If you or a family member has been injured while working as a dock worker, seaman, or oil and gas industry employee, it is critical to hire the right offshore accident lawyer.
These are extremely demanding and risky occupations. You rely on your employer and other responsible parties to implement and enforce safety measures. Unfortunately, far too many businesses do not provide adequate protection to their employees.
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The Waldman Legal Group's attorneys will investigate any negligence that contributed to your injuries.
Maritime workers on ships and vessels at sea aren't the only ones in this industry who take big risks and get hurt on the job. On the job, offshore workers are also exposed to significant risks and hazards. You have a risky job if you work on an oil rig or platform offshore. Accidents occur often on these job sites, but they may be catastrophic, even fatal.
If you have been injured on an offshore job site, you will need the assistance of an expert offshore lawyer to present your case and guarantee that you receive the compensation you deserve.
There are numerous maritime laws to navigate, and only these specialized lawyers have the knowledge and experience to do so. A professional with this specific expertise can help you by guiding you, representing you, preventing you from making costly mistakes, and assist you in obtaining the funds you need to get back on your feet.
Why Do I Require the Services of an Offshore Injury Attorney?
If you've been injured while working offshore, your employer or their insurance company may approach you with a monetary offer. You may be struggling to recover and worried about medical and household bills during this stressful time.
Accepting this initial payment might be enticing. However, while it may be beneficial in the near term, you are relinquishing your right to take future action. You are unlikely to receive the full amount due to your injuries.
Only an offshore accident lawyer is familiar with the legislation in these situations. The attorneys at Waldman Legal Group have the experience and knowledge needed to identify all responsible parties and determine the full extent of your losses.
It might be difficult to determine which regulations give protection to wounded offshore platform workers. The legislation or laws that may apply to a claim are determined by the location and kind of the platform, whether permanent or mobile.
Injuries are prevalent on offshore platforms because of the hazardous working conditions and the large and cumbersome size of the equipment and gear.
However, assessing responsibility might be difficult. The injuries might be caused by the carelessness of an employer, a contractor, other contractors' workers, or even the equipment's makers.
Frequently, wounded offshore workers are unaware of the procedures they must take to preserve their rights. We realize that having food on the table is paramount under these circumstances. Injured offshore workers, on the other hand, risk shortchanging themselves and their families if they do not hire an attorney.
What Should I Do (and What Should I Avoid) Following My Offshore Accident?
You may be in agony, anxious about expenses and your future, and just unable to think straight after a serious job injury. However, what you do — and don't do — in the aftermath of an accident is critical. It could jeopardize your ability to receive compensation for your injuries.
1. Seek medical help as soon as possible. It is critical that you get medical treatment as soon as possible following your accident, regardless of where you are or how serious you believe your injury is.
For starters, your health and well-being should always come first. Medical specialists can check for problems that aren't immediately apparent.
When we file a claim, we must also have a firm documentation trail of your medical issues and costs. So call your primary care physician or go to an emergency room as soon as feasible.
2. Inform your employer about your injuries as soon as possible. It is critical that they are informed about the accident as soon as possible. This allows them to address any safety concerns and safeguard other personnel.
It's also a crucial element of your claim's documentation. Do not rely on coworkers to report your injuries on your behalf. Do it yourself if at all feasible. Even better, jot down a detailed account of the accident and your injuries. One copy should be given to your employer, while the other should be kept by yourself.
3. Make every effort to document the incident. Take down the names of anyone who may have witnessed the incident. Compile a list of their contact details. Take photographs of the accident site, as well as any pertinent equipment and safety issues.
4. Consult with an attorney. A lawyer who has handled similar situations before can advise you on what measures to take and what pitfalls to avoid. They will assist you in comprehending the complicated legislation or laws that may be applicable to your claim.
5. Don't talk about your case with anybody other than your lawyer. Of course, you must notify your employer about your injury. However, sharing your injuries with coworkers or others might have disastrous consequences.
Even the most innocuous remark can be used against you in a court of law if you subsequently sue your employer.
6. Do not sign anything your employer gives you. Accepting money from them or their insurance company is not a good idea. You may be signing away your rights or accepting a low settlement offer that is far less than what you deserve. Always consult an attorney first.
Accidents and Injuries Occurring Offshore
Working offshore is hazardous and dangerous, and there are numerous scenarios in which you could be injured or killed. Any of these scenarios can be helped by an offshore injury lawyer. For example, you may have been hurt in an accident that was not caused by anyone else's actions.
You could have been caught in bad weather aboard your ship and thrown from a functioning staircase. Even if there was no negligence involved in the accident, your lawyer will assist you in determining how to obtain compensation.
True accidents that are not caused by negligence are uncommon. Unfortunately, in the majority of offshore accidents, an employer's precautions could have prevented you from being injured.
For example, your company is responsible for ensuring that a ship and all of its equipment are in excellent operating condition, that safety equipment is accessible, and that all employees are properly educated. An employer is negligent if he or she fails to do something that results in an accident.
You have entitled to compensation whether your accident occurred on a ship at sea or on an offshore structure. If the collision was genuinely an accident, or if there was carelessness involved, this is true. In any scenario, you'll need a skilled lawyer to assist you to figure out what to do next and which laws apply to your specific sort of offshore disaster.
How Can an Offshore Lawyer Assist You?
When a maritime worker is injured on the job, the employer and insurance company frequently try to deny compensation or offer a settlement that is far too low. This is the primary reason that if you have been injured in an offshore accident, you should seek legal assistance.
Your company may try to compensate you right away and urge you to sign a document that prevents you from suing for extra money later. It's a mistake to settle for this. Instead, hire a lawyer to help you get the compensation you deserve.
It's not simple to take on an employer that is backed by a large insurance company. Although you have many maritime laws to back up your claims, there are many ways to make a mistake when attempting to collect what you are due. A lawyer can assist you in determining which laws apply to you, how to file a claim, and what mistakes to avoid, such as failing to file within the statute of limitations.
A lawyer can also assist you by acting as your advocate. In most cases, filing a claim is insufficient to obtain compensation. That claim is likely to be fought by your employer indefinitely. To succeed, you may need to go to arbitration or perhaps trial, and having an experienced offshore lawyer representing your interests offers you the best chance of receiving compensation.
