Oil Rig Accidents

Jones Act

Offshore drilling is a very dangerous field of work. When accidents occur, they often lead to severe injuries and death. If you have been injured in an oil rig accident, or if your loved one was killed in an explosion or other type of offshore accident, you are entitled to compensation for your injuries and loss.

For more information, contact Tony Malley, Attorney at Law. He is experienced in catastrophic injuries and in maritime law and can help you recover the compensation you need to move forward with your life.

Types of Oil Rig Accidents

Some of the most common types of oil rig accidents include:

  • Explosions and fires
  • Oil and gas blowouts
  • Capsizing during harsh weather like typhoons and hurricanes
  • Collapsing due to metal fatigue, design errors and structural failures
  • Unsafe working conditions

Deadliest Oil Rig Accidents

There have been a number of tragic oil rig accidents in the U.S. Some of the most deadly include:

  • 1998 - Explosion of Occidental’s Piper Alpha platform, 167 workers died in the fire.
  • 1989 - The Seacrest drillship capsized during a typhoon, 91 workers were killed.
  • 1983 - the Glomar Java Sea Drillship sank after capsizing during a typhoon, everyone on board was killed (81 died).
  • 1982 - The Ocean Ranger capsized due to a control malfunction in the midst of a storm in the North Atlantic, everyone on board was killed (84 died).
  • 1980 - Alexander L. Kielland, an accommodation rig, capsized during a storm, 123 workers were killed in the accident.

Unsafe Working Conditions

There are a number of factors that can lead to oil rig accidents. Given the already hazardous conditions, it is important that drilling companies provide oil rig workers with the safest working conditions possible. If an accident or death is caused by negligence or unsafe conditions, the drilling company can be held accountable.

Poor training, poor safety precautions, and old equipment that leads to structural collapses are all examples of negligence. The Jones Act is a federal law that allows maritime workers to seek compensation from their employers when they are injured as a result of negligence. Compensation might include medical bills, lost wages, an inability to work, and pain and suffering.

Contact a Maritime Lawyer about an Oil Rig Accident Claim

If you or a loved one has sustained serious injuries while working at sea, you should contact Mr. Malley for experienced legal representation. He will act as your advocate and will fight to recover the maximum amount of compensation you are entitled to so you can focus on recovering from your injuries. To learn more about your rights, please contact Texas maritime attorney Mr. Malley today.