An offshore construction worker died tragically on Saturday after falling from a rig moored at the Kiewit bulkheads inside the La Quinta ship channel near Ingleside.
Deceased Worker’s Flotation Device Failed to Deploy
According to KIII-TV in Corpus Christi, Kiewit Offshore Services reported the man missing at approximately 2:00 p.m. on October 1st. The Aransas Pass Police Marine Division, the Ingleside Police Department, and the US Coast Guard assisted in a search and rescue operation, hoping to find the missing worker.
Sadly, those hopes were dashed within hours when the worker was found by marine teams using a side scan sonar system which gave rescuers a visual representation of the sea floor.
Officials determined that man had been wearing an appropriate flotation device when he fell from the rig. However, for some reason, the device failed to deploy, likely contributing to his death.
So far, authorities have not identified the worker or his employer. According to Kiewit Offshore Services, the victim was employed by a subcontractor performing scaffolding work aboard the rig.
Saturday’s tragic offshore accident remains under investigation.
Offshore Worker Fatalities Likely Undercounted
It’s difficult to determine precisely how many offshore workers are injured or killed in accidents and explosions along the coasts of the United States. In fact, according to one recent investigation, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) routinely underreports fatalities among offshore oil and gas workers, causing the industry to appear far safer than it is.
While the BSEE was established to improve safety and enforce environmental regulations in the offshore oil and gas industry in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon Explosion, investigators found that nearly half of the worker fatalities that occurred in the Gulf of Mexico from 2005 through 2019 didn’t fit the agency’s reporting criteria.
Among other things, the BSEE doesn’t count worker deaths that occur in state waters nor tracks fatalities that occur while workers are being transported to offshore rigs.
What to Do in Aftermath of a Serious or Fatal Offshore Accident
The aftermath of a serious or fatal offshore injury is not the time to place your well-being or your family’s future in the hands of the company and its insurance adjuster. No matter how much they promise to “take care of you” or “make things right,” you can be certain that they’re already working to avoid responsibility and deny you and your family the compensation you truly deserve.
To ensure you’re fully compensated for all of your injuries and losses, it’s essential that you act just as quickly to protect your rights:
- Seek Immediate Medical Treatment: Getting immediate care, even if you don’t think you were seriously hurt, will ensure all of your injuries are documented immediately in the event your employer attempts to discount the severity of your injuries or when they occurred.
- Demand the Medical Care of Your Choice: No matter what your employer might claim, you absolutely have the right to demand follow-up medical care with the healthcare provider of YOUR CHOICE.
- Make a Record of the Incident: Make a written, audio, or video account of the incident as soon as possible. Include every detail you remember, no matter how trivial it might seem. Also, be sure to write down the names and phone numbers of anyone else who witnessed the incident.
- Don’t Sign Anything or Make a Recorded Statement: Whatever you do, do not give your employer or their insurer a recorded statement, sign ANY paperwork, or accept any money from the company (other than your regular paycheck) before speaking with an experienced maritime lawyer who has successfully represented injured offshore workers and their families.
- Follow Your Doctor’s Advice: Missing doctors’ appointments and failing to follow medical advice will only provide your employer with the ammunition needed to downplay your injuries and pay you less than you deserve.
Undefeated Offshore Injury Lawyers with Billions Won: Call 1-888-603-3636 or Click Here for a Free Consultation.
Our Undefeated Maritime Lawyers have won Billions – including the largest offshore accident verdicts and settlements in history – for workers seriously injured, catastrophically burned, and tragically killed along the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coasts.
If you have legal questions regarding the Kiewit bulkheads offshore fatality or another offshore accident, please call 1-888-603-3636 or click here to send us an email through our “Contact Us” form.
Our maritime attorneys will answer your questions, explain your rights, and provide the information you need to decide what’s best for you and your family.
To learn more about our success representing offshore workers and their families, please visit our “Results” page or Click Here to see what our clients have said about their experience with our firm.
Consultations are always free, and you won’t owe us a penny unless we win your case.