offshore accident lawyer
NEED AN OFFSHORE INJURY LAWYER? HAVE YOU BEEN INJURED IN AN OFFSHORE OR MARITIME ACCIDENT?
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| offshore accident lawyer |
The ocean is the world's most dangerous workplace. Maritime industries in the United States can be found in practically every state, employing over 400,000 people nationwide. Maritime employees can find work in shipyards, marine ports, fishing, aquaculture, seafood processing, commercial diving, and marine transportation. Maritime employees suffer a higher risk of death, injury, and sickness than the average American worker, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Slips and falls, equipment failures, crashes, fires, and unsafe work practices and negligence are all common causes of offshore injuries, which sometimes necessitate costly medical treatment – sometimes for an extended period of time. Catastrophic injuries may prevent an injured worker who relies on his or her physical ability from returning to work. This can be disastrous for families, especially if the worker is the primary earner and is unable to work.
Offshore workers are subject to laws that differ from those that apply to land-based labor. If you or someone you care about has been hurt or becomes ill while working offshore, we advise you to contact Montagna Maritime Law as soon as possible to get your free case review.
TYPES OF OFFSHORE INJURIES
When an offshore worker accepts a position in the maritime industry, it is understood that the job is physically demanding and carries inherent dangers that are significantly more dangerous than land-based jobs. Injuries are prevalent, ranging from trivial to terrible, and even fatal. Minor injuries can often become considerably more serious over time.
The following are some of the most common types of offshore injuries:
1. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can occur in a variety of ways. Offshore employees are frequently placed in construction and industrial-like areas. TBI can be caused by a hit to the head from a slip or fall, or by being struck by a swinging or unsecured cargo. This can result in long-term cognitive or behavioral problems.
2. Spinal and back injuries - Operating heavy machinery, moving big goods, and performing manual labor can be back-breaking employment that requires several hours of standing, lifting, twisting, and tugging. Offshore workers may sustain injuries as a result of falls or being struck by vehicles or unstable items. A back or neck injury can cause chronic pain, reduced mobility, and, in severe cases, paraplegia or quadriplegia. Even when medical attention is provided swiftly, spinal and back injuries can result in long-term disability.
3. Slips and falls – Slip and fall injuries are among the most prevalent – and can be serious. Slip and fall accidents can cause concussions, contusions, and fractured bones. Slipping on the deck of a ship or platform can send you overboard in some situations, which instantly escalates into a dangerous situation.
4. Loss of hearing – If hearing protection is not supplied or mandated, employees may be exposed to tremendous noise over time, causing their hearing to deteriorate. Tinnitus or total hearing loss can develop in some circumstances where work settings are sufficiently loud.
5. Loss of limbs – Walking into the path of a vehicle or forklift, working with cables under stress, or getting a limb snagged and crushed beneath unstable goods such as coils, pipes, plates, and tires can all result in amputation injuries. Amputation is a life-changing injury that frequently necessitates the use of a prosthetic.
6. Crushing injuries and broken bones – Offshore work typically involves a high reliance on heavy machinery, either for building or for day-to-day operations. Injuries are common when this machinery fails or when safety measures are not followed. Broken or crushed bones are common outcomes of these injuries. Crushing injuries can potentially cause internal organ damage and produce life-threatening conditions.
7. Hypothermia and frostbite – Offshore and maritime workers frequently operate in harsh circumstances and at all hours of the day and night. As a result, offshore workers are frequently exposed to extremely cold weather, which can result in hypothermia or frostbite. These dangers are heightened by exposure to water, whether due to extreme weather or a fall overboard.
8. Drowning – A fall overboard can swiftly turn into a life-threatening injury, especially if treatment is delayed. Furthermore, hypothermia can occur even in very warm waters.
9. Fatalities – Every year, offshore workers are tragically killed in incidents around the United States' East Coast. If you have lost a loved one as a consequence of an accident or negligence, you have the legal right to seek compensation for their death.
10. Lung damage – Workers can get serious chemical injuries when safety measures are not followed or enforced, or when mishaps result in leaks. When these substances are breathed, they can cause severe and long-term lung damage. In some situations, exposure to large amounts of these substances can be immediately fatal. Minor exposures, on the other hand, can result in smaller damage that can become chronic or cumulative.
