Drilling for oil can be a dangerous profession. The job includes long work days, highly combustible materials and swinging overhead cranes – all while standing on a slippery surface on an isolated rig hundreds of miles from the coast. Despite this, accidents are rare, but they tend to be catastrophic when they do occur.
One of the most important things for survivors of an oil rig accident to know is that any injuries or death resulting from an accident on an oil rig is covered under Maritime Law, which has rules that can be very different from other forms of law. However, not all incidents are covered by Maritime Law, and may be covered by various state laws. The only way to know for sure is to contact a qualified Bakersfield workplace accident attorney.
The Bakersfield oil rig lawyers of Avrek Law Firm have been successfully supporting families just like yours for more than 50 years, and will fight to ensure you receive the justice that you and your family deserve.
What types of incidents occur on oil rigs?
Even though incidents occurring on an oil rig are rare, any type of explosion that occurs hundreds of miles from land has the potential to be fatal or cause devastating injuries to individuals. Safety precautions, when used effectively, may prevent many types of workplace accidents, but when workers are stressed and overtired, or pushed beyond their limits due to quotas, accidents occur.
Oil companies can crowd workers on a rig to better their profits. This crowding can contribute to the hostile work environment and can significantly increase the chance that a serious accident will occur. Crowding on a rig can cause significant injuries when simple things happen, including:
- Slips and fall
- Falling objects
- Negligence while operating equipment
- Cabling or block breaks
- Faulty grating occurs
Contact a Knowledgeable Oil Rig Accident Lawyer
If you or a family member has been injured due to violation of federal or state safety regulations, you may be due compensation for your pain, suffering, disability or lost wages should your employer be found negligent. Other types of injuries that may be covered include accidents that happen while being transported to or from the scene of a safety event, such as a helicopter ride to safety.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an offshore of fixed-location oil drilling accident, Avrek Law Firm’s skilled oil rig accident lawyers in Bakersfield are ready to help. We proudly serve Bakersfield, Beverly Hills, Oxnard and the surrounding areas – call our office or complete the online form today for a free case consultation.