Mark Roman | May 22, 2024 | Personal Injury
Workers on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico face many risks. Oil rigs have numerous hazards and dangers that can cause catastrophic injuries and deaths. The working hours for oil rig workers are long and hard, increasing the risk of some types of injuries.
Dangers of working on an oil rig in Florida include, but are not limited to:
Fires
Oil rigs are at a high risk for fires because petroleum is highly combustible. In addition to petroleum, many substances on an oil rig can cause fires, especially when mixed with petroleum. In 2022, 126 fires were reported on offshore rigs.
Fires on oil rigs are extremely dangerous for workers. In addition to sustaining catastrophic burns, workers may also breathe the toxins released by the fire, which can cause lung damage and other injuries.
Explosions
Explosions are another dangerous condition on oil rigs. Explosions are not as common as fires and other accidents, but they can cause catastrophic loss when they occur.
Slips, Trips, and Falls
A leading cause of death for gas and oil extraction workers is falling. Oil workers may fall from great heights on an oil rig. Slip and fall accidents are also common on oil rigs.
Fatigue and Drowsiness
Fatigue and drowsiness are common among oil rig workers because of the hard physical labor and lack of sleep. This can lead to accidents on the rig and at other times, such as commuting to and from work.
Machinery and Equipment Accidents
Oil rigs use heavy machinery and equipment to extract oil. Common machines on oil rigs include drills, forklifts, cranes, and pipes. Workers may be injured in machinery accidents because they are caught in or between equipment.
Negligence is a common cause of oil right machinery accidents, but defective machinery and failure to maintain equipment could also be contributing factors.
Other Hazards and Dangers on Oil Rigs
Oil rig workers face many other dangers when working on the rig. Other accidents and incidents that cause injuries on Florida oil rigs include:
- Repetitive motion injuries
- Soft tissue injuries from lifting or moving heavy objects
- Drownings
- Electrocutions and electrical injuries
- Exposure to toxic substances
- Being struck by objects and debris
After an accident, an oil rig worker might not receive the same level of care as someone injured on land. Catastrophic injuries need to be treated in hospitals.
However, transporting injured oil rig workers to a hospital can take time. Delays in medical treatment after an oil rig accident may result in life-threatening complications and permanent impairments.
Filing an Oil Rig Accident Claim in Florida
If you are injured in a Florida oil rig accident, you could receive compensation for your economic and non-economic damages.
However, you will need to fight for fair compensation. Insurance providers and oil companies use any means to avoid liability for oil rig accidents. Oil rig workers are often left without the money they need to get back on their feet after an oil rig accident.
It is crucial to seek immediate medical treatment for oil rig injuries. You might be treated on the oil rig if your injuries are not traumatic. However, you should see a doctor when you return to shore for a second opinion. You may have sustained additional injuries that the oil company’s doctor did not diagnose on the rig.
Do I Need a New Port Richey Oil Rig Accident Lawyer? Contact the Law Firm of Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers
Injury claims for offshore accidents on oil rigs are complex personal injury cases. They often involve federal laws protecting offshore workers, such as the Jones Act and the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act. The benefits paid under these laws are no-fault benefits, so you do not need to prove fault to receive them.
However, oil rig workers may seek compensation based on fault claims. The Jones Act allows workers to sue their employers for negligence. An oil rig worker may also have a fault-based claim against third party who caused or contributed to the case of an oil rig accident.
Hiring a Florida maritime injury lawyer is strongly recommended because of the complex laws involved in oil rig accident claims. An experienced maritime injury attorney understands the law and has the resources to pursue a claim.
For more information, please contact the legal team of Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers for a free initial consultation with a personal injury lawyer in New Port Richey. We have four convenient locations in Florida: Clearwater, New Port Richey, and Tampa.
We serve throughout Pinellas County, Hillsborough County, Pasco County, and its surrounding areas:
Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers – New Port Richey Office
2515 Seven Springs Blvd.
New Port Richey, FL, 34655
(727) 815-8442
Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers – Clearwater Office
1811 N. Belcher Road, Suite I-1
Clearwater, FL 33765
(727) 787-2500
Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers – Congress Ave Office
2360 Congress Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33763
(727) 591-5610
Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers – Tampa Office
6601 Memorial Hwy Suite 202
Tampa, FL 33615
(813) 686-7588