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maritime accidents

Gulf Oil Rig Accidents in Louisiana

February 17, 2016 by Lee Hoffoss

Besides being a rich source of wildlife diversity, the Gulf Coast of Louisiana is also a significant source of oil and gas for the entire country. As of 2012, it was estimated that there nearly 4,000 oil rigs in the Gulf. With a large increase in offshore oil production has come a significant increase in the number of oil rig accidents. Each year, there are about 12,000 worker injury accidents on offshore oil rigs and most were due to non-compliance with rules designed to make rig workers safe.
The job of an oil rig worker is dangerous, even under the best of circumstances. While a lot of attention was paid to the Infamous Deepwater Horizon drilling rig explosion, which is better known for the massive BP oil spill back in 2010, it also left 11 workers dead and 17 others injured. The fact is, accidents happen too often, and they have a number of causes. Among the most frequent accidents to happen include everything from slips and falls, to struck-by accidents, blowouts, equipment malfunctions, electrocution, oil rig collapses or malfunctions, fires, explosions and even transportation accidents involving boats and helicopters.
Accidents on oil rigs can lead to many types of serious injuries, including broken bones, serious burns, amputations, traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries. While some oil rig workers recover within a few weeks, months or years, many others suffer debilitating, sometimes permanent injuries that require many years of treatment and rehabilitation just to get back to being close to normal. In some cases, such accidents lead to a wrongful death.
In many cases, these accidents are preventable and they occur due to someone else’s negligence. These types of cases are very complex and require a thorough investigation into what happened and to discover which parties are responsible. Often, employers and supervisors fail to follow proper regulations and safe practices, but there are often third-parties who are also responsible. For example, perhaps maintenance was supposed to be performed by a third-party service provider and it either wasn’t performed properly or it wasn’t performed at all. Perhaps a piece of equipment malfunctioned because it was defective. It’s possible for such a third-party to be held liable.
There are also several legal structures that apply to working at sea that don’t necessarily apply to those oil and gas workers who labor onshore; maritime laws, such as the Jones Act, the Death on the High Seas Act and others specifically protect offshore maritime workers. Therefore, in order to recover for all losses and damages, you will need an attorney with a strong knowledge of maritime and workplace safety laws, and the experience to know how to apply them and to access the best experts and offshore investigators available. The offshore oil and gas attorneys at Hoffoss Devall have the skills you need to get everything you’re entitled to. Contact us today for a free consultation.

Filed Under: Jone's Act Maritime Offshore Injury, Uncategorized Tagged With: Jones Act, maritime accidents, Oil Rig Accidents

Explosion on Offshore Oil Platform Off Louisiana Injures 11

November 26, 2012 by Lee Hoffoss

An explosion off the coast of Louisiana sent 11 people to hospitals. There were 22 people on the offshore oil platform when the explosion occurred. Nine people were uninjured, and two others are still missing.
Of the 11 known people that were injured, two were flown to the Baton Rouge General-Mid City Burn Center and are in critical condition. Two other injured crew members were on their way to Baton Rouge by ambulance from Marrero, Louisiana. There is no word on the condition of those two or the other seven injured workers.
A crew has been dispatched to assess and clean up any pollution from the explosion. The Coast Guard unit stationed in Morgan City, Louisiana, will be leading the investigation into the cause of the explosion. Preliminary reports indicate that the explosion occurred when a worker was cutting into a pipe that still had oil in it with a torch. The fire has been put out and there is no indication that oil is leaking into the Gulf of Mexico.
Those who were injured in the explosion on this offshore oil platform may be able to receive benefits in accordance with the Longshore and Harbor Workers Act. This Act provides for compensation and medical care for those employees injured in the course of their maritime employment in the same way as workers’ compensation does in other industries. Anyone injured in the course of maritime employment may want to seek the advice of counsel to ensure they are receiving all of the benefits they are entitled to under relevant laws.

Filed Under: Jone's Act Maritime Offshore Injury, Uncategorized Tagged With: Fatal Accident, Louisiana, maritime accidents

Costa Concordia Maritime Accident May Lead to Stricter Regulations

March 2, 2012 by Lee Hoffoss

As many Lake Charles residents will recall, the Costa Concordia — a cruise ship owned by a subsidiary of Carnival Corp. — capsized off of the coast of Tuscany in mid-January. The maritime accident resulted in 17 confirmed deaths and an additional 15 people left missing. Purportedly, the ship’s captain ran the vessel ashore near the island of Giglio; the ship was ripped open by rocks, and it eventually capsized.
A number of survivors of the shipwreck and their families are embarking on lawsuits seeking compensation for their losses. According to a Thomson Reuters news report, Costa Cruises — the Carnival subsidiary company that owns the ship — offered the survivors of the maritime accident less than $15,000 each. Some believe the amount to be disrespectful, given the magnitude of the disaster.
So, how might these occurrences affect residents of Lake Charles, Louisiana? For starters, insurance companies will likely demand an increase in safety and training protocols for maritime staff, while implementing tighter regulations on the maritime industry as a whole. Regardless of the outcome of the investigation into the tragic accident, it is safe to say that the insurance company for Carnival Cruise Lines will be faced with some decisions. Reportedly, Carnival Corp. will lose up to $175 million in profits as a result of the incident, and it anticipates future effects as well.
No amount of reparation can replace the loss a loved one when tragedy strikes. However, the law provides that those who find themselves victimized by accidents like this are entitled to seek compensation for pain and suffering. An in-depth knowledge of the law can prove a substantial benefit in the wake of a painfully difficult situation.

Filed Under: Jone's Act Maritime Offshore Injury, Uncategorized Tagged With: Cruise Line Regulations, Cruise Ship Accidents, maritime accidents

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