Recently, the U.S. Department of Justice announced that there would be an $18.7 billion settlement with BP over the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. Out of this settlement, Texas will receive at least $1 Billion to reinvest in the community and reinvigorate the environmental and economic health of the state. The settlement is the largest in the U.S. government’s history made with one defendant, BP, and will be divided up based on penalties under the Clean Water Act and Oil Pollution Act.
The BP disaster occurred in 2010, when 11 workers (some of them represented by Zehl & Associates) were killed due to the explosion, and millions of gallons spilled out into the Gulf of Mexico, causing harm to those who live in Texas, Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi. For Texas, this included negative effects to state parks and injured, destroyed, or contaminated coastal habitats and wildlife.
Aside from severe injury and death that occurs to oil rig workers and the devastation these accidents have on the environment when there is an explosion, the fumes from the oil can also cause nausea, headaches, and breathing difficulty for the local population. And for those who depend on the coastal waters for their livelihoods, the negative effects on predatory fish such as bluefin and yellowfin tuna have been long-lasting and detrimental.
Texas Workers at Risk
Aside from the larger, more notorious disasters like that of the BP explosion, many injuries occur on oil rigs on a daily basis. Some of these result in internal issues, chemical problems that take a while to develop and detect, and even serious falls, amongst other accidents.
Aside from protection via workers’ compensation, the Jones Act provides an extra level of federal protection for workers in this environment, mandating that an employer cover medical expenses and a living allowance while they are recovering from injuries due to negligence. In addition, the Longshore Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act provides for extra protection for those who work on docks, terminals, oil rigs, and platforms—close to navigable waters—without necessarily forcing them to go through the burden of first demonstrating that their employer was negligent in order to receive compensation.
In accidents like these, sometimes the employer is not the only one held to be responsible. The owners of the property and/or any relevant contractors can also be held liable for toxic exposure and/or personal injury issues. And while sometimes these accidents and exposure issues can result in injuries, at other times, there may be a wrongful death lawsuit filed.
Contact the Undefeated Houston Offshore Accident Lawyers from Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers for Help Today
The dedicated attorneys at Zehl & Associates have helped hundreds of injured offshore workers recover against many of the large drilling companies. If you have been injured, it is important you consult an experienced attorney in order to address your injuries and provide for yourself and your family.
For more information, please contact our Undefeated Offshore accident attorneys in Texas at Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers to schedule a free consultation today.
We proudly serve Harris County, Midland County, and throughout the state of Texas:
Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers – Houston
2700 Post Oak Blvd #1000, Houston, TX 77056
(888) 603-3636
Open 24 hours
Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers – Midland
306 W Wall St Suite 701, Midland, TX 79701
(432) 220-0000
Open 24 hours