AVIATION and HELICOPTER Related Injuries

November 4, 2019
If you have lost a loved one or have suffered injuries, damages, or death as a result of an aircraft-related injury (ie. planes, helicopters, passengers of an airline), you may want to speak with a lawyer. “Every day, the FAA’s Air Traffic Organization (ATO) provides service to more than 44,000 flights and 2.7 million airline passengers across more than 29 million square miles of airspace.” https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/by_the_numbers/ Airplane and helicopter travel has become normal within the business community, as well as, the means of transportation for hundreds of thousands of people on a daily basis. The number of these aerospace travelers will only begin to increase as ride-sharing companies begin to use drones and other unmanned vehicles.  There are many different factors that can cause or contribute to the cause of an airline accident. Some of the most known factors at issue in aviation accidents include: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulation violations; Defective Design and/or materials; In-flight Instrument or Avionics Failure; Negligent Maintenance or repair (faulty equipment); Pilot error; In-flight icing; Fueling errors; Problems in the design of the aircraft; Bird Strikes; Flight servicing employee negligence; Negligent behavior of a third party; FAA air traffic controller negligence; HELICOPTER ACCIDENTS Helicopters are widely used in a number of areas for travel including the military, private transportation, oil industry, news industry, air ambulance, offshore transportation, and tourist attractions. Many helicopter related accidents have revealed that helicopters can be very difficult to maneuver, especially for a novice pilot.  An added factor to difficult maneuvering is the fact that helicopters are non-fixed wing aircraft, making them able to land in various locations which are closer to on-ground dangers such as radio control towers, utility wires, mountains, or tall buildings. As a result of the powerful impact forces involved in a helicopter crash, the likelihood of those occupants sustaining severe and disabling injuries and fatalities is great. Due to the severity of helicopter crashes, there are obviously many different situations that can lead to a crash or flight complications.  Some of these factors include: Pilot error; Mechanical malfunction;  Electrical malfunction; Product design; Maintenance deficiencies; Poor helipad designs; Improper flight inspections; While there can be one or numerous reasons for airplane and helicopter crashes, the urgency to retain a competent attorney is of the utmost importance.  When retained, counsel will start an immediate investigation into the causation of the incident that includes but is not limited to: Retaining experts; Searching the NTSB database; Searching the FAA records; Investigating the pilot’s experience and qualifications; Obtaining information retrieved from the black box; Obtaining the daily weather report; Obtaining air traffic control records; Locating witnesses and obtaining statements; Obtaining the airplane or helicopter maintenance records; etc. These events are highly complex cases and require an in-depth knowledge of aviation law. The Caquias Law Group, PLLC obtains the services of aviation experts from throughout the country to prove difficult personal injury cases on behalf of our clients. The Caquias Law Group, PLLC has the human and financial resources and experience to use top aviation experts to obtain justice for victims of helicopter crashes, commercial airline crashes, or personal aircraft crashes. If […] Read more

