Deepwater Injuries

• Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
• Orthopedic Injuries
• Wrongful Death

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What burn victims who were on the Deepwater Horizon need to know.

One can only imagine how terrifying it must have been to be onboard the Deepwater Horizon at the time of the explosion in the Gulf of Mexico. Even though many were injured and burned, they had little time to stop and think about what had just happened. Instead they had to do what they could to evacuate the rig and get to safety. For some of the workers, it wasn't until they were far away from the burning rig that they were able to assess the full extent of their injuries.

As an offshore worker, one of the most painful injuries you can sustain is a severe burn. If you were onboard the Deepwater Horizon during the deadly blast, you may know this kind of pain firsthand, as numerous fires had broken out after the massive explosion. You may have been one of the workers who had to ignore the pain from a burn, as you boarded one of the lifeboats with your fellow crewmembers.

Under federal maritime law, you may be entitled to compensation for your burn, but first you need to understand more about your injury.

Types of Burns:

• Burns are classified into different categories based on the level of severity:
• First-degree burns are the least serious types of burns and affect only the first layer of skin.
• Second-degree burns involve the first layer of skin, as well as the second layer.
• Third-degree burns are more destructive and damage the underlying tissue, in addition to skin layers. A third-degree burn can be fatal.

Burn Complications

There are many complications associated with burn injuries, ranging from disfigurement to death. A burn can damage organs and nerves. It can also lead to a life-threatening infection.

When the body is severely burned it loses fluid, which can result in shock. The skin may react to the fluid loss by blistering and swelling. In severe cases, blood transfusions are required. Yet, these physical complications aren't the only issues that can result from a major burn injury, there are often emotional scars, as well.

Burn victims have been known to suffer from psychological damage, including emotional trauma, social difficulties, feelings of withdrawal, depression and lowered self-esteem. In more serious cases, such as the Transocean rig explosion, posttraumatic stress disorder can develop.

Burn Treatment
Treating a serious burn is not easy and will often require skin grafts or replacement, physical therapy, ongoing wound management and reconstructive surgery. It can take two to three weeks for a second-degree burn to heal. In major burn cases, rehabilitation can take a year or longer. The costs associated with medical care can quickly add up.

Legal Rights for Offshore Burn Victims
Workers who were injured on the Deepwater Horizon may be able to obtain compensation under maritime law. There will be a lot of information circulating after this accident and it is important to know what steps to take. If you or your family member suffered a burn or other injury as a result of the oil rig explosion, you should order a copy of maritime attorney Brian Beckcom's free report, Answers to the Most Common Questions About the Transocean Rig Explosion.

At the Law Offices of Vujasinovic & Beckcom P.L.L.C., we recommend that you take your time in hiring a lawyer and avoid signing any papers from the maritime companies. However, we do understand that you probably have a lot of questions and are looking for answers. Feel free to contact us at (877) 724-7800 and one of our maritime attorneys will be more than happy to help you.

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