gulf of mexico – Offshore Injury Lawyer – Maritime Attorneys – Houston Maritime LawyersOffshore Injury Attorneys

May 10, 2014

A Baytown oil rig attorney can help when there’s an oil rig accident

Four years ago, the world watched 200 million gallons of oil leak out of a BP oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico. For a time, no one wanted to drill. Being linked to the potential to do that much harm to the environment would be catastrophic. Local BP filling stations put up signs reminding shoppers that the stores were owned by local businessmen and women, asking them not to boycott the corporation.

Now, though, the industry is booming. There are more active oil rigs in the Gulf than there were before that terrible accident occurred. With so many new rigs, business is up, and new employment opportunities are presenting themselves to maritime workers in Texas, Louisiana, Georgia, and Florida. For Maritime workers in Texas, it might be a good idea to talk with a Baytown oil rig injury attorney.

Whether you’ve worked on a drilling rig before or not, you’re probably familiar with some of the accidents and injuries that can occur while on the job. This is a potentially hazardous field of employment. Common injuries include burns from exposure to flaming oil or gas, amputations from malfunctioning equipment, and injuries from exposure to toxic fumes, among others.

If you’ve been in an accident on the job, or you just want to know more about your rights as a maritime worker, a Baytown oil rig injury attorney – like the ones at Kirkendall Dwyer LLP – may be able to answer some questions for you. If an accident is caused by negligence on the part of your employer, then you’ll be due a fair amount of worker’s compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If you work on a drilling rig and have been in an accident, a Baytown oil rig injury attorney can help you.

Apr 28, 2014

BP is back in the Gulf and a Texas City oil rig injury attorney can help workers

In 2010, following the catastrophic Deep Horizon oil spill, BP was temporarily banned from drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. Now, 4 years later, the ban has been lifted, and BP has won its first contract, allowing the company to begin drilling off the coast of Louisiana. New oil rigs in the Gulf mean more employment for maritime workers in Texas. They also mean more workers may need to consult with a Texas City oil rig injury attorney.

BP has struck a deal with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to drop a pending lawsuit in exchange for the EPA allowing BP to begin bidding on new federal contracts again. BP has made moves to ensure that we won’t see a repeat of the 200-million-gallon spill from 4 years ago. However, this still means that workers considering taking on employment with BP should consider all of the potential consequences of working on any oil rig but especially one owned by a company with an accident-prone past.

If you’re concerned about what might happen in the event of an accident, you shouldn’t hesitate to talk to a Texas City oil rig injury attorney, like one of the attorneys at Kirkendall Dwyer LLP, as soon as possible, as they are well-versed in maritime law and worker’s compensation.

If you’ve been in an accident on an oil rig, or you’re just curious about what that kind of scenario will look like if you’re ever unfortunate enough to be in one, you can talk to a Texas City oil rig attorney about equipment maintenance, safety procedures, proper training implementation, and other factors that your employer is responsible for. You can also talk to them about the right course of action for you and your family, should you be injured or killed in an accident.

Dec 24, 2013

BP Website Response to Deep Horizon Oil Spill

Oil Rig Injury Attorney: BP has launched a new website designed to defend its response to the 2010 Deep Horizon oil spill. The oil spill left 11 people dead and spilled almost 5 million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. In the new website, the company defends its actions after the horrific accident. In part, the website says “The Deepwater Horizon blowout and explosion was a tragic accident, and BP, alone, among all involved parties, stepped up from the beginning and acknowledged its role”.

BP does not admit negligence, stating that it was not “grossly negligent in its actions leading up to the spill”. In response to lawsuits that were subsequently filed after the accident, BP replies that gross negligence has not been proven.

Additionally, BP says that the estimate of spilled oil is too high. The estimate may be important when it comes to fines. Under the Clean Water Act, BP may be fined $1,100 for each spilled barrel. The fine jumps to $4,300 each barrel if BP were to be found grossly negligent.

When determining penalties using the Clean Water Act, the courts must determine the parties’ responsibility as well as how much oil was spilled. They court may also take other factors into consideration such as the company’s actions after the spill occurred. Certainly an oil rig injury attorney will work to prove the gross negligence.

In cases such as this one, the culpability is likely quite clear. The resolution will be based on whether the court feels the case for gross negligence has been proven. An experienced oil rig injury attorney gets involved in these types of cases. If involved in an accident of this type it is best to seek counsel from an oil rig injury attorney as soon as possible. The lawyer will review every aspect of the case to help resolve the case in a favorable manner.

Dec 15, 2013

Search Suspended for Missing Oilfield Worker

The United States Coast Guard has suspended its search for a worker missing from an offshore oilfield supply boat. The USCG has been searching for the man for 3 days in an area covering 2,734 square nautical miles in the Gulf of Mexico. During the 3-day search there were 12 separate search missions. They deployed many helicopters, cutters, and aircraft to aid in the search efforts, but they turned up empty.

The missing man, whose name has not been released, reportedly fell overboard off the Dustin Danos, a ship operated by Gulf Offshore Logistics. The man was reported overboard on Saturday, November 9, about 60 miles southwest of Port Fourchon. The company has not responded to requests for comments on the incident.

In a separate incident just two weeks ago, another oilfield worker was lost in the water. The man worked for Offshore Specialty Fabricators and fell from a platform about 75 miles southeast of Lake Charles. The man’s body was recovered the next day by divers. The man was part of a company that was contracted to dismantle that particular platform because it was no longer in use.

According to reports, the man in that accident was knocked off the platform by an empty storage tank that also fell into the water. The man’s body was found pinned under the tank, about 100 feet under the water. The USCG reported that there was no oil spill due to the accident because the tank was no longer in use and was plugged.

Accidents such as these require consultation with an experienced Houston maritime lawyer. The attorney will review the details of the accident and work with the family to take appropriate legal action. A Houston maritime lawyer will explain the Jones Act and review the maritime laws that apply in the situation. Contact a Houston maritime lawyer to determine your options.

Nov 26, 2013

Safety Concerns of Offshore Drillers

In the wake of recent rulings regarding the Black Elk Energy accident, oil companies are likely concerned about their own operations. The Black Elk Energy company was cited this week with 41 violations as a result of the explosion that killed 3 workers last year. The violations cite many problems, some of which may be partially responsible for the accident.

While this may seem like a harsh ruling, it is possible that the company will be able to resolve many of them – the company has 2 months to respond to the violations. In the meantime, other companies may be concerned about their own possible safety violations. Violations can carry large fines, although for most companies, these fines may be worth risking rather than having to conform to some expensive changes.

It is important to note that even if a company is charged with a violation, they have a certain length of time to correct the problem. Often, companies are allowed months to fix problems. Until then, workers are exposed the dangerous conditions, likely unaware of the situation they are putting themselves into. Workers who are injured are covered by maritime laws including the Jones Act. This allows workers to seek legal action in the case of an injury.

If you have been injured, it is important to speak to an experienced Galveston oil rig injury attorney as soon as possible. The attorney will review the circumstances of the accident to determine the best way to proceed. The Galveston oil rig injury attorney understands these types of accidents and knows how to establish negligence. An oil rig job is dangerous, but the company must take precautions to ensure safety. Talk to a Galveston oil rig injury attorney to learn more about seeking legal action after having sustained an injury while working offshore.