Offshore Accident from an Experienced Offshore Injury Attorney

Get legal help after an offshore accident from an experienced offshore injury attorney
When an offshore accident occurs, injuries can be devastating, life-changing and permanent. In addition to tremendous pain and suffering, workers involved in an offshore accident face significant medical bills, lost wages and more. If you or a loved one has been injured in an offshore accident, you should speak with an experienced offshore injury attorney as soon as possible. While the legal system can seem overwhelming, particularly when it comes to a serious injury, an experienced offshore accident attorney can guide you through every step of the process, helping you make the right decisions for you and your family members.

Helping offshore workers and their families
The Willis Law Firm has decades of experience representing offshore accident victims. While the laws governing these types of injuries can be complex, our firm has the knowledge and resources to help you recover the compensation you deserve.

When we handle an accident case, we work to build a strong team that will carefully review and investigate the facts and circumstances surrounding your offshore injuries. Whether you’ve been injured in an offshore construction accident, a serious slip and fall, an oil rig drilling or explosion accident, or any other type of offshore accident, we understand what you’re going through. Our legal team works hard to build a successful case against all parties responsible for your injuries.

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Common Extraterritorial Claims Covered by the Jones Act and Other Laws
The Jones Act (and the other laws that protect offshore workers) apply to all types of offshore accidents. If you were injured offshore, the question is not how you were injured, but rather what type of claim you can file. All of the most common types of offshore accidents are covered, including:

Slips and Trips – Slips and trips are common aboard ships, offshore cranes and platforms, oil rigs, and other offshore locations. Common injuries include soft tissue injuries (ie, sprains and tears), bone fractures, and concussions.
Falls from height – Falls from height can cause serious and debilitating injuries. If you fell down stairs, from an upper floor, or from a height in any other scenario, you can hire a Jones Act attorney to help you seek fair compensation.
Falls overboard – Falls overboard can give rise to the Jones Act and other claims as well. This includes falls into the water from ships, boats, platforms, platforms, and other fixed and floating offshore workplaces.
Fires and Explosions – Fires and explosions on ships, oil rigs, and other offshore workplaces can be extremely dangerous for obvious reasons. If you were seriously burned in an offshore fire or explosion, you may be entitled to significant compensation.
Falling, Flying, and Swinging Object Injuries: Falling supplies, materials, safety equipment, and other items can cause head and other injuries. The same goes for flying debris, rotating cranes and booms, and other moving objects.
Equipment and Machinery Accidents – Equipment and machinery accidents are common causes of injury aboard fishing vessels, cargo ships, oil rigs, and many other offshore workplaces.
Exposure to toxic substances or extreme temperatures – Exposure is also a serious concern for offshore workers. This includes exposure to both toxic substances and extreme temperatures.
Most Common Offshore Accident Injuries Explained By An Offshore Injury Lawyer
Even in good weather and calm waters, maritime workers are at high risk of injury, especially when it comes to negligence. The danger is compounded by the fact that maritime workers live and work far from the nearest emergency personnel and medical facilities. Help often takes hours to arrive via Coast Guard boats or helicopters.

Like other maritime accidents, injuries from offshore accidents are often similar to injuries from typical personal injury accidents, but still tend to fall into a particular set of types, including:

Hypothermia from falls overboard
Spinal cord injuries
Head injuries
Neck injuries
Shoulder injuries
Broken bones
Crushed limbs
Loss of limbs/amputation
Cuts and lacerations
Scarring
Traumatic brain injuries
Burns
Respiratory illnesses
Lung damage from chemical fumes or smoke inhalation

Any of these offshore injuries can lead to a long and difficult recovery time, placing unnatural stress on injured maritime workers and their families. You owe it to yourself to consult with an offshore injury law firm to discuss compensation options.

Role Breakdown of Your Offshore Injury Lawyer
An offshore injury attorney is an attorney who focuses his practice on representing injured maritime workers. The laws that protect maritime workers differ from those that protect employees on land, and recovering fair compensation after an offshore accident requires a thorough understanding of the laws that apply. It also requires familiarity with the common types of offshore accidents and the procedures involved in investigating an accident that occurs on an open water vessel, rig or platform.

Why do sailors need an offshore accident attorney?
If you are a sailor and have been injured on the job, there are several reasons why you need an offshore injury attorney. First, you must avoid mistakes that could jeopardize your legal rights. An experienced attorney will be able to tell you what to do and what not to do so that you remain eligible for fair compensation.

