Oil Rig Injuries

Oil Rig Injuries

Working on an oil rig has its benefits, including extended vacations and high earning potential. Unfortunately, this career also can be very dangerous.

Fortunately, because of the hazards that come with the job, oil rig workers have a good bit of recourse when it comes to receiving compensation for their injuries. 

Here’s what you need to know about injuries on oil rigs and what to do if you’re the victim of one.

Common Causes of Oil Rig Injuries

Unfortunately, oil rig work comes with many unique hazards you may not face in other careers. These are some of the most common issues that can lead to serious injuries on an oil rig.

Fires and Explosions

Fires and explosions on oil rigs are rare, but the flammability of oil means that when they do happen, they can be catastrophic. One of the most famous oil rig explosions is that of a rig called Deepwater Horizon. Mechanical failures and human error led to an explosion on April 20, 2010, and 11 oil rig workers were killed.

Fires and explosions can, of course, be fatal. However, even if you don’t lose your life, you could potentially suffer life-altering burn injuries.

Car accidents are not the only vehicular accidents that can cause severe injuries and fatalities. Some oil rig workers are injured while they are being transported to and from offshore rigs. They usually take helicopters or small boats to a job site, and it’s possible for bad weather or mechanical problems to cause crashes.

Whether they’re caused by user error, mechanical failure, or something else, injuries caused by heavy equipment are common on oil rigs. 

Workers regularly interact with cranes, turbines, and other pieces of machinery, and sometimes, the oil company will use third-party contractors as machine operators. Not all companies are as focused on safety as they need to be, so working with these contractors may pose an additional risk.

How Can You Recover Compensation for Your Injuries?

When you’re hurt on the job, you might need to dedicate your energy to recovering from your injuries. However, you might have already discovered that the financial costs of a life-altering injury can add up very quickly. 

These costs can include:

  • Emergency medical care
  • Long-term medical care
  • Lost wages
  • Transportation to medical appointments
  • Hiring child care or in-home medical care

Of course, these costs don’t take into account non-tangible damages like emotional distress from disfigurement, physical and mental pain, and overall loss of quality of life.

There are many different laws designed to make it easier for injured employees (and, sometimes, family members who have lost a loved one) to recover compensation. An experienced oil rig accident attorney can help you determine whether any of these laws apply to your case.

The Jones Act

The Jones Act is a federal law that allows maritime workers to recover damages if their injuries were caused by negligence. 

To qualify for a Jones Act claim, you must meet the legal definition of “seaman.” Most oil rig workers meet that definition. You also must be able to prove that your injuries directly resulted from the negligence of the owner or operator of the rig or from a fellow employee.

Determining whether you qualify for compensation under the Jones Act is often more complex than it sounds. An experienced attorney will be able to review your case and tell you if you should pursue compensation under this law or another.

Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA)

If you do not qualify as a “seaman” under the law but still suffered injuries while working on an oil rig, you might be able to receive compensation under this law. Typically, you can only receive compensation for monetary damages like medical bills. However, if someone other than your employer was negligent and that negligence caused your injuries, you might be able to recover compensation for non-quantifiable damages like physical and emotional pain.

Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act

This specialized law might apply to your injuries if you suffered them while working on the outer continental shelf (the area of submerged land extending roughly three nautical miles from the coast). It allows you to seek compensation for a wider variety of damages than many laws do. 

If your injury is covered under this law, an attorney may be able to help you recover damages such as:

  • Cost of medical care
  • Loss of future earning capacity
  • Physical and mental pain
  • Disfigurement

Notably, the law lets you recover compensation for future damages as well. For example, if you suffer a traumatic brain injury that will require long-term care and treatment, you may receive compensation for the estimated total of the care you’ll need in the coming years.

Death On the High Seas Act

This law applies to wrongful death cases — not personal injuries. If your loved one has been killed while working on an offshore rig, the Death on the High Seas Act might allow you to recover compensation.

However, it’s important to note that this law only lets you recover “pecuniary damages,” or monetary damages, related to your loved one’s accident and death, including:

  • Medical bills incurred before death
  • Funeral expenses
  • Burial expenses
  • Loss of future earnings
  • Loss of benefits (like health insurance) you had because of your loved one’s job

An experienced attorney can calculate the approximate total value of your losses and attempt to recover damages through negotiation or in the courtroom.

Have You Been Hurt In an Oil Rig Accident?

Many oil rig injuries — even those that seem like genuine accidents where no one is to blame — happen as the result of negligence. You put your life and health at risk each time you go to work, and if you suffer a life-altering injury on the job, it’s only right that you receive financial compensation and support from the company or individual responsible.

However, unless you’re a lawyer, figuring out how to access that compensation can be next to impossible. That’s where we come in. At Stephens Law Firm, PLLC, we seek justice for injured people. We intentionally limit the cases we take to ensure we have the time, focus, and energy to deliver the top-quality representation you deserve. Call us at (817) 420 7000.

If you have suffered a severe injury while working for an oil rig company, contact us for a free consultation. We offer virtual or phone consultations for your convenience, but you may also choose an in-person meeting.