There are many advantages to living and working offshore, but offshore drilling will never be safe, and prevention is the only solution. Did you know offshore workers have a seven-fold higher risk of dying than workers in other industries? This is why they need an offshore accident attorney.
This article explains everything you need to know about Offshore accident attorneys. Furthermore, it explains why you should quickly contact a qualified attorney with experience handling similar cases if you suffered injuries in an accident on an offshore oil rig or another offshore building project.
What is an Offshore Accident Attorney?
An offshore accident attorney is a specific type of personal injury lawyer who assists victims of offshore damage in acquiring compensation or settlement. There is a good reason why offshore oil and gas occupations are attractive. Employees can take extended vacations and receive a high salary. The business employs hundreds of thousands of people working offshore on drilling rigs. Although companies dealing with oil and gas provide attractive perks, there is a huge drawback: it’s one of the riskiest jobs in the United States.
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In the oil and gas sector, offshore accidents are a common occurrence. An offshore accident leaves behind tremendous damage. Many things can go wrong, including defective machinery, human mistakes, and natural disasters. Workers may lose their jobs while recovering and likely have high medical costs.
Additionally, oil and gas firms occasionally assign blame to avoid having to make a just settlement. It can help to have an experienced offshore accident attorney on your side. They sue the companies responsible when people are hurt while working on a boat or an offshore oil rig. An offshore accident lawyer or attorney can offer legal guidance and representation about medical costs, missed pay, and pain and suffering.
Here is a list of common examples of accidents an experienced offshore accident attorney handles:
- Offshore oil platform-related accidents such as drilling rig accidents, On-deck accidents such as falling and being struck by an object, mechanical failures, fire and explosions, and equipment malfunctions
- Jack-up rig accident
- Tugboat and barge accidents
- Workboat accidents
- Helicopter accidents
How Much Is My Offshore Accident Case Worth?
What Does an Offshore Accident Settlement Look Like? With a lawyer speaking with you and investigating your case, it is easier to estimate the exact value of your case. Even yet, prior recoveries cannot forecast or assure future results.
Due to frequent severe injuries, offshore accident payouts are typically huge. However, because each offshore accident case involves a distinct collection of facts and legal considerations, there is no “typical” compensation. The following categories of damages will affect how much your settlement will be worth:
- Your salary before injury
- Your medical charges and additional costs
- Your projected future medical costs
- Whether you can return to work and when that will be
- Non-economic losses you have
- The severity of the injury
- Long-term health issues
- If surgery was necessary
- Whether you want to pursue Jones Act compensation or workers’ compensation, etc.
Conclusion
Working offshore will give you access to a good quality of life, you’ll pay less income tax, and you’ll have access to weekend outdoor activities that aren’t possible onshore. However, going to sea is not for the faint of heart; it entails risks absent from other workplaces.
In 2018, the family of an offshore worker killed in a working accident on an oil and gas production platform run by Talos ERT, LLC in the Gulf of Mexico received more than $27 million from a Louisiana jury. As with any decision you plan to take, there will always be downsides that you will also need to consider, and this is one of them.
If an offshore disaster has injured you or a loved one and you believe the employer is to blame, contact an experienced offshore accident attorney. They can advise you legally and assist you in determining whether your employer is accountable for your injury and the next step to take for compensation. Never attempt to handle offshore accidents on your own. Oil corporations may persuade you or your family to accept a settlement while underpaying you for your injuries.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is an offshore accident?
Offshore accidents often refer to mishaps aboard ships in open waters, resulting in significant or fatal injuries and property damage. These mishaps can have a variety of causes, including equipment failure, somebody falling on a slick surface, or even a massive explosion brought on by a fire.
What does an Offshore Accident Attorney do?
An offshore accident attorney is a specific type of personal injury lawyer who helps offshore harm victims receive compensation. They sue the oil companies responsible when people are hurt while working on a boat or an offshore oil rig.
What was the biggest offshore accident?
The most tragic oil rig accident in history was the Piper Alpha tragedy in the North Sea. On July 6, 1988, the sad incident claimed the lives of 167 people.
What are the offshore accident-related causes?
The most frequent incidents involving offshore oil rigs are transportation accidents—a view from above of an oil rig leaving a shipyard. The CDC reports that transportation-related incidents are the main reason for these workers’ injuries and fatalities.
Incident involving an explosion, fire, loss of well control, release of oil, gas, or other harmful chemicals that results in or has the potential to result in widespread environmental degradation, major personal injury, or damage to facilities.
How many offshore oil rigs are there in Australia?
There are currently 23 offshore platforms and installations in Bass Strait, including the brand-new Marlin B platform and the Kipper subsea wells that feed a 600-kilometer network of undersea pipes and maintain the flow of oil and gas 24 hours a day.
Do I need an Offshore Accident Lawyer near me?
After an offshore accident, you must hire a lawyer with considerable offshore case handling experience. The intricate and specialised field of maritime law requires a thorough grasp to successfully pursue compensation for your offshore injuries.
When Should I Contact an Offshore Accident Lawyer?
You should speak with an offshore accident attorney as soon as possible if you’ve been in an offshore accident. Ensure you get your legal counsel before speaking with any insurance companies or attorneys on behalf of the oil corporation. Most lawyers will provide a free consultation to review your case.
What is Houston Maritime Attorney?
Houston maritime injury lawyers can assist injured sailors or dock workers in obtaining the money required to recover from major injuries and pay for overseas medical expenses. This covers any mishaps in docks, harbours, or “navigable waters” (rivers and ocean).
How much is an Offshore Attorney’s Legal Salary?
The following base salaries for offshore accident attorneys at foreign law firms are approximations: PQE for three years: $150,000. PQE for four years costs $175,000. PQE for five years is $200,000.
How much does a maritime lawyer make in Nigeria?
According to PayScale, the wages of lawyers in Nigeria range from 300,000 naira (the most minor compensation) to 1,040,000 naira (the maximum salary) per month.
Which is the best offshore law firm?
With offices in Singapore and Hong Kong, Carey Olsen can guide clients in Asia on contentious and non-contentious trusts and private wealth issues. This honour comes after Carey Olsen was recently announced as the Offshore Law Firm of the Year at the Chambers Europe Awards 2023.
What is the largest offshore law firm in the world?
Maples and Calder is the largest offshore law company by number of solicitors. Riegels, Harney, Westwood, and other offices. At the same time, the fourth-largest global provider of offshore services is Mossack Fonseca. More than 300,000 companies have used it. There is a significant link to the United Kingdom (UK). Along with being registered in the UK, more than half of the companies are registered in tax havens run by the British government.
Why Do I Need an Offshore Injury Lawyer?
Injuries are prevalent when working on offshore platforms because of the risky working conditions and the required large, heavy gear. However, assigning responsibility might be challenging. The negligence of an employer, a contractor, a worker for another contractor, or even the makers of the defective equipment may be to blame for the injuries. But injured offshore workers who don’t have legal representation run the danger of doing themselves and their families a disservice by failing to act. This is why you need an offshore injury lawyer to show the steps they must follow to protect their rights.
How do I get a Houston oil rig accident lawyer?
Oil rigs can be a hazardous place to work where accidents might happen. For a free consultation with a knowledgeable Houston work injury attorney, contact Johnson Garcia Law immediately at 832-844-6700 or Waldman Legal at (346) 646-5973.
