses his footing. In these situations, a maritime worker may experience serious back or head injuries from being struck by an object or falling.
Equipment Failure – Seamen, dock workers and maritime workers of all kinds rely on the equipment they use to function properly. Unfortunately, this does not always occur. Whether it is improperly maintained or is defective, equipment that malfunctions may place a worker at serious risk of injury. Some examples of equipment that may fail and cause injury may include: cables, mooring lines, nylon slings and watertight doors.
Fires and Explosions – Perhaps the most serious accidents that may occur on a vessel are fires or explosions. These are catastrophic in nature and may affect many or all of the workers on the vessel. Once started, a fire on a ship can quickly spread out of control, leading to the entire ship going down. Some of the types of cases we handle related to fires and explosions include those caused by faulty pipeline pumps, malfunctioning ventilation systems, improper storage of fuel or other combustibles and defective or improperly maintained ship motors or portable generators.
Serious Falls – While working aboard a commercial boat, offshore oil rig or in a shipyard, a maritime worker may be at risk of falling from a height or being injured in a slip and fall accident. An unsecured gangway, wet or oily deck or uneven surface may cause you to lose your footing and fall, resulting in serious head trauma, spinal cord injury, broken bones and more. These injuries are particularly harmful if you fall from a height, such as while working on an elevated platform of a jack-up rig or in a boatswain's chair.
Jack-Up Rig Accidents – Workers on offshore jack-up rigs may be seriously injured in various types of accidents. A fire or explosion may be caused by a blowout or loss of well control. A jack-up rig may capsize or move violently in heavy weather if it is not properly stabilized. An improperly maintained jack-up rig generator may lead to electrical arcing and a fire. All of these scenarios and many more may leave one or more workers on the rig seriously injured.
Oil Platform Accidents – An offshore oil platform can be a dangerous place to work, and workers may even be at risk of injury when being transported to and from these platforms. Accidents on oil platforms may be caused by falling objects, slippery deck surfaces, equipment failure and various other scenarios. Crane accidents are a particular area of concern. Loss of well control is another type of oil platform accident that can lead to numerous workers being seriously injured or losing their lives.

Helping Offshore Accident Victims & Their Families

You can learn more about your right to compensation if you were injured or lost a loved one in an offshore accident off the coast of Texas or anywhere in the Gulf Coast. Our firm represents clients in these cases throughout the U.S., and we are ready to put our experience to work for you as we fight for fair compensation on your behalf.

Contact a Texas offshore accident lawyer today to learn more about your case, your options and how we can help.