What Causes Most Maritime Accidents in the Gulf of Mexico?

February 14, 2023
maritime law - crane in water with boat and container yard

The maritime and offshore industries are critical pillars of Louisiana’s economy. Hundreds, if not thousands, of roustabouts, roughnecks, derrickmen, captains, motormen, boatswains, rig technicians, drillers, and able seamen live in our state, and the good-paying labor they undertake generates millions of dollars in state income each year.

In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at what causes most maritime accidents in the Gulf of Mexico.

Maritime Accident Statistics in the Gulf of Mexico

More than half of all maritime accidents in the Gulf of Mexico have been determined to be directly related to a lack of proper safety protocols or other negligent conduct. This means that at least half of offshore injuries are avoidable. In other words, if you’ve been injured in a maritime accident, there’s most likely someone who can be held accountable.

Furthermore, the risky nature of maritime work can result in catastrophic injuries that can affect victims’ lives for years or decades or even wrongful death. The top causes of maritime accidents include:

  • Inadequate safety protocols, including unmaintained or missing personal protective equipment
  • Overwork that results in fatigue or exhaustion
  • Malfunctioning heavy machinery, through lack of maintenance, misuse, or another issue
  • Physical overexertion
  • Reckless behavior, including alcohol and drug abuse
  • A lack of proper safety training or inexperienced employees
  • Falling overboard or from heights aboard the ship
  • Piracy

Why Are There So Many Offshore Injuries?

Although there are an increasing number of inexperienced or poorly qualified maritime workers joining the profession, the vast majority of workers are competent in their fields. So, why do people get hurt on the job so frequently?

hazy sunset skies with boats in water

There are several possible explanations for these terrible incidents and resultant injuries or death, including the following four:

  1. Manning problems
  2. Errors in ship design
  3. Noncompliance with operating standards
  4. The maritime industry suffers from a lack of unified standards.

Wrongful Death Lawsuit? Here’s What You Should Do

As previously said, a maritime accident can result in a wrongful death. Here’s what you should do if you’ve lost a loved one due to someone else’s carelessness or negligence.

First and foremost, it is critical to understand that wrongful death claims in Louisiana can only be filed by a limited number of people, which includes

  • The surviving spouse and/or children of the deceased or
  • If both spouse and children are dead, the surviving parents of the deceased or
  • If the spouse, children, and parents are dead, the surviving siblings of the deceased or
  • If the spouse, children, parents, and siblings are deceased, the surviving grandparents of the deceased

FYI: All of the above relations also include those relations by adoption.

Then, remember that Louisiana has a one-year statute of limitations on bringing a wrongful death claim to court, so you should file as soon as possible.

Lastly, get in touch with a Wrongful Death Lawyer from Gordon Mckernan Injury Attorneys who can assist you promptly and give you legal guidance on what your next steps should be.

Maritime Accident? Get Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys!

If you or a loved one has been injured in a maritime accident, contact the experienced maritime injury lawyers with Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys for a free consultation. We’re passionate about making sure our clients are rightfully compensated for the damages they’ve suffered due to others’ carelessness.

Get in touch with us if you’re a victim of any of the following:

Oil rig workers in the middle of a rig fix

You can count on Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys to have your back because we’ve been practicing maritime law in Louisiana for many years! Equally important, you owe us nothing if we don’t win your case!

Posted in Blog, Maritime Offshore