At least 11 people were missing and seven injured after an explosion and fire at an oil drilling platform off the coast of Louisiana, the Coast Guard said Wednesday.

Most of the 126 people were believed to have escaped safely after the explosion at about 10 p.m. Tuesday, Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Mike O’Berry said. It happened about 52 miles southeast of Venice on Louisiana’s tip.

The rig was still burning Wednesday morning and was listing about 10 degrees, O’Berry said.

“It’s burning pretty good and there’s no estimate on when the fire will be put out,” O’Berry said.

O’Berry said there were conflicting reports coming in but at least 11 — and possibly as many as 15 — were missing.

“We’re hoping everyone’s in a life raft,” he said.

Seven workers were airlifted to a Naval air station near New Orleans, then taken to hospitals. He said two of the seven were taken to a trauma center in Mobile, Ala., where there is a burn unit.

O’Berry said many workers who escaped the rig were being brought to land on a workboat while authorities searched the Gulf of Mexico for any signs of lifeboats.

The rig, Deepwater Horizon, was drilling but was not in production, according to Greg Panegos, spokesman for its owner, Transocean Ltd., in Houston. The rig was under contract to BP.

The fishing industry is notorious for having some of the most dangerous jobs in the country. Working on a fishing boat can be dangerous, as fishermen often work in severe weather and on vessels that have slippery surfaces. Recently, a fishing boat sank off the shore of New Jersey, leaving many fishermen lost at sea.

The fishing boat accident near New Jersey added to the hundreds of deaths among fishermen across the country. In 1991, the Andrea Gaildisappeared on its journey home to Gloucester, taking the lives of six fishermen. In 2001, the Arctic Rose sank in the Bering Sea, claiming the lives of 15 fishermen.

Commercial fishermen are protected under the law and can pursue compensation when they suffer injuries. An injured fisherman has certain legal rights under the Jones Act and is entitled to seek damages when injuries are caused by negligence or an unseaworthy vessel.

A Jones Act lawsuit can result in compensation for pain and suffering, past and future lost wages, disfigurement, mental anguish and other costs associated with the injury. In some cases, negligence by a third party, such as a contractor, is to blame for the fishing boat accident, which can lead to a third party claim.

If you have been injured on a fishing boat, you should contact an experienced fishing boat accident lawyer. Contact our law firm as soon as possible, the initial consultation is free and confidential.

The Lady Mary, a 71-foot scallop boat based at Cape May in southern New Jersey, sank at approximately 5:00 AM on Tuesday, March 24, 2009. There were seven people aboard the fishing boat about 75 miles off the coast. The accident is expected to rank among the worst commercial fishing disasters in the history of the United States.

By Tuesday night, only one survivor had been found. Two of the three crew members were pulled from the icy water by a Coast Guard helicopter, but both later died.

More than 100 commercial fishermen have died at sea off the New Jersey coast, since reliable records started being kept in1931.

One of the worst accidents happened in 2001 when the Artic Rose sunk in the Bering Sea, which killed 15 people. The Aleutian Enterprise also sank in the same location in 1990, killing nine people.

All seven crew members in the recent accident off the New Jersey coast were wearing cold-water survival suits, according to the Coast Guard. However, a national search and rescue expert said that chances are not good for survival in 40-degree water.

The survivor, Jose Luis Ariese, told authorities that the members had lifesaving suits and abandoned ship, although he didn’t give a specific reason as to why they left the boat. Ariese had spent at least two hours in the icy water and was treated and released from the hospital.

What is benzene?

• Benzene is a chemical that is a colorless or light yellow liquid at room temperature. It has a sweet odor and is highly flammable.
• Benzene evaporates into the air very quickly. Its vapor is heavier than air and may sink into low-lying areas.
• Benzene dissolves only slightly in water and will float on top of water.

Where is benzene found and how is it used?

• Benzene is formed from both natural processes and human activities.
• Natural sources of benzene include volcanoes and forest fires. Benzene is also a natural part of crude oil, gasoline, and cigarette smoke.
• Benzene is widely used in the United States. It ranks in the top 20 chemicals for production volume.
• Some industries use benzene to make other chemicals that are used to make plastics, resins, nylon and synthetic fibers. Benzene is also used to make some types of lubricants, rubbers, dyes, detergents, drugs, and pesticides.

How is exposure to benzene possible?

