Swing Rope Transfer Injury Lawyers

While swing rope transfers are being used less frequently due to the inherent risks involved, many offshore workers are still being asked to put their safety at risk by boarding offshore rigs and vessels using swing rope transfers. At Morrow & Sheppard LLP, our maritime injury attorneys fight for workers and families who have suffered losses due to swing rope transfer accidents.

For workers who make their living offshore, getting to work often means traveling on a crew boat or supply ship to a vessel, rig or platform stationed in deep water. There are a number of different ways to transfer from one vessel to another, among which is the swing rope transfer.

In most cases, in order to use a swing rope transfer, the decks of the two vessels or rigs must be relatively equal in height, and sea and weather conditions must be calm. However, even under the best of circumstances, swing rope transfers still frequently result in accidents. When these accidents lead to serious or fatal injuries, it is critical for workers and their families to fight for the compensation that is available under the law.

If you were injured during a swing rope transfer, there are potentially several different ways that you can seek to recover financial compensation for your injury-related losses. At Morrow & Sheppard LLP, our attorneys frequently represent injured offshore workers in claims involving:

• Maintenance and Cure – Under the Jones Act, maritime employers are required to pay all injured employees benefits called, “maintenance and cure.” These are limited benefits designed to cover injured workers’ medical expenses and a portion of their daily living expenses while they recover.
• Jones Act Negligence – In addition to maintenance and cure benefits, the Jones Act also entitles injured seamen to seek full compensation from their employers when their swing rope transfer injuries result from their employers’ negligence.
• Unseaworthiness – In addition to filing a claim under the Jones Act, if you were injured in a swing rope transfer accident, you may also be able to file a claim against the owner of the vessel to or from which you were attempting to transfer. Slippery decks, unsafe swing ropes and other issues can all give rise to claims for unseaworthiness.
• OCSLA “No–Fault” Benefits – If you were injured while attempting to transfer to or from a stationary platform, you may have a claim for no-fault benefits under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA). The no-fault benefits available under the OCSLA are greater than the maintenance and cure benefits available under the Jones Act.
• Third–Party Negligence and Strict Liability – If a third party (a company other than your employer or a vessel owner) is to blame for your swing rope transfer injuries, you may be entitled to recover full compensation from that company as well. This includes full coverage for your medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other losses.

After an offshore accident, the key to maximizing your financial recovery is to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible. When you contact Morrow & Sheppard LLP about your swing rope accident, we will arrange for you to meet personally with one of our experienced maritime attorneys right away. Once we know what happened, we will pursue an aggressive case strategy designed to secure the largest possible financial recovery through a negotiated settlement or, if necessary, at trial.