Texas Offshore Worker Accidents

Falls / Slip and Fall Accidents

Have you been injured while working on an offshore rig, barge or any type of vessel in or off the coast of Texas? If you fell while working on deck or on the elevated platform of a jack-up rig, or slipped and fell on an unsecured gangway or set of stairs, you may have grounds for a Jones Act or other maritime injury claim.

A Texas offshore injury lawyer at Arnold & Itkin LLP can help you get a clear understanding of your legal rights in this important matter. A fall may cause serious or life-threatening injuries, leaving a family without a loved one or an offshore worker facing exorbitant medical bills and an uncertain future. Whether the accident was caused by an inexperienced crew member, negligence of the vessel owner or simply occurred because of the hazards associated with offshore work, the worker or family may have the right to seek compensation by way of a Jones Act or other maritime claim.

About Falls on Offshore Platforms

The nature of offshore work is hazardous in itself, even in the absence of defective equipment and machinery or negligence on the part of an employer or other worker. A worker may fall from a height while working on an elevated platform, monkey board, stabbing board or in a boatswain's chair. An accident of this kind may be fatal or may leave the offshore worker suffering from multiple broken bones, spinal cord trauma, head injuries or other life-changing injuries. If a worker falls overboard, drowning or near drowning may be a possibility. Another type of accident that may occur on an offshore rig or other maritime vessel is a slip and fall accident. The deck of a vessel may be slippery, causing a worker to lose his or her footing and fall. Even a short fall can result in broken bones, sprains and other injuries that will affect a worker's ability to perform his or her duties.

Jones Act Attorney Serving Texas Maritime Workers

A fall on a Texas offshore rig may be caused by equipment failure, negligence or inexperience. It may simply occur due to the physical nature of offshore work and the many variables that may come into play, such as heavy weather or rough seas.

Whether a fall was caused by negligence, the unseaworthiness of a vessel or cannot necessarily be attributed to another's conduct, an injured worker may have grounds for a maritime injury claim. It is essential that an injured worker discuss his or her options with a maritime lawyer who is experienced in representing offshore workers in Texas and along the Gulf Coast.

Schedule a free consultation regarding a fall or slip and fall accident on an offshore vessel. Contact a Texas Jones Act attorney today.