Work in the offshore maritime industry pays extremely well, but not without good reason. It involves very dangerous work, much of which is performed during long, physically demanding shifts. Offshore jobs often involve some form of exploration or drilling, as well as construction, installation, and maintenance of highly complex offshore rigs. Piping, welding, and diving are also common tasks that many offshore workers perform regularly.
Injuries are common in offshore jobs. If you were injured while working on an offshore rig or while performing work-related tasks or duties related to your offshore job, you may have grounds for a personal injury claim that can be used to cover lost income, medical treatment expenses, and other losses that arise as a result of your personal injuries. Contact a Patchogue offshore injuries lawyer with Gacovino, Lake & Associates, P.C. to learn more. Our legal team can be reached at (631) 600-0000.
Types of Offshore Accidents
There are many ways and places that an offshore injury accident can occur. Here are some of the leading types of offshore accidents.
Accidents Involving Barges and Boats
People and materials are transported to and from offshore rigs on boats and barges and it involves the use of complex machinery and equipment such as winches, chains, towlines, and ropes. The misuse of equipment like power tools or machinery on boats or barges, including slips and falls during such routine work, are common causes of offshore accidents and personal injuries.
Drilling Accidents
Offshore work primarily involves oil and gas exploration and extraction as well as renewable wind power generation. Accidents can easily occur as a result of inclement weather, long work hours, poor worker training, workplace hazards, and human error. Fires, explosions, high-pressure accidents, a lack of safety gear, and unexpected events can all cause serious offshore accidents and life-threatening bodily injuries.
Equipment Failures
Weather and saltwater can lead to unexpectedly quick degradation of equipment and infrastructure used in and on offshore work stations. Aging and deteriorating equipment, especially if such equipment goes unserviced or unnoticed, can pose serious hazards and can increase the risk of workers suffering from electrocution, mechanical failures, and parts breakdowns at the wrong time.
Slips and Falls
In the wet and windy conditions often seen in offshore work, whether on the deck of a boat, barge, oil rig or an offshore station, slips and falls are highly common. The employers of offshore workers and the service and maintenance crews responsible for maintaining safe work environments can potentially be held liable for your losses and injuries if their negligence or mistakes lead to a worker’s slip and fall accident.
Chemical and Explosion Accidents
As mentioned above, many offshore jobs involve some form of oil and gas exploration and extraction. This kind of work can expose workers to dangerous chemicals and the risk of explosions and fires. Accidents involving chemical burns, fires, or explosions can lead to life-changing injuries and even death.
Other common offshore accidents include injuries suffered from falling objects, workers getting hit by heavy objects, materials, or equipment, and slips, trips, and falls. Falls overboard and unsafe exposure to extreme temperatures are also common causes of offshore maritime accidents and injuries.
Contact a Patchogue offshore injuries lawyer today to learn more about these accidents and any other type of offshore accident that you or your loved one may have been involved in. Gacovino, Lake & Associates, P.C. handles a wide range of personal injury claims, including offshore injuries and accidents, so call us today for a free consultation at (631) 600-0000.
Common Offshore Accident Injuries
Many of the more common injuries seen with offshore workers are similar to those seen with onshore construction and heavy industry workers, and many of the causes of these injuries are the same as well. However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), many maritime jobs have a much higher fatality rate than workers in other industries, with some maritime jobs having almost five times the fatality rate of other occupations.
Common offshore injuries include:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
- Spinal Cord Injuries (SCIs)
- Chemical and thermal burns
- Face, eye, mouth, and hearing injuries
- Cuts, lacerations, contusions, and bruises
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Amputations of all or part of a limb or other body part
- Partial or total paralysis
- Crushed, broken, or fractured bones
- Muscle, nerve, and tissue damage
- Internal organ damage
- Internal bleeding
- Hypothermia
- Respiratory injuries or irritation from chemical or smoke inhalation
- Exposure to toxic chemicals
Determining Liability and Seeking Compensation After Being Injured Offshore
The United States Department of Labor and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) provide federally mandated safety standards that employers and businesses working in the maritime and offshore industries must follow to ensure the safety and wellbeing of their workers. A failure to meet or fulfill these standards can lead to liability on the part of employers, administrators, supervisors, maintenance teams, owners, and parts manufacturers if their actions cause or contribute to an accident.
To seek compensation for an offshore accident, you must show that the actions or negligence of another party such as your employer, another worker, or a maintenance team was a direct or proximate cause of an accident and that accident caused you harm. Improperly performing actions or performing the wrong actions can also be categorized as negligence. It is on this basis that you may be able to file an offshore accident injury claim against the at-fault party in question.
Contact the Office of an Offshore Injuries Attorney in Patchogue for Help Today
A Patchogue offshore injuries lawyer with Gacovino, Lake & Associates, P.C. can help you understand the rules and laws that apply to offshore accident cases and what you must do to file a claim for compensation for your accident-related losses or injuries. Contact our offices today at (631) 600-0000 for a free consultation. We will walk you through what you need to know about collecting evidence, how and when to file a claim, and how to quantify and evaluate your losses. Do not hesitate to reach out today.
