Offshore Accident Lawyer: Handling Offshore Injuries

Offshore injuries can occur in an untold number of ways. Some examples of offshore injury cases include;

Personnel Basket Transfer Accident

Scenario: An offshore worker is being transferred from an oil platform off the coast of Louisiana to a supply vessel using a personnel basket. During the transfer, the crane operator misjudges the swing of the basket due to rough seas and strong winds. The basket strikes the side of the vessel with significant force, causing the worker to be thrown against the basket’s railing. As a result, the worker suffers multiple injuries, including broken ribs, a concussion, and a shoulder dislocation. In this scenario, the injured worker would have a claim against the crane operator and any of the other entities that were involved in the transfer.

Electrocution on an Offshore Platform

Scenario: A worker on an offshore oil platform in Brazil suffers a fatal electrocution due to exposed electrical wiring near a work area. The company failed to properly repair the wiring after prior issues were reported. The Estate and family members of the worker would have a claim against the company for failing to fix or warn about the dangerous exposed electrical wires.

Falling from a Defective Ladder on an Oil Rig

Scenario: An offshore worker is using a ladder to climb down from an upper deck of an oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico. The ladder had been damaged and not replaced. The worker falls due to the defective ladder, suffering a broken arm and other injuries. The injured offshore worker would have a claim against the owner and operator of the oil platform for failing to fix the ladder when it knew it was defective.

How Much is an Offshore Injury Case Worth?

Offshore injury cases are generally worth a premium to onshore injury cases due to multiple factors including; (1) generally more severe injuries, (2) specialized maritime laws, and (3) the high wages and earning potential associated with offshore work. Generally, injured offshore workers can recover economic damages, such as medical bills, lost wages, and future medical expenses and also non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, disability, disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life. Additionally, some offshore workers can qualify for additional compensation such as Maintenance and Cure.

For example, Morrow & Sheppard offshore injury attorneys Daniel Sheppard and Hogan Leatherwood were able to obtain a $3.2 million dollar verdict in a Louisiana Offshore Injury Case. In that case, our client (a deckhand) was injured while working aboard the M/V Dustin Danos. He was smashed between a personnel basket and a conex box during a personnel basket transfer operation. The incident was witnessed by a fellow deckhand that testified that the captain put the vessel controls in forward motion and stepped away while the personnel basket operation was taking place. The witness further testified the captain had been using his phone while the operation was taking place. After the incident, our client approached the captain to discuss what happened and the captain claimed he did not see anything.

The exact value of an offshore injury case depends on several factors. In many instances, verdicts and settlements have reached amounts in the millions of dollars. Offshore injury cases often involve significant physical injuries or even death leading to higher compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If you have been involved in an offshore accident, it’s crucial to consult with experienced Offshore Injury Attorneys who can assess the potential value of your case and fight for the maximum compensation.

There are a large variety of potential deadlines that can apply to an offshore injury case. The deadline that will apply depends on the type of offshore work being performed and the location of where the injury occurred offshore. For example, the most common deadline for an injured seaman to bring a claim under the Jones Act is three years. However, not all offshore workers will qualify as a seaman under the Jones Act. For non-Jones Act workers that are injured offshore, the typical deadline will be the statute of limitations of the nearest adjoining state. Thus, if an offshore worker is injured off the coast of Louisiana, then their deadline would be one year compared to an offshore worker who is injured off the coast of Texas, who would get two years.

Due to the complexity of determining the deadlines involved in an offshore injury case, it is important that injured offshore workers consult an Offshore Injury Attorney who can determine the correct deadlines to file a claim.