Man Dies in Devastating Oil Well Explosion
Our Chicago personal injury lawyers know that oil and gas wells are often latently dangerous. When they explode, the injuries and deaths they cause can be devastating.
When an oil and gas company fails to control the pressure in a well, it may result in serious equipment damage, as well as injuries to workers and loss of life. When oil and gas wells are improperly controlled, en explosion called a ‘blowout’ may occur, which is an explosion of fluid from the well.
According to the Knoxville News Sentinel, in September of 2010, a man was killed when an oil and gas well exploded at work. The man was struck in the head by well equipment which was launched as a result of the explosion. He died hours later from the head trauma.
Last month, the victim’s widow filed a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of the couple’s three young children. The man’s employers were named as defendants in the lawsuit, including the well operator, Knox Energy LLC; the parent company of Knox Energy, CNX Gas Company LLC; and another company having an interest in the well, Consol Energy Inc. The claim alleges that the defendant corporations were negligent in safety training, supervision, and failing to post or give adequate warnings of danger at the well site.
The lawsuit seeks $5 million in compensatory damages and $5 million as a punitive damage award. Compensatory damages, such as the ones sought in this case, reimburse a family for things such as time lost with their loved one, the loss of companionship and love from their family member, and the amount of projected wages that the deceased individual would have contributed to the family’s future income.
Punitive damages are monetary verdicts awarded to injured parties that serve to send a message to the wrongdoer that their behavior is unacceptable. They act as a discouragement to the defendant and others similarly situated, and – in the best case scenario – stop others from engaging in the same negligent acts or omissions. Employers have the duty to ensure that the workplace is a safe environment, and when they do not, they are liable for injuries caused as a result of their negligence.
Our Chicago personal injury lawyers have experience handling Illinois wrongful death cases that are the result of workplace injuries. Our attorneys even obtained a $5.7 million settlement for a 27 year-old roofer in a workplace injury case who was paralyzed when he fell from a roof as a result of the general contractor's failure to provide appropriate safety devices. Workplace injuries are devastating, and special laws are in place to ensure that employees are protected at work.
If you or a loved one have been injured at work, contact an attorney immediately to better understand compensation to which you may be entitled under the law.
