Our client, a 32-year-old roustabout rig worker, was injured when a 32-foot loose piece of casing fell down the V door and struck his knee and shoulder knocking him down. He was evacuated from the rig and flown to the hospital where he received X-rays and MRIs of his injuries. He had to have surgery on his shoulder, knee, and ankle and attend months of physical therapy. Unable to return to work, he turned to us for guidance. We filed a claim on his behalf in which we argued that the company was negligent in the following ways:
Breach of a legally imposed duty of reasonable care owed by the Defendant to the plaintiff;
Failure to provide a reasonably safe place to work;
Failure to properly train and supervise plaintiff;
Failure to take any means or precautions for the safety of the defendant’s employees, including the plaintiff;
Creation and maintenance of an unseaworthy vessel;
Failure to provide minimum safety requirements;
Failure to provide adequate equipment for the job in question;
Failure to provide adequate personnel for the job in question;
Other acts of negligence and unseaworthiness.
The company, of course, fought us every step of the way. On the day of the accident, they took a recorded statement of our client. We always advise our clients to avoid this since the pain from their injuries compromises their ability to recall details accurately. Throughout the case process, the company’s lawyers used several delay tactics to make our job as difficult as possible.
Fortunately for our client, we were able to reach a settlement with his company and avoid going to trial. Part of the settlement he received included a monthly payment providing for him for years into the future. Additionally, his injuries were not permanent and he made an excellent recovery. We’re happy to say that he is doing much better these days.
