The oil and gas industry relies heavily on helicopters to transport workers to offshore rigs, remote drilling sites and pipeline locations. While these flights are often necessary for efficiency and accessibility, they are potential hazards.
When a helicopter crash occurs, oil and gas workers can suffer devastating injuries or even lose their lives. Understanding the causes of these accidents, potential liability and legal options for injured workers is important when it comes to securing fair compensation in the wake of a preventable tragedy.
Common causes
Helicopter crashes involving oil and gas workers are shockingly commonplace occurrences. They happen for several reasons, including:
- Mechanical Failure: Aircraft used in oil and gas operations experience heavy wear and tear. Poor maintenance, defective parts and engine malfunctions can lead to catastrophic failures mid-flight.
- Pilot Error: Even experienced pilots can make mistakes due to fatigue, poor judgment and/or lack of proper training. Misjudging weather conditions, miscalculating weight loads and/or failing to follow safety procedures can contribute to crashes.
- Air Traffic Control and Communication Failures: Miscommunication between pilots and air traffic controllers and errors in flight coordination, can lead to mid-air collisions or crashes during landing and takeoff.
- Negligence by Operators or Employers: Some companies cut corners to save costs, leading to overworked pilots, poorly maintained aircraft and/or ignored safety protocols.
Liability and legal options
Determining liability in an oil and gas helicopter crash can be complex. Potentially responsible parties may include:
- Helicopter Operators: Companies responsible for maintaining and operating aircraft can be held liable for negligence in maintenance, pilot training and safety procedures
- Aircraft Manufacturers: If a defect in a helicopter or its components causes a crash, its manufacturer may be held accountable
- Oil and Gas Companies: If an employer failed to follow proper safety regulations or knowingly used unsafe transportation, they could share liability
- Third-Party Contractors: In some cases, a third-party contractor responsible for flight coordination or safety oversight may be at fault
Helicopter crashes in the oil and gas industry can result in devastating consequences, leaving workers with serious injuries and financial uncertainty. In the event of a fatal crash, loved ones can be left grieving and reeling from a loss of financial resources. In either scenario, those affected by preventable harm may benefit from exploring their rights, legal options and opportunities to pursue compensation accordingly.