• Outdoor air contains low levels of benzene from tobacco smoke, gas stations, motor vehicle exhaust, and industrial emissions.
• Indoor air generally contains levels of benzene higher than those in outdoor air. The benzene in indoor air comes from products that contain benzene such as glues, paints, furniture wax, and detergents.
• The air around hazardous waste sites or gas stations can contain higher levels of benzene than in other areas.
• Benzene leaks from underground storage tanks or from hazardous waste sites containing benzene can contaminate well water.
• People working in industries that make or use benzene may be exposed to the highest levels.
• A major source of benzene exposure is tobacco smoke.

How is benzene harmful?

• Benzene can cause cells not to function correctly. For example, it can cause bone marrow not to produce enough red blood cells, which can lead to anemia. Benzene can also damage the immune system by changing blood levels of antibodies and causing the loss of white blood cells.
• The seriousness of poisoning caused by benzene depends on the amount, route, and length of time of exposure, as well as the age and preexisting medical condition of the exposed person.

What are the immediate signs and symptoms of benzene exposure?

• People who breathe in high levels of benzene may develop the following signs and symptoms within minutes to several hours:
• Drowsiness
• Dizziness
• Rapid or irregular heartbeat
• Headaches
• Tremors
• Confusion
• Unconsciousness
• Death (at very high levels)
• Eating foods or drinking beverages containing high levels of benzene can cause the following symptoms within minutes to several hours:
• Vomiting
• Irritation of the stomach
• Dizziness
• Sleepiness
• Convulsions
• Rapid or irregular heartbeat
• Death (at very high levels)
• If a person vomits because of swallowing foods or beverages containing benzene, the vomit could be sucked into the lungs and cause breathing problems and coughing.
• Direct exposure of the eyes, skin, or lungs to benzene can cause tissue injury and irritation.
• Showing these signs and symptoms does not necessarily mean that a person has been exposed to benzene.

What are the long-term health effects of benzene exposure?

• Long-term benzene exposure, such as a year or more, will effect the blood. Benzene causes harmful effects on the bone marrow and can cause a decrease in red blood cells, leading to anemia. It can also cause excessive bleeding and can affect the immune system, increasing the chance for infection.
• Some women who breathed high levels of benzene for many months had irregular menstrual periods and a decrease in the size of their ovaries. It is not known whether benzene exposure affects the developing fetus in pregnant women or fertility in men.
• Animal studies have shown low birth weights, delayed bone formation, and bone marrow damage when pregnant animals breathed benzene.
• The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has determined that benzene causes cancer in humans. Long-term exposure to high levels of benzene in the air can cause leukemia, cancer of the blood-forming organs.

How is benzene poisoning treated?

• Benzene poisoning is treated with supportive medical care in a hospital setting.
• No specific antidote exists for benzene poisoning.
• The most important thing is for victims to seek medical treatment as soon as possible.

Commercial divers take a risk each time they plunge deep into the water. When a diver breathes gas under pressure, such as nitrogen, various complications can arise. As a diver breathes in nitrogen or other gases, the body cannot metabolize the substance, which can lead to a condition known as the bends, or decompression sickness. Every year, more than 500 people in the United States suffer from the bends.

The bends is caused by an increase in nitrogen in the air tank as the diver is descending into the water. According to eMedicineHealth.com, “for every 33 feet in ocean water, the pressure due to nitrogen goes up another 11.6 pounds per square inch, or 600 torr.” As the pressure increases due to nitrogen, the gas dissolves into the diver’s body tissues. Nitrogen cannot be used by the body and builds up over time. A commercial diver can suffer from the bends, if any of the following situations occur:

• Diver ascended too quickly
• Diver surfaced too quickly
• Diver was in a pressurized caisson
• Diving company was negligent
• Improper decompression tables were used

The risk of developing decompression sickness is linked to the depth of the dive, the amount of time under pressure and the rate of ascent. Dive tables have been created to show what depths and dive times are less risky for development of the bends.

