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Jack-Up Rig Accidents

We never settle for less than Injured offshore workers deserve

Houston Jack-Up Rig Accident Attorneys

Powerful Legal Representation for Injured Rig Workers Nationwide

A jack-up rig is a dangerous piece of machinery. It is a huge mobile platform that rests on the sea floor, functioning as a kind of barge that can be raised or lowered by gears driven by hydraulic or electric motors. Jack-up rigs are used for offshore oil and natural gas drilling. Enormous and complex, they carry with them certain serious risks.

Abogados de lesiones por accidentes marítimos y en alta mar en Houston

The Dangers of Jack-Up Rigs

Jack-up rigs can capsize if they are not properly secured, and their equipment can malfunction if it is not carefully maintained. With all the electrical lines that it takes to operate the rig, fires and explosions are possible risks. Another common injury that jack-up rig workers can sustain is head trauma. From concussions caused by a blast or from tools that fall from a higher platform, head traumas are a regular occurrence. Additionally, the machinery is large, so there is always the risk that pieces of the machine can strike a worker, causing blunt force injuries.

Jack-up rig workers are in danger from a variety of different sources due to the complexity of operations. Statistics show that jack-up rigs are dangerous work environments. According to the U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, in less than a 10-year period, there have been more than 900 fires and explosions, 60 deaths, and 1,548 serious injuries related to offshore oil production in the Gulf of Mexico.

Weather conditions and rough seas can also affect jack-up rig workers. Hurricanes and tropical storms can endanger the lives of the entire crew on a jack-up rig if they are not evacuated in time. Offshore companies have an obligation to properly monitor hurricanes and other storms and bring workers to safety if warranted. Their failure to do so can have catastrophic effects. This happened to the Seacor Power, a lift boat that capsized off the Louisiana coast in April of 2021, claiming the lives of 13 crew members. It also happened to the Globetrotter II, a drillship that nearly capsized because she and her crew of 142 people were left in the path of Hurricane Ida in September 2021. The entire Globetrotter II crew thought they were going to die.

Studies have also shown that maritime employees are twice as likely to sustain a serious injury while on the job when compared to construction workers.

What Are Your Rights After a Jack-Up Rig Accident?

Jack-up rigs are known for moving locations in the same general area. Since jack-up rigs do technically move from one sea area to another, they are considered maritime vessels for maritime law. This means that many aspects of the Jones Act and various other maritime laws apply to jack-up rig workers. If a jack-up rig were not considered a maritime vessel, your jack-up rig employer would be difficult to sue.

For example, you can recover maintenance and cure, injury compensation, and much more under a Jones Act claim. The fact that jack-up rigs are considered Jones Act vessels means you have compensation rights under U.S. law. If negligence was involved, you will need the help of a seasoned attorney to craft a strong Jones Act case.

How Arnold & Itkin Can Help: Call Our Texas Lawyers at (888) 493-1629 Today

If you were involved in a jack-up rig accident, you may be entitled to compensation. You may not know where to turn after sustaining injuries at your offshore work environment, but that's what we are here for. Arnold & Itkin can evaluate your claim and determine what your legal rights are. The sooner you contact our legal team, the better chance you have of receiving the help you deserve. There are many different types of offshore accidents you can be involved in while working on a jack-up rig, but no matter what your injury, it would be in your best interest to seek the help of our legal team to offer you aggressive representation and the legal experience that you need.

Call (888) 493-1629 today for a free review of your jack-up injury case. Our attorneys have a history of securing the best results in the toughest cases. No matter what.

Case Results

Check Out Our Victories

  • $193 Million Settlement Won for Victims of Pipeline Explosion Offshore injury lawyers at Arnold & Itkin fought for two workers who were injured in a pipeline explosion at sea, one of whom passed away. Our relentless investigation and advocacy resulted in a nine-figure settlement that will provide for our ...
  • $125 Million Settlement Won for Widow of Dredge Worker Offshore lawyers at Arnold & Itkin LLP won a nine-figure settlement for a woman who lost her husband in a pipeline explosion. By pushing the case toward trial, our firm pressured the defendant into settling with our client, allowing her to rebuild ...
  • $68 Million Settlement Obtained for Injured Dredge Worker Arnold & Itkin LLP secured $68 million for an injured offshore worker who was hurt in a pipeline explosion. Our relentless advocacy compelled the defendant to settle with our client to take care of him for the rest of his life.
  • $40 Million Settlement Reached for Injured Jones Act Seamen Our team represented several offshore workers severely injured in a vessel collision. After several days of trial, we reached a settlement offer of $40 million on their behalf.
  • $29 Million The Largest Known Settlement for a Wrongful Death Offshore Kurt Arnold, Jason Itkin, and Cory Itkin successfully secured a record settlement for a single family who tragically lost a loved one. It is the largest known settlement for a death that occurred offshore. While a settlement is not an admittance of ...
  • $14 Million Jones Act Settlement Reached Two Days Before Trial Arnold & Itkin represented a seaman after he suffered a head injury on the Hercules 15 inland barge. Hercules employees tack welded a three foot pipe to the derrick and then forgot to remove it before starting drilling operations. The pipe was jarred ...
  • $11.5 Million Settlement Won for Injured Victim of Offshore Accident Arnold & Itkin obtained a settlement of $11.5 million on behalf of an offshore accident victim suffering from both physical and psychological injuries. His settlement will ensure that our client gets all the time, financial support, and stability he ...
  • $8.9 Million Settlement Achieved for Severely Injured Seaman Arnold & Itkin helped secure a settlement on behalf of a seaman who injured his head when working aboard an offshore drilling vessel. Our firm helped to recover $8.9 million on his behalf.
  • $8 Million Massive Settlement Reached Before Trial Began Our firm represented an offshore worker (a steward) who seriously injured his back in an accident. The injury prevented him from making a living. While other lawyers told him his case was only worth a few hundred thousand dollars, our attorneys knew ...
  • $7.2 Million Millions Won for Brain-Injured Client in Louisiana Arnold & Itkin recovered more than $7 million in a settlement for a severely injured Louisiana client. Our client suffered brain injury and memory issues while working on an offshore platform. The defendant settled his case during jury selection, and ...
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“If I knew somebody who was hurt or injured, I would definitely recommend Arnold & Itkin. They just have a lot of integrity. They did what they said they were going to do—things didn’t work one way, they would find a way to make things work. They were always there for us.”
Joel Work Accident Victim

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