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Offshore Oil Rigs
Offshore oil rigs are large structures that allow for facilities to drill wells, extract and process the oil and natural gas, and temporarily store the product until they can be shipped to their next location. In many cases, an oil rig may provide housing for the workers employed on it.
These oil rigs are very dangerous places to work. The job of extracting volatile substances under extreme pressure from hostile environments can lead to accidents. The heavy equipment involved can easily be misused, leading to crush injuries, amputations, and head and neck trauma.
Jack-up Oil Rigs
There are several different kinds of oil rigs, including fixed platforms, drillships, and spar platforms. One of the more common kinds is the jack-up oil rig. These rigs have retractable legs, and once they are moved into place by a tug boat, the legs are either attached to the ocean floor or attached to a bottom mat. Because they are not fixed platforms, they are most often considered vessels for the purpose of the Jones Act.
Oil Rig Accidents
There are over 3,700 oil rig platforms in the Gulf of Mexico alone, which means that everyday workers are injured in one way or another. Common oil rig accidents include slip and falls, accidents due to equipment failure or improper aintenance, rig collapses, and loss of well control. In addition, falls can easily occur as a result of malfunctioning safety harnesses. Falling objects can also crush a worker’s limb or cause serious head trauma.
Types of Injuries
Injuries occurring on oil rigs are often serious and debilitating. They include:
- Back and spinal cord injuries
- Burns
- Falls
- Loss of limbs
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Injuries and complications from exposure to chemicals
Contact a Maritime Attorney Today
Maritime cases are personally devastating, and legally complex. You need an attorney that understands the nuances of this area of the law, and can recover the maximum amount of compensation available to you. Fill out a form or contact us today to begin the process of recovery.
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