More than 50 percent of divers with the bends report symptoms within one hour of surfacing from the dive. Generally, all of the symptoms of the bends will surface within 24-48 hours. Some of the symptoms include:

• Skin itching
• Rashes
• Swollen or painful lymph nodes
• Head, neck or torso pain
• Weakness on one side of the body
• Numbness
• Pains shooting down an arm or leg
• Burning chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Spinning sensation
• Deafness
• Vomiting

Someone experiencing the symptoms of the bends will most likely be admitted to the hospital for observation. The doctor will first focus on treating life threatening side effects of decompression sickness and may give the diver high-flow oxygen or IV fluids. The diver may be sent to a hyperbaric chamber for recompression. When hyperbaric oxygen treatment is immediately administered to the diver, there is generally a good prognosis.

If you have suffered the bends and are a commercial diver, the diving company may be responsible depending on what caused your dive injury. Contact our law firm today to find out if you have a case against your diving company. You may be entitled to compensation for your diving injuries.

Nothing in life is more devastating than losing a loved one. If you have lost a family member who worked as a seaman, you need to be aware of your legal rights to compensation. When death occurs due to a drowning at sea, you may be able to recover monetary damages. Even though compensation won’t bring back your loved one, it can ease the financial burden that you may be experiencing because of your loss.

Working on the high seas is dangerous and can lead to serious and fatal injuries. Throughout the years, many seamen have been victims of drowning accidents, even though some of the accidents could have been prevented. Drowning is often the result of an unseaworthy vessel. If the vessel did not have a survival suit, life raft or other survival craft, or if any of these life saving devices failed, it could constitute an unseaworthiness claim. Under the Jones Act, ship owners can be held liable for unseaworthy vessels. If the drowning death was caused by an unseaworthy vessel, you may be able to file a claim under the Jones Act, which could entitle you to substantial compensation.

Drowning deaths can also occur when there is no safe access to the vessel. According to maritime law, a vessel operator and ship owner are required to provide the crew members and Captain with a safe access to and from the vessel. Many injuries and deaths happen when seamen are attempting to go from the vessel to the dock or crossing over vessel to vessel. If death occurs from trying to access the vessel, you may be able to obtain monetary damages.

Maritime law can be complex and because each case is unique, there may be different laws that apply. If your loved one was the victim of drowning while working offshore, you need to seek legal advice immediately. There are deadlines as to when you can file a claim against the ship owner or other responsible party and it is important to start your case as soon as possible.

The daily tasks of a seaman or maritime worker can be strenuous and often dangerous. Rough seas, defective equipment and machinery, slippery surfaces and old, worn-down vessels all contribute to the perils a seaman faces when working offshore. Maritime workers frequently find themselves victims of serious injuries – injuries that impact their lives. Head injuries are especially common on vessels and it is important to understand that injured seamen have rights. If you have suffered a head injury while working offshore, you need to be aware of the symptoms, treatment and compensation available for this type of injury.

There are various types of head injury, which is defined as any trauma that results in injury to the scalp, skull or brain. Maritime workers are especially prone to closed head injuries, also known as concussions, caused by a hard blow to the head from hitting an object. A fall accident or assault onboard a vessel can lead to a closed head injury.

Depending on the severity of the head injury, it can cause irreversible brain damage. Even if the skull is not penetrated or fractured, the brain can still become bruised. When the head is struck by an object it can result in bleeding inside the brain or may damage the brain directly. Serious head injuries may lead to any of the following:

• Personality changes
• Speech and language difficulties
• Loss of sensation, hearing, vision, taste or smell
• Seizures
• Paralysis
• Coma

The symptoms of a closed head injury can surface immediately, but can also develop slowing, sometimes taking several hours to surface. Some of the signs of a serious head injury include:

• Loss of consciousness
• Drop in blood pressure
• Convulsions
• Fluid drainage from the nose, mouth or ears
• Severe headache
• Lack of coordination
• Vomiting
• Slurred speech
• Pupil changes
• Inability to see, hear, taste or smell
• Drowsiness

When there is bleeding inside the skull from a closed head injury, the doctor will need to find the location of the bleeding, severity of symptoms, other injuries and the progression of the symptoms, in order to determine the appropriate treatment. Surgery is often needed in closed head injury cases. Other treatment options include pressure monitors, medication to prevent seizures and antibiotics to prevent infection.

There are laws that protect injured seamen, harbor workers and longshoremen. If you have sustained a closed head injury and believe your employer or vessel owner was negligent, you may be able to obtain compensation for your injuries. Compensation may include damages for pain and suffering, lost wages, medical expenses, disfigurement and mental anguish. Contact a maritime attorney at our law firm today for a free legal consultation.

