On May 17th, 2021, just two days after the date of the incident on the offshore facility Eugene Island 158 #14 in the Gulf of Mexico, Fieldwood Energy made public a statement indicating that the life of a contractor had been lost.
The fatal offshore accident occurred while a non-emergency casing pressure test was being conducted. No other workers present on the offshore facility were killed or injured, nor was the name of the victim released.
Fieldwood Energy's complete statement:
"Fieldwood Energy is committed to safe operations, and the health and well-being of our entire workforce is a top priority... We are deeply saddened to confirm that on May 15, 2021, a fatal incident occurred involving a contractor at the Eugene Island 158 #14 offshore facility in the Gulf of Mexico during a non-emergency casing pressure test on a shut-in well... We have notified and are working with the appropriate regulatory agencies. We have no additional details to share at this time."
Maritime industry workers face a number of hazards that continuously threaten their health and safety. The hazards for offshore facility workers are, however, significantly higher, simply because their job duties must be performed on an isolated platform often hundreds of miles offshore.
The legal team at Aquatic Attorneys is experienced in handling offshore injury claims and wholly comprehends the potentially fatal risks that offshore employees face on a daily basis. The public seems to become aware of a few major rig accidents every decade, but there are many less-publicized incidents that can be just as damaging to the persons involved. Indeed, the impact of each of these incidents can be devastating to maritime workers - that is, when they're fortunate enough to escape with their lives.
Workers on offshore facilites may feel more at ease knowing that, while regular workers' compensation does not apply, there are other maritime injuries laws that can protect them in case of injury or worse. Some of these include:
Victims of offshore accidents must understand that the above are parts of the law that are complicated, although they are often generous. This insight may be taken advantage of by insurers that are responsible for paying out workers' compensation benefits.
Yes - victims and their families may receive substantial compensation following severe oil rig injuries. However, as long as it results in saving money and protecting their bottom line, insurance providers often do their best to decrease their liability as much as possible. At the end of the day, they are a private business whose direct goal is to protect its bottom line.
Because of this, offshore accident victims or their families should seek out attorneys experienced in insurance matters as well as navigating the law. Victims of such offshore industry accidents have the option to receive a free case review and get answers to their legal questions at no charge from The Haggard Law Firm. Simply call us today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.
