Offshore Oil & Gas Injuries

Oil and Gas Workers and the Jones Act

Injured oil and gas workers can recover benefits under the Jones Act when accidents or work-related injuries occur on board a transfer vessel, jack-up rig, or floating rig. Under the terms of the Jones Act, injured oil and gas workers are eligible to receive benefits covering medical costs and lost wages. If your injuries were the result of negligence on the part of your employer, you can also recover damages for pain and suffering, as well as future lost wages and future medical expenses.

Oil and Gas Injuries

Due to the small work space on fixed platforms and oil rigs, minor mechanical malfunction can lead to life-threatening hazards situations and serious injuries. The Jones Act covers almost any kind of work-related injury involving the following:

• Fire
• Explosions
• Block breaks
• Falling debris
• Slips and falls
• Snapped cables
• Failed pipe tongs
• Failed or broken grating
• Improperly fitted catheads

Employer Negligence

When an employer violates safety codes, fails to properly train oil and gas crewmembers, or ignores important maintenance issues, they’re liable under the Jones Act for more than standard maintenance and cure when injuries occur as a result. Oil and gas workers who are severely burned, maimed, or killed due to employer negligence are eligible to receive compensation for needed future medical treatment, lost earnings, and loss in quality of life.

Quantifying Your Losses

At Bailey & Galyen, our attorneys work with medical experts, economists, and health care planners in order to determine the financial impact of your injuries. Working with established data regarding the cost of injuries projected over time, we recover damages required to cover the cost of physical therapy, future surgery, medical equipment, in home nursing care, prescription medication, and other costs. We also determine what the costs of your injuries are in terms of loss of consortium, an inability to help your spouse around the house, and loss in quality of life regarding your children.

What You Should Know before You Talk to Your Employer

Cases involving injuries on oil and gas rigs almost always alert employers to potential losses they would rather avoid – especially when negligence on their part is involved. Too often, injured oil and gas workers encounter either harassment or deception on the part of their employers. If you have been injured on the job, don’t assume the information provided to you by a company representative is all there is know about the options available to you.

Before you sign any papers or agree to a settlement, contact admiralty law and maritime attorneys at Bailey & Galyen. We will review your case and ensure your rights and job are protected.