Nigeria Offshore Accident Attorney
Representing U.S. Workers Injured in Nigerian Waters
Once the deepwater of the Gulf of Mexico was the new frontier of oil exploration. Today, deepwater discoveries of oil reserves off the coast of Nigeria have drawn the attention of international oil companies and made Nigeria a new frontier for energy exploration. With the uncertainty about deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, some drilling platforms have moved to Africa—and some American rig workers have followed the rig to foreign waters. The attention to worker safety, however, isn’t always as rigorous in places like Nigeria, and offshore accidents are common.
Unfortunately, when overseas, these offshore injuries can cause maritime claims to be even more complex.
If you are seriously hurt while working for a U.S. company offshore Nigeria, you need a Jones Act lawyer familiar with overseas offshore worker injuries. We are experienced at assisting American oil industry workers injured overseas in places like Nigeria. Often, overseas accidents are caused by a lack of focus on safety, lack of proper training for workers, or failure to perform routine maintenance. We are skilled lawyers committed to helping injured American workers obtain compensation for injuries caused by negligent employers or co-workers overseas, including Nigeria. We have been successful at bringing claims back to U.S. courts, where workers’ legal rights are best protected.
If you were injured working off the coast of Nigeria, contact our offshore injury attorneys. We've recovered billions for our clients and are ready to see how we can assist you.
Regarding Nigeria & Offshore Oil Exploration
A number of U.S.-based and international oil companies are exploring offshore Nigeria, employing skilled American rig workers in foreign waters in the Gulf of Guinea and Bight of Benin. Companies producing oil offshore of Nigeria include ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell, and Conoco Phillips. ExxonMobil produces about 800,000 billion barrels of oil per day; most of its production is offshore. Meanwhile, Chevron has about 600,000 billion barrels per day of production capacity. Nigeria has an estimated 37 billion barrels of oil reserves offshore in the Bight of Benin, the Gulf of Guinea and the Bight of Bonny, as well as in the Niger River Delta.
Nigeria produced more than 2.2 billion barrels of oil per day in 2009, making it Africa’s largest oil producer, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The U.S. imports approximately 40% of Nigeria’s oil.
Rig workers working offshore of Nigeria can get seriously injured by being struck by heavy equipment, by a slip and fall, or by a fire or explosion. For example, in July 2010, the Jack Ryan drillship operating in the Akpo oilfield in deep water off the coast of Nigeria was carrying out equipment testing when a load-bearing pin on the crane boom failed. Three rig workers fell overboard, one to his death, underscoring the consequences of complacency and lack of attention to safety.
You can suffer a serious injury in foreign waters whether you have a drilling job, a floorman’s job, a roustabout job, a rig welder job, a rig mechanic job, an FPSO job, or a rig catering job. Any serious injury accident may be caused by negligence on the part of an employer to proper maintenance and safety training for workers.
Nigeria Offshore Accident FAQ
What injuries affect Nigeria offshore workers?
As a worker on an offshore rig near Nigeria, you may experience injuries that change the entire course of your life. You may be unable to return to offshore work or may not be able to work again in any field. You may suffer from lasting emotional trauma that affects personal relationships, your family, and your future. Understanding the true impact of an offshore injury helps our firm seek fair and complete compensation for injured workers off the Nigerian coast.
Some potential offshore injuries include:
- Severe burns
- Drowning/near-drowning
- Broken bones
- Amputation/loss of limb
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Electrocution/electrical injuries
- Exposure to hazardous substances
What types of accidents happen off the Nigerian coast?
Nigeria maritime workers may be at risk of suffering catastrophic or even fatal harm in accidents caused by unseaworthy vessels, negligent employers, overlooked safety standards, and aging or defective equipment. When these accidents happen, Arnold & Itkin is there to hold at-fault parties accountable.
We handle offshore accident cases involving:
- Basket transfer accidents
- Helicopter accidents
- Oil rig explosions
- Oil rig fires
- Blowouts
- Boat accidents
- Commercial diving accidents
- Piracy
- Oil rig accidents
- Fatal offshore accidents
Trying to get the medical care and financial support you need after an offshore accident near Nigeria can seem impossible. You may be unsure of your rights and what amount of compensation or benefits you’re entitled to, and you may be pressured by your employer to see a certain doctor or return to work before you feel ready. Our firm is here to protect your interests during the most difficult times.
Can you help even though I was injured in foreign waters?
If you’re employed by an American company but were working off the coast of Nigeria, we can still help you. Our offshore injury attorneys are experienced in handling cases for workers who have been injured in foreign waters. We know precisely what maritime laws apply and use our extensive knowledge of these laws to protect injured workers and their families from attempts to undervalue or deny their claims. Whether the Jones Act, Death on the High Seas Act, or other maritime law applies to your case, you can count on our skill and dedication to seek the best possible result on your behalf. Nothing is more important than helping injured offshore workers reclaim their lives.
Contact Arnold & Itkin LLP Today for a Free Consultation: (888) 493-1629
If you are seriously injured, you need a lawyer experienced at handling overseas claims. You need a lawyer familiar with overseas offshore worker injuries to advocate for your rights. At Arnold & Itkin, our legal team is fully committed to assisting American workers who have been injured while overseas in Nigeria and other foreign waters. Our team is composed of skilled trial lawyers committed to helping injured American workers obtain compensation for injuries caused by negligent employers or co-workers overseas. We have helped numerous offshore workers recover from a catastrophic accident and move on with their lives. Our attorneys and support staff will work with you to take care of your immediate needs for medical care, counseling, and financial assistance while we prepare your case.
Call (888) 493-1629 today for your free, confidential case review. We have the answers and insight you need.