Available 24/7/365
Free Consultations
(800) 349-0000
There is no doubt that an oil rig explosion is a terrifying and life-changing experience. Victims who survive often have serious injuries and catastrophic losses. Getting back to your life could be challenging. Pursuing maximum compensation for your injuries becomes critical. In some situations, you can seek compensatory damages for your injuries. In addition to this, there may be evidence to show that you can seek punitive damages as well. Our highly-experienced oil rig explosion lawyer can assist with your claim.
Punitive damages are a type of compensation paid to survivors in rare cases. They are meant to be applied in situations where an accident occurs due to egregious, seriously reckless behavior.
Compensatory damages are those paid to you to compensate you for the losses you suffered. In personal injury cases, this may include losses such as medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. These damages pay you back for what happened. By contrast, punitive damages are a type of punishment for the person who caused the incident. They are meant to encourage a person not to engage in such actions again.
To determine if the court will award punitive damages in your Houston oil rig accident, you must consider what caused the accident. In situations where there is serious recklessness or even intentional acts that lead to the accident, you may be able to seek punitive damages.
For example, many oil rig accidents occur due to mistakes, such as equipment malfunctions or misinterpretation of pressure test results. These are obviously dangerous situations, but they may have occurred due to an accident.
However, if the employer knew that there was severe corrosion or that there were risks of electrical fires, but failed to take action, that could be seen as particularly reckless. In these situations, it becomes critical to show that the defendant was, in fact, highly reckless and that is what caused the accident.
To determine if you can seek punitive damages, meet with an experienced oil rig attorney in Houston. During that conversation, discuss the cause of the accident and what you may have known before it occurred. For example, if you knew the employer was taking aggressive steps that put people at risk, communicate that with your lawyer.
Your lawyer will help you determine if the compensation you are receiving from the accident is fair. If you decide it is not and you head to file a lawsuit, you may be able to file a claim that includes punitive damages. Your lawyer will help you take steps to protect your rights to file such a claim. Keep in mind that if you suffer injuries, you have two years from the date of the explosion to file a lawsuit. If your loved one lost their life in such an incident, you have two years from the date of their death to take action.
Turn to The Doan Law Firm to learn more about your rights to seek punitive damages in a Houston oil rig explosion lawsuit. Let our legal team offer insight into what you can expect from this process based on the evidence in your case. Call us today to schedule a free consultation.