A personal injury attorney is suing an oil rig owner for $10 million in damages on behalf of an oil rig worker who was burned during an oil rig explosion. The man suffered “severe burns from the waist up” and is suing for damages to cover his medical expenses, his loss of income from not being able to work, and for the mental and physical agony he has endured. The lawsuit states that industry standards were violated when a water tank was placed too close to a well the crew was working on; when the water tank was delivered, it was placed in a “dangerous area” according to the crew on site. An unidentified witness said, “natural gas fumes apparently got into the engine that turns the pump. Despite the workers’ efforts to shut down the engine and pump to prevent the uncontrolled release of natural gas, it ran away uncontrolled and then exploded,” resulting in severe personal injuries. Five workers were injured by the explosion and following fire; four of the workers were flown to nearby hospitals to undergo treatment while the fifth sustained minor injuries and did not require emergency medical care.
The lawsuit alleges that the rig’s owner and other related agents, employees, and representatives were negligent and that the explosion could have been avoided; the employer failed to thoroughly inspect the work site, arrange for adequate supervision at the well or conduct proper testing. The lawsuit also claims the rig owner and other employees engaged in negligent hiring and retention, as well as cursory ventures and premise liability. The suit then advances those accusations by stating the actions of the employer and others establish gross negligence due to a “complete lack of concern for the health, safety and welfare of workers on this job site.” The personal injury attorney representing the burn victim released a statement saying, “the oil rig explosion was completely preventable had the defendants followed basic industry standards. Instead of adhering to basic industry standards, [the] defendants ignored those standards and chose profits over safety.”
If you or a loved one was injured suffered a workplace burn injury from an explosion, fire or chemical exposure, call a personal injury attorney, like a catastrophic injury lawyer in Cleveland, OH from Mishkind Kulwicki Law Co., LPA, immediately. Aside from dealing with the physical pain and emotional trauma that is caused by a serious personal injuries, you may also have questions regarding what legal action can be taken to protect your rights. If there was any negligence involved, you may be eligible for compensation. In order to have a solid case, the true cause of the accident will have to be determined, which may require preservation of evidence, including gaining access to defective equipment, interviewing witnesses and photographing the accident site.