Texas Injury Law Blog : Dallas Accident Lawyer & Attorney : Fears Nachawati Law Firm : Personal Injury, Wrongful Death : Ft. Worth, San Antonio, Austin, Houston, Texas

BP sent workers back to three offshore oil and gas platforms earlier today in response to a shift in Tropical Storm Dan’s trajectory to the south. In the last week, hundreds of workers were evacuated from platforms in anticipation of the violent storm and the injury that it was expected to cause. Hundreds of evacuees may sound like a lot, but actually only 11 of the 679 manned platforms in the Gulf were evacuated.

Drilling oil in the Gulf of Mexico is dangerous business, as last year’s Deepwater Horizon blowout vividly showed. The risk isn’t just for the environment, of course, but for workers as well. Every year, platform and oil field workers are injured and killed as a result of the dangers in oil and gas exploration.

Do you have a loved one who works in the oil fields, either on land or in the Gulf? They should know the risks they face and their legal right to a safe work environment. If they’re injured, they should fight back! The Fears | Nachawati occupational injury experts can fight for their safety and secure the justice they deserve. For a free consultation, just call 1.866.705.7584 or send an email to info@fnlawfirm.com. Let us help!

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Last month, three workers were injured, one critically, when a pulling unit with a truck-mounted mast collapsed. One of the workers, Sergio Torres, was transported to a Lubbock hospital in critical condition. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is investigating the accident. In all likelihood, all three workers have not only workers’ compensation claims, but potential legal causes of action against their employer, TEC Well Services, and the owner of the well site, Benners 37 #1.

The energy industry is dangerous! Well accidents, refinery fires, and pipe malfunctions cause dozens of accidents every year. If you or a loved one are injured in an oil and gas industry accident, you should talk to the personal injury experts at Fears | Nachawati. Call us at 1.866.705.7584 or send an email to info@fnlawfirm.com. Let us help!

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Earlier this week a butane and hydrofluoric acid leak at Marathon Oil’s Texas City refinery prompted a shelter-in-place order. A shelter-in-place order is a common emergency procedure used to minimize the risks of outside, dispersing contaminants. Marathon and other refineries contend these orders are essential in protecting the public.

However, some question the effectiveness of shelter-in-place orders. In a situation like Marathon’s butane and hydrofluoric acid leak experts worry that residents will not follow the order; alternatively, if the public does follow the order, they won’t be adequately protected in the event of a worst-case scenario. Residents and observers also question Marathon’s public relations approach to shelter-in-place orders. When confronted with questions by news outlets and citizens about the order, Marathon provided a brisk, non-informative statement: “The source of the release has been located, and crews are working on isolating it. There has been no off-site impact.” For residents worried about their health and the safety of their children, Marathon’s approach isn’t helpful.

Are you worried about shelter-in-place orders and refineries which impose risks on the public without appropriately consulting or informing local residents? If so, direct your questions and concerns to the personal injury experts at Fears | Nachawati. Premises and community liability are important legal issues. We can help you defend your rights and protect your interest. Call 1.866.705.7584 or send an email to info@fnlawfirm.com. 

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 Last week, a pair of oil field workers in Midland County, Texas were working on a rig when pipe fell, pinning Mariano Pruenda’s leg. As his co-worker, Ronnie Lynn May, worked to rescue him, another piece of the rig fell, crushing and killing May.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has launched an investigation into the accident and into the safety practices of May’s employer, Tulsa-based oil contractor, Helmrich and Payne.

Working in the oil fields is dangerous. However, oil rigs become inappropriately and unnecessarily dangerous when employers fail to adhere to worker safety regulations. If you or a loved one work in the oil field and think that the workplace is unsafe, it may be time to call the professionals at Fears | Nachawati. We can investigate your employer’s safety practices and, if necessary, defend your right to safe workplace! For a free consultation, call us at 1.866.705.7584 or send an email to info@fnlawfirm.com. 

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There have been several significant recent developments in the Gulf Oil Spill investigation:

Investigators now believe that BP knew of problems at the offshore rig hours before it exploded.  The well had failed a key pressure test hours before the explosion.  The failure of that test may indicate that pressure was building in the well.  Even though a pressure build up could lead to an explosion, BP apparently declined to suspend operations and investigate the build up.  

President Obama has asked Congress to raise the cap on liability for BP.  The administration also asked that a per-barrel tax on oil companies be increased in order to provide more funds for cleanup.  Finally, the President also proposed additional unemployment assistance and food stamps for Gulf Coast workers affected by the oil spill. 

BP has placed a new, smaller containment box on the floor of the Gulf.  Workers plan to move the cylinder, nicknamed a "top hat", on top of the well, and hope to avoid problems they encountered with a bigger box previously used to try to stop the flow of oil. 

Fears | Nachawati represents victims of the Gulf Oil Spill and explosion.  If you have been affected by the spill, please call us at 1.866.705.7584 to discuss your situation with one of our attorneys.

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BP has pledged that it will not seek to prevent lawsuits arising from the Gulf Oil Spill based on controversial releases obtained from victims of the blast.  Early reports accused the oil giant of improperly asking workers who survived the incident to swear that they weren't injured and promise they won't sue.  Reports say that workers were presented with these agreements immediately after being rescued, under highly distasteful (and potentially actionable) circumstances.  Fears | Nachawati represents victims of the Gulf Oil Spill, including those who have signed releases under questionable circumstances and those who have been asked to sign releases.  If you have been affected by the Gulf Oil Spill, call us today at 1.866.705.7584 to discuss your situation with our experienced legal staff.  

In other Texas legal news, the Texas Supreme Court has ruled that ice does not create an unreasonable risk of harm that would expose a landowner to premises liability for a business invitee.  In the case at hand, a man was injured when he slipped and fell on accumulated ice in the parking lot of a hospital.  He sued the hospital for his injuries.  The Court's ruling means that the hospital isn't liable for injuries caused by icy conditions that occur naturally.  If the hospital had created the icy condition, or had altered the parking lot in such a manner that a dangerous situation arose, the result would likely have been different and the man could have possibly sued for his injuries.   

In national legal news, President Obama has nominated Elena Kagan to be a Justice of the United States Supreme Court.  Ms. Kagan currently serves as the Solicitor General of the United States, where she argues cases in the Supreme Court on the government's behalf.  Prior to that appointment, Ms. Kagan was the Dean of Harvard Law school.  She has been nominated to fill the seat being vacated by Justice John Paul Stevens.  If confirmed, Ms. Kagan will be President Obama's second appointee to the Supreme Court. 

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