Offshore work poses a host of dangers. You can take some steps to keep yourself safe at work, but injuries may still occur. Offshore injuries are quite common and often devastating. Inadequate training and working for an extended time with few pauses in between increase the chances of offshore injuries.
These acts may constitute negligence by your employer. After an offshore injury, you may not know what to do to recover compensation. A Morse offshore accident lawyer can help you navigate complicated laws to recover damages.
Some Sources of Offshore Accidents
Offshore accidents pose a great threat. Explosions and fires can cause severe burns. Explosions and fires may result from poor maintenance or improper handling. Slips and falls and device failure can land you in the emergency room. Many offshore accidents that result from negligence are avoidable. If offshore workers are not properly trained, the work environment becomes hazardous.
The result is likely to be accidents that cause extensive offshore injuries. Serious injuries include head trauma, spinal cord injuries, and amputation. Whatever offshore accident caused your injuries, you can seek compensation through legal means. Your recovery process may be painful and take a long time.
In the time you take to recover, you may lose the income that you and your family rely on. A Morse offshore accident lawyer can identify what caused your offshore accident. The lawyer will also engage you in discussions to map the best strategy to recover compensation for your losses.
Laborde Earles injury was great for me they took care of me very fast and professional. If for any reason I need legal help they will be who I use.
ClientStrategies to Recover Compensation After an Offshore Accident
There are different legal avenues you can follow to get compensation after an offshore accident. The strategy you employ will depend on which category your work falls in. Different laws apply to different groups of workers. Some of these laws include:
The Jones Act
The Jones Act safeguards seamen. It gives them the ability to sue employers whose negligence resulted in injury. The negligent act may have also been performed by another employee. You can get compensation for quantifiable and intangible damages. You can recover damages for things such as medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, and emotional distress.
There are criteria that you have to satisfy to bring a claim under the Jones Act. You must have suffered the injuries while performing tasks as a vessel worker. Your employer’s actions must have been negligent. The negligence must have led to your offshore injuries. The Jones Act does not automatically cover you because you suffered harm while working offshore.
You have to fit the definition of a seaman. About 30% or more of your time must be spent on the vessel to be a seaman under the Jones Act. The act entails a lot of complexities that may be difficult to grasp without the help of a more knowledgeable party. A lawyer can examine the circumstances of your case to establish whether you can file a claim under the Jones Act.
The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act
The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) safeguards employees who sustain injuries or get sick in their employment on navigable waterways. The Longshore Act utilizes the no-fault procedure. This means that you will get benefits, regardless of who was responsible for your offshore accident. The act safeguards your employer from a suit. Your employer may stop paying benefits or not pay at all from the start.
If this happens to you, you will need to get the Department of Labor involved. There are pre-conditions you must meet to get coverage under the LHWCA. You must be a maritime worker. Workers covered include those who repair, load, unload, and maintain ships. An offshore accident lawyer can inform you whether you qualify under the categories covered by the Longshore Act.
The Act covers offshore injuries and those injuries that happen in surrounding locations. If you did not sustain your injuries in any of the covered areas, you cannot recover compensation under the Longshore Act. Therefore, your offshore injury should have happened while you were performing activities required of you in your work. To be sure if the Longshore act covers your injury, you can talk to a Morse offshore accident lawyer.
I thank God for Digger & David. I don’t know what we would have done if it hadn’t have been for them.
Rick Smith | ClientWhat a Morse Offshore Accident Lawyer Can Do for Your Case
Some employers wish to escape the responsibility of paying damages for their workers’ offshore accidents. Thus, they may deny that their negligence caused your accident. A defense they may put up is that your actions caused the accident. The employer could also claim that you could have said something about a hazardous condition. The injuries could have resulted from long working hours with little rest.
Your employer could claim that you could have spoken your mind about needing a longer period to rest. If you do manage to overcome all the hurdles and file a suit, your employer may cause even more trouble. They could use various means to frustrate your attempts to get employment in other places in the same industry. You may be wary of bringing a suit against your employer for these reasons.
Your offshore accident lawyer can investigate your case and talk to eyewitnesses and gather their testimonies. If there is video footage of your offshore accident, a lawyer can help you get it. Evidence will help support your claim.
The reassurance from Digger and his staff gave me that renewed hope that it’s going to be okay down the road.
ClientWork With a Morse Offshore Accident Lawyer Today
Treatment for offshore injuries may place a dent in your funds. Our personal injury lawyers can help you recover damages for medical and other costs. The support of an offshore accident lawyer can put your mind at ease. For help in navigating the compensation process, call Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers. We offer free consultation!