A head injury is defined as trauma that leads to a scalp, skull or brain injury. It is also commonly referred to as brain injury, contusion or head trauma. These types of injuries range in severity from a minor bump on the skull to serious brain damage. Seamen are especially susceptible to this type of maritime injury.

There are two classifications of head injury – closed and open. An open head injury, also known as a penetrating head injury, occurs when someone is hit by an object that breaks the skull and enters the brain. A penetrating head injury often occurs when a person is moving at high speed, such as in a car accident, or from a gunshot. Closed head injuries happen when there is a hard blow to the head from an object, but the skull is not broken. However, a closed head injury can still result in serious complications.

Some of the types of brain injury include concussion, traumatic brain injury and contusion, which is a bruise on the brain.

It has been estimated that millions of people suffer head injuries every year. The majority of these head injuries are not serious, because the skull provides the necessary protection for the brain. Yet, more than 500,000 head injuries are severe enough to require hospitalization.

Car accidents, falls, assaults and work-related accidents are all common causes of head injury. A head injury can also be caused by a maritime accident. In some instances, the head injury will lead to irreversible brain damage, which results from bleeding inside the brain or brain damage. A serious head injury can cause coma, chronic headaches, paralysis, seizures, loss of sensation and speech difficulties.

Understanding some of the signs of a head injury and giving first aid can help save that person’s life. Medical attention should be sought immediately if a maritime worker becomes unusually drowsy, behaves differently, experiences a severe headache or stiff neck, becomes unconscious or starts vomiting.

Working aboard a vessel on the high seas comes with many dangers. Everyday, seamen are exposed to hazards from heavy equipment, tackle, defective machinery, slippery decks, unpredictable waters and severe weather conditions. There are many types of maritime injuries that can occur offshore, including serious eye injuries. If you or a loved one has suffered an eye injury as the result of a maritime accident, you need to be aware of your legal rights and should contact an experienced Jones Act lawyer.

Eye injuries are especially devastating, as they can lead to permanent blindness. This type of injury can be life changing and may affect your livelihood if you are not able to return to work due to your condition.

An eye injury sustained on a vessel can occur in two different ways. Physical eye injuries happen when an object enters the eye, such as glass or metal pieces. Chemical eye injuries occur when you are exposed to chemical fumes or if a chemical enters your eye. A chemical injury can result from working near these compounds without the proper safety goggles or from chemical cargo that was not properly contained.

Depending on the circumstances of your maritime injury, you may be able to hold the vessel owner responsible. If you are considered to be a seaman, you may be eligible to file a Jones Act claim, if negligence caused your maritime accident. A successful Jones Act case could entitle you to a substantial amount of financial compensation, which could include damages for pain and suffering, mental anguish, past and future medical expenses, past and future lost income and disfigurement.

Contact a Jones Act attorney today. There is a deadline as to when you can file your claim, so you do not want to delay in pursuing legal advice.

A pelvic fracture is a serious injury that is often caused by a maritime accident. The pelvis, which is a bone structure at the end of the trunk, cradles many organs. That is why a fractured pelvis can lead to significant internal bleeding, organ damage, nerve injury and death. If you or someone you love has suffered a pelvic fracture from an offshore accident, you may be entitled to compensation under the Jones Act or General Maritime Law.

One of the most common causes of pelvic fractures is falls. A fall from a substantial height is considered to be a high-energy force and may lead to a life-threatening broken pelvis. As most seamen know, the possibility of a fall accident on a vessel is a major hazard of working on the sea. Slippery decks, broken stairs, worn out ladders and other dangers can result in a traumatic fall accident aboard a vessel.

Typically, a broken pelvis becomes swollen and bruised and is incredibly painful. Also, these types of fractures can cause excessive bleeding, leading to shock. Someone who has suffered a broken pelvis must seek emergency medical attention, so that the injury does not prove to be fatal.

Certain diagnostic tests, such as x-rays and CT scans, are used to determine if a patient has a fractured pelvis. In some cases, surgery is required after the pelvis is stabilized. Doctors often use an external fixator to stabilize the pelvic area, which is a device with long screws that are placed in the bones on each side and then connected to a frame outside of the body. This device allows doctors to focus on any internal injuries to blood vessels, nerves and organs.

If you have sustained a pelvic fracture or some other type of maritime injury, you should contact an experienced maritime injury lawyer today. You may be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries.