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Jackson Oilfield and Offshore Accident Lawyer

Working in the oilfield industry or on oil rigs can be perilous. Maintaining a safe work site is crucial to the performance of all operations.  If you have been hurt while working in the oilfield industry, you may be protected by laws and regulations that do not apply to other types of injury claims.  Contact our Jackson Oilfield and offshore accident attorneys at The Penton Law Group, PLLC in Mississippi to learn about your legal options.

Why Choose Our Firm?

  • Our Jackson injury attorneys have over a decade of legal experience representing clients who have suffered a personal injury at work.
  • We focus solely on personal injury law – It is all we do.
  • We limit our caseload to ensure every case gets the attention it deserves.
  • We prepare every case as if it were going to trial, and we aggressively pursue maximum compensation for our clients.

Why You Need an Oilfield Accident Lawyer

If you have been injured while working in the oilfield industry or on an oil rig, it is important to have an attorney by your side who is well-versed in state, federal, and maritime laws.  Special laws may apply to your case depending on where you were injured and the nature of your job.

Companies involved in the production of oil will aggressively defend against your claim because safety violations can be detrimental to business.  Our experienced personal injury lawyers can help level the playing field, increasing your chances of recovering full and fair compensation.

Oil Industry Accident Statistics

  • According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in a recent eight-year period, the oil and gas extraction industry, onshore and offshore combined, had a fatality rate seven times higher than all workers in the U.S. (27.1 as compared to 3.8 deaths per 100,000 workers).
  • 128 worker deaths related to offshore oil and gas operations occurred during this period.
  • Transportation events were the leading cause of fatalities, the majority of which involved aircraft.
  • Nearly one-fourth of fatalities occurred among workers in occupations classified as transportation and material moving.

Causes of Offshore and Oilfield Accidents and Injuries

Oilfield and oil rig workers have a dangerous occupation. Common causes of accidents and injuries include:

  • Hazardous and volatile chemicals
  • Failure to comply with safety procedures or use safety features
  • Rig or drill damage from rough seas and storms
  • Burn injuries from high heat sources
  • Slip and fall accidents
  • Lifting accidents
  • Personnel basket transfer accidents
  • Explosions and fires
  • Electrocutions
  • Line handling incidents
  • Unsafe equipment
  • Helicopter crashes
  • Driving accidents
  • Vessel collisions
  • Crane operation incidents

Types of Oilfield and Offshore Injuries

Workers in the oilfield industry and on oil rigs are susceptible to numerous types of injuries ranging from minor to life-threatening. Some of the more common and serious injuries that occur in this line of work include:

  • Fractures
  • Amputations
  • Head and brain injuries
  • Back injuries
  • Hypothermia
  • Drowning
  • Hearing loss
  • Spinal cord damage
  • Electrocution
  • Death

Which Laws Apply to Injured Workers

Special laws apply to workers injured while working in the oil industry depending on the location of the injury and the nature of the job.  Some of the special laws include:

  • General Maritime Law: Provides crewmembers of a vessel the ability to recover maintenance and cure payments when their injury or illness was caused by the unseaworthiness of the vessel. Maintenance payments are for living expenses while the injured worker recovers. Cure payments are for reasonable and necessary medical expenses, along with the cost of transportation in attending medical appointments.
  • The Jones Act: Provides protection for workers classified as “seamen” and expands their rights under general maritime law regarding the types of damages they can recover and the causes of action available to them.
  • Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA): Provides medical care, rehabilitation and compensation to workers who are injured while working on the navigable waters of the U.S. and whose jobs assist in maritime commerce.
  • Death on the High Seas Act (DOHSA): Provides compensation to the families of workers who were killed due to wrongful acts or negligence while working on a vessel in international waters.
  • Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA): Extends the protections of LHWCA to workers injured while working on offshore platforms on the Outer Continental Shelf. 

Who Is Liable?

It is extremely common for an oilfield work site, whether onshore or offshore, to have numerous companies and contractors involved in the project at hand.  If you are injured while working in the oilfield industry, contact an experienced attorney who can spend time with you discussing the details of the accident and the potentially liable companies or contractors involved.

Connect with The Penton Law Group, PLLC

After a serious oilfield or oil rig injury or illness, you are legally entitled to recover for certain losses depending on the location of the injury and the nature of your job. Contact The Penton Law Group, PLLC as soon as possible in order to protect your rights. Our oilfield and offshore accident attorneys operate on a contingency fee basis, which means you do not pay us any money until we successfully recover on your behalf.