CLAIMING COMPENSATION FOR OFFSHORE INJURIES
A significant offshore injury can be life-changing, especially if it is regarded as catastrophic. You may be eligible to compensation for the following, depending on the severity of your injuries and the events that contributed to them:
1. Lost earnings – For wounded offshore workers and their families, a claim for lost earnings might be critical. If your injury has rendered you unable to work, you can seek compensation for the earnings you have lost, are losing, and will lose as a result of your injury.
2. Medical expenses – If you've experienced a major injury while traveling, chances are your medical bills are building up. You may be eligible to deduct both current and expected future medical expenses. Costs for surgery, rehabilitation, physical therapy, mental health care, and transportation to and from treatment may be claimed.
3. Pain and suffering – This can be divided into two categories: physical pain and suffering, as well as pain and suffering from scarring, disfigurement, and chronic consequences; and mental pain and suffering, which includes mental agony, stress, anxiety, and loss of pleasure of life.
Furthermore, as a Jones Act seaman, you are entitled to Maintenance and Cure, which is a basic right of all seamen. If you are injured at work, your employer is required to pay your regular living expenses (maintenance) and medical expenditures (cure) while you are out of work healing.
Offshore employees who do not fulfill the description of "seaman" may be eligible for benefits under a separate federal statute, the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA).
Offshore injuries can be fatal in the most extreme circumstances. Workers' families may be able to seek compensation from the accountable party through a wrongful death claim.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT OFFSHORE INJURY ATTORNEY
If you've been injured in an offshore accident, you need an experienced maritime or offshore injury lawyer on your side who will fight for your legal rights aggressively. Maritime attorneys are competent litigators that understand federal and state maritime laws, as well as international agreements, and have solid judgment when it comes to assisting you in winning your case and receiving the most compensation for your injuries.
Maritime law is a highly sophisticated and specialized area of law, and few attorneys practice it as efficiently as the professionals at Montagna Maritime Law. Contact us immediately for a free case evaluation and to explore your legal options with an experienced marine attorney.
IN NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, HIGHLY RATED OFFSHORE ACCIDENT ATTORNEYS
Montagna Maritime Law can be found at 425 Monticello Ave Suite B in Norfolk, Virginia. Follow Airport Rd, Robin Hood Rd, and VA-165 S from Norfolk International Airport to US-13 S. Then, take Norview Ave east toward Airport Parking Dep Rd, and then a slight right ontoAirport Parking Dep Rd. Turn right toward Airport Rd, then turn right at the first cross street onto Airport Rd. Continue on Robin Hood Rd and then turn left onto VA-165 S.Continue on US-13 S at this point. I-264 W to St Pauls Blvd, then I-264 W to exit 10. Then proceed onto US-13 S, passing Taco Bell (on the right in 1.0 mi). Then, merge onto I-264 Wtoward,DowntownNorfolk/Portsmouth, staying in the right lane to stay on I-264 W. Continue on St Pauls Blvd after exiting at 10 for City Hall Ave. Take Monticello Ave. Finally, turn left onto E Charlotte St and then right onto St Pauls Blvd. When you turn left onto Monticello Ave, Montagna Maritime Law will be on the right.
Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
You can reach us at (757) 622-8056 if you have any
further inquiries.
TALK TO AN EXPERIENCED OFFSHORE INJURY ATTORNEY
Sustaining an injury at work may be stressful, perplexing, and unpleasant for anyone. Your company may not be making the necessary efforts to safeguard your well-being. Employers and insurers frequently utilize deceptive tactics to persuade offshore workers to settle their disputes fast. That is why you should consult with an experienced offshore injury lawyer who can advise you on your legal options under maritime law.
If you've been hurt on the East Coast, contact Montagna Maritime Law to discuss your options. Our attorneys provide personalized service to each client while also having vast experience in basic maritime law issues. As an injured offshore worker whose livelihood is dependent on your physical abilities, it's vital that you receive the maximum compensation and benefits available under maritime law for you, your family, and your health.
