Injurys sustained in offshore accidents can be life-altering, leading to mounting medical bills and a loss of income. An experienced lawyer can assist victims and their families in seeking justice for the losses sustained as part of these incidents.
An attorney with experience in maritime and admiralty laws such as the Jones Act can assist victims in filing claims for compensation for past and future losses. This may involve seeking damages both in terms of present value and future ramifications.
What Caused the Accident?
Working on oil rigs, vessels, tankers or other structures in open waters is inherently dangerous work, often leading to injuries and fatalities for maritime workers. An offshore injury lawyer can assist those injured maritime workers recover compensation from negligent parties for their injuries by understanding relevant laws as well as having knowledge about common types of offshore accidents.
Injurys sustained while working can range from minor to serious. Some can result in the loss of limbs, paralysis and permanent impairment, while others could even result in the death of loved ones. Accidents may be the result of negligence, carelessness or defective equipment – nature and location being key factors when assessing who should bear responsibility.
An experienced Louisiana offshore injury attorney will fight hard for their clients’ maximum financial compensation available for losses suffered after an accident, such as medical expenses, pain and suffering compensation, lost wages and future financial losses. Such damages can significantly alter a victim’s life after such incidents occur, making recovery much harder.
Even with careful safety precautions in place, working conditions on a rig or vessel may still be hazardous. If there is an incident at an offshore platform such as fire, workers may have no choice but to jump from it into the ocean, leading to serious burns, drowning or even death for many workers involved.
Workers may also be exposed to hazardous chemicals at work. Exposure can lead to life-threatening lung damage and long term health concerns; without adequate training or supervision, they may fail to follow procedures in order to limit exposure.
An experienced Louisiana offshore injury attorney can assist injured workers in filing a Jones Act claim for financial compensation against their employers under federal law. It is essential that injured seamen contact an attorney as soon as an incident has taken place as filing time may run out, making early consultation essential.
What We Can Do for You
Maritime workers face increased risks of injury and illness than other American workers, if you were hurt while working on a ship, boat, oil rig, or offshore structure in the US an experienced lawyer can help you pursue compensation for your injuries and losses by helping determine which laws apply and what types of damages may apply to your claim.
Dependent upon where and what kind of offshore work you were engaged in, different laws may apply. For example, if your injuries happened while working on an oil rig, filing a Jones Act claim may be available as it allows injured offshore workers to sue their employers if their vessel wasn’t seaworthy – unlike worker’s compensation this action can bring compensation for noneconomic damages such as pain and suffering.
Injurys sustained in this setting often require extensive medical attention and ongoing therapy, placing families that rely on two incomes under immense financial strain. Furthermore, catastrophic injuries often leave workers unable to return to the job they once held – meaning that regular paychecks will no longer help support their family financially.
An attorney who specializes in offshore injury cases can assist you in filing your claim and recovering financially for your injuries. Sometimes employers and insurers try to deny claims or offer reduced settlement offers that do not reflect what should be awarded based on medical evidence; it is essential that an experienced offshore accident lawyer defend your rights in this fight.
Whenever an incident occurs on an offshore floating platform, it’s crucial that it’s documented quickly – including taking photographs if possible and writing down notes about what occurred and why. Furthermore, reporting this incident directly to your employer immediately will help avoid confusion over when and how your injury happened and ensure full accountability from them for their role in it.
How We Can Help You
Maritime work is vital to American economy, including shipping, fishing, seafood processing and oil drilling. Unfortunately, maritime work is also one of the most dangerous professions; an accident on the ocean may happen unexpectedly and lead to serious injuries or even fatalities among workers. An experienced offshore accident attorney can help determine which laws pertain to your case and advise how you should proceed accordingly.
If you have been injured in a maritime accident, it is critical that you document it thoroughly. This includes taking photos of both the scene and yourself if appropriate; additionally, request to be provided a copy of the accident report so you can read through it and ensure your account of what occurred does not get falsified in it.
An experienced attorney is also adept at recognizing signs that your employer may be trying to deflect responsibility or reduce damages after an accident occurs, such as trying to quickly accept a settlement or persuading you into signing waivers that prevent additional compensation claims later on. Such tactics could backfire and undermine any chance you may have of recovering all that you are entitled to under maritime law.
As you discuss the incident with your employer or their insurance provider, it is crucial that a knowledgeable lawyer be present during discussions. Otherwise they could try to pin blame on you or use your statements against you later in court proceedings. A legal professional can handle these negotiations for you while ensuring nothing damaging can be agreed to in their negotiations process.
Your case could fall under any number of laws depending on the nature of the injury sustained; these could include admiralty law, the Jones Act or state personal injury laws; additionally it could fall under Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) or another relevant statute.
Contact Us Today
No matter whether it was on an oil rig, permanent offshore structure or ship at sea, as soon as you’ve been injured contact our Ruston offshore accident attorney immediately to seek legal assistance and receive clear answers and exceptional counsel regarding your case. We will get right down to work helping you.
Report your injury immediately to your supervisor, even if it doesn’t seem severe at the time. This ensures a record of the incident is kept and may help when making your compensation claim later on. In addition, seek medical attention as soon as possible, even if you think your injury may not be too serious; seeing a doctor will increase the chances of full recovery while simultaneously showing insurance companies that you take your injuries seriously and are doing everything necessary for health and wellbeing.
Some employers and insurers will attempt to use the facts of your accident against you to reduce or avoid paying you damages that you deserve. Even innocent comments made during work time could be used against you as evidence against you by your employer and have an effect on how the case pans out.
We can help you stand up against these tactics and secure the compensation that’s due. Our attorneys are experienced with maritime law and know what it takes to construct strong cases for our clients. We will gather all available evidence in support of your claim; never accepting anything less than what is rightfully yours.
Based on your injuries and type of lawsuit you file, you could be eligible to collect damages like past and future loss of income, medical bills, emotional trauma, disfigurement, pain and suffering as a result of an offshore accident. Your life might never be the same again after such an experience; but seeking justice by making those responsible pay can help to put some pieces back together again.