Chevron Jack-Up Rig Catches Fire Off Coast of Nigeria, 2 Workers Reported Missing
LATEST NEWS
December 15, 2011:the maritime lawyers at Fitts Zehl successfully settled 4 cases on behalf of workers who were injured onboard the Deepwater Horizon when it tragically exploded in April 2010.
Two contractors remain missing following a devastating fire onboard Chevron’s offshore jack-up rig, KS Endeavor. The rig, operated for Chevron by Fode Drilling Company, was exploring for deepwater oil and gas deposits near the Nigerian coast when the maritime accident occurred. According to Chevron, the cause of the still-uncontained fire is currently under investigation.
Houston-based Hercules Offshore also reported the loss of the liftboat Mako that was adjacent to the rig when the fire broke out. Fortunately, all 27 seamen were successfully evacuated from the crippled support vessel before it was too late.
If you lost a loved one to this tragic maritime accident, you undoubtedly have many things on your mind. The experienced Rig Fire Injury Lawyers at Fitts Zehl, LLP are here to aid and guide you during this difficult time. In the past, our firm has represented hundreds of offshore workers who were injured or killed following the accidental outbreak of fire onboard a rig or other vessel. Most recently, Fitts Zehl successfully represented a number of Jones Act workers who were injured or lost their lives in the 2010 explosion of BP and Transocean’s Deepwater Horizon oil rig.
In the wake of an offshore calamity, it is important to take action quickly in order to secure evidence of exactly what caused the accident to occur. Contact the Maritime Rig Fire Disaster Lawyers at Fitts Zehl, LLP today for a free, confidential consultation: 1 (800) 993-4887.
Were you or a loved one injured in the Chevron Funiwa Explosion or the BP Deepwater Horizon Explosion?
The catastrophic explosion of the Deepwater Horizon on April 20th, 2010, took the lives of 11 workers and injured many more both physically and psychologically. Based on information revealed to date, the explosion—which BP and Transocean have blamed on a “blowout—should and could have been prevented by a mandatory safety device known throughout the industry as a blowout preventer (‘BOP’). Unfortunately, this massive emergency mechanism failed to function, causing the Deepwater Horizon to explode and sink just two days later.
While BP and Transocean are publicly accepting responsibility for the explosion, both companies are moving quickly to limit their legal liability and keep their profits out of the hands of the victims and their families.
- Whatever you do, please do not sign any forms or releases from Transocean, BP, or Schuman Consulting.
- Click here to see a copy of the release that Transocean required all the workers to sign before they could leave the hotel in Kenner and talk with their families.
Transocean is now using this form to try to prevent workers and their families from recovering the damages and future wages that they are entitled to receive in a lawsuit.
The 5 Things that You and Your Family Need to Know Now:
As part of our commitment to helping the workers and their families protect their rights, we have created a list of the “5 Most Important Things that You Need to Know Now.”
The list explains your options and provides an overview of the laws that protect you. The list is free and you have no commitment to our firm by receiving a copy.
Simply fill out the form to the right and someone from our office will contact you to confirm your contact information. You will receive the list by email within 1 hour of completing the form. If you don’t have an email address, we will overnight it to you free of charge.
What You Need To Protect Yourself and Your Family:
In the wake of this terrible disaster, the most important thing you can do is to seek proper medical attention for any explosion-related injuries you or your loved one may have sustained.
Common injuries that are often related to traumatic workplace disasters include:
- physical injuries like burns, back, leg or knee pain, and trouble breathing; and
- emotional effects such as trouble sleeping, nightmares, anxiety, depression, and other symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ('PTSD').
It is extremely important that you pay attention to any symptoms that did not exist before the explosion so that you can immediately seek the medical help that you need and deserve.
- If you are unable to arrange for medical treatment, our medical staff will arrange to get you to the best doctors in your area.
If you have lost a loved one to this tragedy, then the last thing you are probably worried about is hiring a lawyer. This is natural and expected. Unfortunately, Transocean and BP have wasted no time working to protect the bottom line and keep you from filing a lawsuit where you could recover significant damages as a result of your physical injuries and loss of future income.
BP and Transocean Preach Responsibility But Take All Measures to Limit Liability and Prevent Injured Workers and Their Families from Protecting their Rights in a Lawsuit
Need Information on Schuman’s Personal Effects Receipt?
Immediately after the survivors were rescued from the burning rig, Transocean and its risk management company (Schuman) kept the workers isolated on a ship in the Gulf for more than 24 hours without any way of contacting their family and loved ones. Meanwhile, corporate representatives were handing out release papers for the workers to sign.
- The representatives told the workers that “'[These are] statements. You need to sign these. Nobody's getting off here until we get one from everybody.'
When they asked the workers to sign these releases and statements, Transocean was well aware that every one of the survivors was physically and emotionally worn out following the traumatic explosion and had gone for more than 40 hours without sleep.
- In spite of this knowledge, Transocean chose to treat their loyal employees as threats even in their darkest, most desperate hour.
- Given that Transocean has already assembled a team of lawyers, we expect that Transocean will do whatever possible to prevent workers from recovering the damages that they are entitled to under the law.
What the Explosion Lawyers at Fitts Zehl can Do for You and Your Family?
Our law firm focuses on representing workers who were injured in workplace explosions. It’s what we do. In fact, are law firm is one of the only firms in the Gulf Coast that has represented hundreds of workers in connection with 4 of the largest workplace disasters in the past 5 years.
- Transocean Deepwater Horizon Explosion
- BP Texas City
- Imperial Sugar Refinery Explosion
- International Paper Refinery Explosion
Fill out the form to the right in order to receive a free copy of the 5 Things You Need To Know Now. This document will tell you exactly what you should and should not do in order to protect your rights and your family’s rights.
The list is free and you will have no commitment to our firm. We created it simply to inform the injured workers of the steps they need to take to protect their rights and recover the damages they are entitled to receive under the law
We want you to focus on your future, and not how you’re going to pay for it.
- Our firm understands that offshore workers make good money and are able to provide comfortable lives for their families. We also understand that your bills don’t stop piling up just because you or a loved one has been involved in a tragedy.
- That’s why we are always willing to assist our injured clients with medical expenses and any necessary costs of living expenses while your lawsuit is pending.
If you have Any Questions at All, Contact one of our Experienced Rig Explosion Lawyers at 1-800-594-2985.
We will answer your questions, explain your rights, and review any documents that you have been asked to sign. And if you would prefer to meet in person, we will fly one of our lawyers to you at no cost to you.
Whether you call us or another law firm, it is important that you consult with an experienced explosion lawyer to learn your rights before signing any documents that Transocean, BP, or Schuman tries to get you to sign.