Oil Field Injury Accidents

September 29, 2019
While the oil industry is booming and striving in Texas, the fact remains that the job sites are inherently dangerous for the employees.   Oil rig workers can and do get killed and/or seriously injured as a result of preventable accidents.  Investigations into these accidents often reveal that the employers are violating state and federal safety regulations by failing to implement comprehensive safety and training programs placing their profits in front of the workers’ safety. These findings are alarming because accidents are occurring on a daily basis.  Some of the most common accidents can stem from the following: Oil truck accident; Falls and rigs collapsing; Crane failures; Derrick accidents; Fires and explosions;  Electrocution; Defective machinery; Toxic fumes exposure; Compressor stations; Pump jacks; Work jacks; Blowouts; Job Site Deaths A Year – Across Industries  According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”), 5,147 workers died on the job in 2017 [https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cfoi.nr0.htm] (3.5 per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers) — on average, more than 99 people die from work-related / job site accidents per week.  In the United States, MORE THAN 14 PEOPLE DIE FROM JOB-RELATED DEATHS A DAY. https://www.osha.gov/oshstats/commonstats.html  COMMON CAUSES OF OILFIELD ACCIDENTS Without understanding the underlying causes of oilfield accidents, employers can and should take steps to reduce risk on a job site. Some of the most common contributing factors for oilfield accidents include: Inadequate training; Inadequate safety measures; Inadequate supervision of employees; Carelessness; Faulty equipment; Unanticipated environmental hazards; Human error; OIL FIELD DEATH AND INJURIES Unfortunately, these types of accidents are often so significant that either the employee loses his/her life or sustains serious and permanent injuries.  Common Oil and Gas Rig Injuries: Traumatic brain injury;  Amputation of limbs;  Crushing Injury Burns;  Loss of vision; Loss of hearing; Respiratory illness from chemical inhalation and exposure; Nerve damage; Spinal injuries; Internal injuries; Fractures; Disabling injuries; and Permanent disfigurement If you lost a loved one or if you were injured while working at the rig site, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses.      Here at the Caquias Law Group, we have our engineers and other experts that will investigate the facts surrounding your injury to confirm what safety rules were violated, to determine if it was caused by faulty equipment and determine who caused or contributed to your accident.   Call 210-996-2237 today to schedule your free oil rig injury or death consultation. We are here to help and serve clients injured on the oil field nationwide. Read more

Texas Worker’s Compensation

September 3, 2019
Employees injured on the job are entitled to receive benefits under the Texas Workers’ Compensation Act, including medical expenses, lost wages, and disability benefits. However, these benefits are only available to the employee if the employer carries workers’ compensation insurance, which is not required in Texas. While it is encouraged, many companies do not carry this coverage, leaving injured workers in a precarious position fearing the incurring of medical bills, pharmaceutical bills and the inability to work and provide for his or her family. If an employee is killed on the job, his or her spouse and minor children may be entitled to lifetime “death benefits.”  In some cases, employers offer other benefit plans to compensate for on-the-job injuries, but these “plans” typically offer fewer or minimal benefits compared to what would be available through workers’ compensation. Other companies fail to provide any coverage at all. Whether a company chooses to obtain workers’ compensation insurance for its employees or not, they are still held to a higher standard to assure that they provide a safe work environment, safe equipment and proper training for workers. When an employer fails to maintain these standards, they may be held liable for damages caused by your injuries. Some of the most common situations that lead to these types of claims include: Defective products; Defective construction equipment; Premises liability and dangerous conditions; Defective building materials; Dangerous condition deadly falls; Defective product electrocution; Misuse of cranes; Falling objects;  Dangerous generators; Asbestos products; Defective tires; Defective Cranes; Defective forklifts; Hidden holes,  Lack of proper lighting; Improper design of stairs; Improper security; Negligent use of construction equipment; Hazardous and/or hidden traps; Electrical problems; Dangerous defects; Negligence and careless actions; Negligent co-workers; Negligent construction companies; Negligent subcontractors; Other dangerous conditions; Toxic Exposure Claims- includes Dangerous chemicals; Chemical solvents; Explosive agents; Toxic waste;  Blackwater sewage; Insecticides; Mercury; Asbestos products; and  Petrochemicals When a family member is killed or seriously injured as a result of a hazardous work environment, hazardous work equipment, hazardous work-related activity or the negligence of a person or persons you need an Attorney who will be compassionate to the grieving family’s needs, an Attorney you can trust to be your voice and an Attorney who will work endlessly to assure that you or your family are compensated for your loss.  Our team of experts are ready to investigate what Workers Compensation benefits are available, if any, the facts surrounding the specific accident, to investigate all persons who had knowledge regarding the dangerous condition or element (construction site owner, the property owner, premises owner or property maintainer) in order to prove liability of the culpable party and to assist my staff with compiling a strong case against the at-fault party or parties.   Call 210-996-2237 to schedule your Texas Workers Compensation consultation today. Read more