Today’s offshore industry is critical to America’s economy. It not only supplies the nation’s energy needs but also provides for thousands of high-paying jobs. One of the reasons offshore jobs pay so well is because of the risks and dangers of offshore work.
OFFSHORE ACCIDENT INFORMATION
Offshore employers, like their land-based counterparts, are required to maintain a safe working environment to minimize these risks and dangers. When they fail to do so, disaster can result.
If you’re a worker who’s been injured in an on-the-job accident while working on an oil rig, vessel or other offshore structure, contact a New Orleans offshore accident lawyer at Lambert Zainey Smith & Soso without delay. Depending on the circumstances leading to your accident, you may qualify to recover compensation for your injuries under the Jones Act, LHWCA, OCSLA, and other maritime laws.
Common Types of Offshore Accidents
Because of the challenging nature of offshore work, there’s always the risk of serious accidents and injuries. This is why it’s so important for offshore employers to maintain a safe working environment. When they fail to do so, all kinds of serious accidents can occur, including:
- Fires
- Explosions
- Slips and falls
- Falling overboard
- Drowning
- Hypothermia
- Electrocution
- Exposure to toxic materials
- Being struck by falling objects
- Equipment malfunctions and failures
These types of accidents can have many causes. Some of the common causes of offshore accidents include human error, improperly maintained equipment, defective equipment, lack of proper safety training and equipment, workplace hazards, adverse weather, and more.
Maintaining a safe offshore working environment means regular inspection and maintenance of machinery and equipment, proper safety training and equipment, and hiring only qualified, experienced workers.
Nationally Recognized Attorneys
Injuries That Can Result from Offshore Accidents
There are many injuries that can result from an accident aboard an oil drilling rig or other offshore structure. The New Orleans offshore accident lawyers at Lambert Zainey have represented offshore workers who have experienced a wide range of work-related injuries, including:
- Cuts, scrapes, and bruises
- Bone fractures
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Spinal cord injuries
- Internal organ injuries
- Muscle and soft tissue injuries
- Nerve damage
- Acoustic trauma
- Blindness
- Burns
- Hypothermia-related injuries
- Disfigurement
- Amputation
- Drowning
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Not all injuries are apparent right away. Symptoms of a repetitive stress disorder may take years to manifest; so can symptoms of certain cancers and nerve damage resulting from long-term exposure to toxic chemicals and other materials.
Types of Damages for Offshore Injuries
Injured offshore workers can suffer many significant losses, economic and otherwise, after an on-the-job accident. First, there are the medical expenses. Depending on the seriousness of the injury, medical expenses can be ongoing. They include hospital stays, doctor’s bills, physical therapy, medications, medical devices, etc.
Second, damages may include lost wages and employment. An offshore worker may be unable to work for an extended period of time because of their injuries. In addition, their injuries may leave them unable to return to their former job.
Pain and suffering is another type of damage. Unlike the first two examples, it may be difficult to assign an exact dollar amount to these types of damages. An injured offshore worker may suffer emotional losses as well, such as loss of companionship or loss of enjoyment of life.
The families of offshore workers who died as a result of their injuries can include funeral and burial expenses, loss of income, and others.
You Have a Right to Seek Compensation for Your Injuries After an Offshore Accident
An offshore worker who has been injured in an on-the-job accident may qualify for benefits under the Jones Act, Longshoreman and Harbor Worker Compensation Act (LHWCA), the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA), or other maritime laws.
The first thing to do to protect your rights after an offshore accident is to:
- Inform your employer of your accident.
- Seek medical attention as soon as possible.
- Speak to an experienced Louisiana offshore injury lawyer.
It’s important to speak to an attorney as soon as possible because there are different time limits depending on the type of claim you need to file. LHWCA claims need to be filed within 30 days of the date of the accident. For an OCSLA claim, it will depend on the state whose territory your workplace is located. For example, if you were injured in Louisiana territorial waters, you would only have one year in which to file a claim. If it happened in Texas or Florida waters, you would have two years.
In many instances, an offshore accident may have been caused by the negligence of an offshore employer or employee. In these cases, the injured worker may have a right to seek additional compensation for the damages caused by their injuries, including ongoing medical expenses, lost wages, lost employment, and pain and suffering.
If you are someone who is unable to work due to injuries caused in an offshore accident caused by the negligence of an employer or co-worker, it’s important to protect your rights. The New Orleans offshore accident lawyers at Lambert Zainey are here to help.
Over $1 Billion Recovered For Our Injured Clients
How a New Orleans Offshore Accident Lawyer Can Help
The Louisiana offshore injury attorneys at Lambert Zainey Smith & Soso can assist you in many ways after you’ve been injured in an offshore accident:
- Investigate your accident and gather the evidence needed to support your claim.
- Help you avoid any mistakes that could affect your settlement.
- Help you assign a dollar value to your accident-related damages.
- Handle all negotiations with your employer’s insurance company.
- Handle all administrative and legal duties.
- Represent you in court (if necessary).
It’s important to hire a New Orleans offshore accident lawyer who is both an experienced negotiator and a skilled litigator to ensure your rights are protected and you receive the total compensation you are entitled to for the damages caused by your injuries.
Offshore Injury Attorneys With Nearly 50 Years of Experience
The New Orleans offshore accident lawyers at Lambert Zainey have been protecting the rights of offshore workers since the 1970s. Our team of highly skilled Louisiana offshore injury attorneys has successfully represented clients in a number of high-profile cases, including the ARCO, Penrod MODU, and Deepwater Horizon disasters. We’ve obtained billions of dollars in settlements for our clients.
Our maritime attorneys have a deep understanding of the offshore industry and the dangers it entails. We know how easily an accident can happen when offshore facilities aren’t properly managed. We also know maritime law and the rights an injured offshore worker has after an accident.
If you’ve been injured in an offshore accident that was caused by the negligence of a coworker or employer, it’s important to take immediate action to protect your rights.
Contact us online or call us at 800-521-1750 to schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced Louisiana offshore injury attorneys. We’ll discuss your accident, answer any legal questions you may have, and provide honest, professional advice on the best way to proceed with your personal injury claim.
Our offshore injury cases are handled on a contingency basis. That means there are no upfront costs for our representation; we only collect a fee as a percentage of your settlement.