subject: Should I Contact An Offshore Lawyer [print this page] As accidents happen on inland and people might get hurt during work, individuals working on sea are exposed to the same risks. However the laws that are applied in case of an injury are different for the two groups of employees. Offshore lawyers are personal injury attorneys who represent injured maritime employees.
Maritime employees include individuals working on ships, oil rigs and other sea vessels, more specifically cruise ship employees, dock workers, ferry workers, fishermen, longshoremen, oil workers, seamen and officers, technicians and engineers who work aboard vessels and other groups. They are exposed to several potential injuries, including back and neck injuries, traumatic brain injuries, burns, falls, fractures, loss of limbs, disfigurement and other permanent disabilities.
If any of these injuries occur because of unsafe working conditions, ship owners, captains or crew members negligence, the victim can file for worker compensation. Worker compensation is an insurance paid by the employer to protect employees in case of a work related injury. Although laws vary from one state to another, the amount of compensation a victim can receive via worker compensation is usually small as it covers only medical bills and lost wages. So before filing for it, injured maritime workers should contact an offshore lawyer to see if they qualify for a Jonas Act claim.
An individual should be in a service of a vessel for at least 30% of his time in order to qualify for protection under the Jonas Act. But this set of laws offer much higher compensation for injured employees as it includes besides medical bills and lost wages also emotional pain and suffering, ongoing and future treatment costs, impaired quality of life, permanent disabilities and future costs of life.
So if you were seriously injured during your work aboard a vessel or you lost a family member at sea, contact an experienced offshore attorney for an initial case evaluation and legal representation. If there is a valid legal claim investigation can begin, including crew members interviewing and ship examination. After enough evidence has been gathered, a lawsuit can be filed against the responsible parties and victims will be able to receive the compensation they are entitled to.
