Quite a few Louisiana residents work in the oil industry. Many of them have very dangerous jobs — particularly those who work on oil rigs and drillships. Recently, a worker on a drillship was killed in an accident. Under admiralty and maritime law, his surviving family members may be entitled to seek compensation for their losses.
According to a national news report, on Sunday, Dec. 3, an employee on the Petrobras 10,000 drillship suffered a fatal injury in an equipment-related accident. Little information is known about the victim. He is said to have been handling pipes between a stanchion and a retracting skate. The retracting skate reportedly moved its position, pinning the man between the platform and the stanchion.
The drillship was located roughly 170 miles from Port Fourchon when the incident occurred. Thankfully, no other workers were injured. At this time, investigators are still trying to determine the official cause of the accident.
Losing a loved one, no matter how it happens, is a terrible thing to experience. As this man’s death occurred while at work, out on a ship, admiralty and maritime law protections apply in his case. His family may pursue compensation for their losses by filing claims against all those deemed responsible for the loss of life. Claims like this are often handled out of court and through private negotiations, but it is also possible to pursue litigation in a Louisiana civil court if negotiations are not going anywhere. An experienced attorney will be able to review the facts of this particular case and help the victim’s family pursue any legal actions that are deemed appropriate.
Source: U.S. News & World Report, “Gulf Rig Worker Killed in Apparent Equipment Accident“, Dec. 6, 2017