Second, you need an offshore accident attorney to deal with your employer and their insurance company on your behalf. Recovering compensation for an offshore accident, including “no-fault” repair and maintenance benefits, is not an easy or straightforward process. Companies go to great lengths to avoid paying for sailors’ injuries. An experienced offshore injury attorney will be able to overcome your defense tactics and take your claim to court if necessary.

Third, you need to know how much you can get back. While some sailors will be limited to collecting the upkeep and healing benefits, others will be entitled to much more. An offshore injury attorney can accurately estimate your losses and can ensure that you are seeking the full compensation you deserve.

Who is Liable for Your Offshore Accident?
After you have suffered an injury on the high seas, you may be looking for someone to hold accountable. The honest answer is “varies”. Our job at Willis Law Firm as your offshore injury attorney is to determine liability for your accident and resulting injuries. The following entities may be potential defendants in your lawsuit:

A co-worker who did not follow security protocol.
Her supervisor who was negligent or reckless
An employer that failed to adequately protect workers from injury
A ship captain who was responsible for a platform or ship accident
The manufacturing company of a defective product/equipment
What should you do if your employer disputes your injuries?
Some employers of offshore workers are wealthy companies that can afford high-powered attorneys to fight cases in which workers are injured. If your employer disputes your injuries sustained while working offshore, contact a Louisiana offshore injury attorney at the Willis Law Firm immediately for a case evaluation. Our firm has experience representing injured maritime workers against “the big guys.” An experienced attorney can help you defend your rights and file a lawsuit if necessary.

What Types of Accidents Do Offshore Injury Lawyers Handle?
Offshore injury attorneys handle all types of maritime accidents. This includes accidents on board, accidents on the water, and accidents involving all jobs and occupations. They handle accidents involving co-worker errors and handle accidents involving safety violations, improper boat maintenance, horseplay and other issues.

Is an offshore injury lawyer expensive?
No, it is not expensive to hire an offshore accident attorney. In fact, it costs nothing out of pocket. Offshore accident attorneys provide contingency fee representation, meaning their clients only pay if they win.

How do I find an offshore injury attorney who can help me?
Many offshore accident attorneys only practice in certain cities or states, which can make it difficult to find an experienced attorney who can help you. At Willis Law Firm, we handle offshore accident cases on behalf of sailors across the country. From the Atlantic to the Pacific and from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico, we can help if you’ve been injured working offshore.

Should I contact an offshore injury attorney?
If you have been injured working offshore, you should contact a

What to do after an accident at sea

1. Report the accident to your employer immediately

When you are injured on the job, it is important to immediately report the accident to your employer. This helps avoid questions about how and when you got hurt, and helps ensure that you receive compensation as soon as possible.

Stick to the facts when reporting your offshore accident. Don’t exaggerate any details, don’t make assumptions, and don’t misrepresent what happened. Making false statements to your employer could jeopardize your claim for benefits.

2. See your own doctor

If you were injured offshore, you may have had no choice but to see your employer’s company doctor. However, once you return to shore, you should also see your own doctor right away. Unfortunately, company doctors do not always have the best interests of employees in mind. As a result, you’ll want to see a doctor of your choice for an independent diagnosis.

3. Make Sure Your Employer’s Accident Account Is Accurate

Just as you need to make sure your account of the accident is accurate, you also need to make sure your employer’s understanding of the accident is correct. With this in mind, you should request a copy of the accident report and review it carefully. If something is wrong, or if some key detail was left out, you may want to prepare a written statement to file.

4. Make sure you don’t go back to work too soon

Once you receive a diagnosis, you must resist the temptation (or pressure from your employer) to return to work too soon. You are entitled to all the rest and recovery time you need to heal properly.

5. Be sure to follow all of your doctor’s advice

In addition to staying home from work (if recommended), you should also carefully follow your doctor’s other advice. This includes everything from taking your prescription medications to keeping follow-up appointments as scheduled.

6. Keep track of your medical needs and expenses

When you have a foreign injury claim, it’s important to keep track of your medical needs and expenses. Keep all of your medical records and bills on file, and don’t hesitate to call your doctor’s office if you have questions.

7. Consult with an offshore injury attorney to discuss your potential for Jones Act compensation

Recovering your losses after an offshore accident requires the help of an attorney experienced in handling Jones Act and other maritime injury claims. At Willis Law Firm, your initial consultation is free and confidential, and you pay nothing unless we help you collect financial compensation.