All You Need To Know Before Hiring An Offshore Accident Lawyer

Workers in the maritime industry need an Offshore Accident Lawyer in the circumstance in which they are injured and need legal advice and backing.

Infoexpert24 brings you a list of workers that can be affected below:

offshore crew members on dredges, diving vessels, chemical ships, boats, tankers, cruise ships, semi-submersibles, drilling rigs, barges, cargo ships, towboats, tugboats, fishing vessels, offshore supply vessels.

So if you are looking to hire an Offshore Accident Lawyer, That’s great, but before then you need to know some things in advance.

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Below are the most important things you need to know before hiring an Offshore Accident Lawyer;

What Is the Jones Act?

The Merchant Marine Act of 1920, also known as the Jones Act is a federal law, which presides in maritime commerce, maintenance requirements for shipping operations and boats, and also the rights of crew members.

As per the act, negligence claims are to be risen if an injury results from the negligent behavior of coworkers or the employer. The ship owners can be held liable as well if the accident is caused by unsafe vessel conditions.

The act protects crew members in the circumstance in which they are injured. This act applies to offshore crew members on dredges, diving vessels, chemical ships, boats, tankers, cruise ships, semi-submersibles, drilling rigs, barges, cargo ships, towboats, tugboats, fishing vessels, offshore supply vessels. But also to inland river workers.

Due to the nature of this work, many injuries and accidents can have life-altering consequences. Injuries can be fatal too. So if you or someone you love has been killed or injured, it’s in your best interest to make use of the Jones Act.

All You Need To Know Before Hiring An Offshore Accident Lawyer

Offshore Accidents

The offshore environment is a dangerous one. Accidents happen, often. Here are some examples of the accidents that are all too common in the offshore industry:

Deck Accidents

These include slip and fall accidents that occur on unsecured leaders, slipper catwalks, and wet surfaces. Workers can easily lose their fingers and hands in cables, hoists, and winches. Swinging cables and falling objects are part of it too.

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Equipment Malfunction

Offshore environments are harsher than onshore ones. This means equipment malfunctions more often, which leads to a greater likelihood of injuries. One of the most common injuries is drowning, caused by employees being knocked into the water.

Explosions & Fires

A collision can cause tanks to rupture, creating a risk of explosion and fire. Poorly maintained pumps can spray oil into the exhaust, which will lead to uncontrollable fires.

Overuse

Overuse injuries occur from repetitive activities. Employees can suffer severe back injuries from carrying heavy objects regularly.

Here are some other examples of common maritime accidents:

Electrocution
Fractures
Burns
Blindness
Lost limbs
Hypothermia
Internal injuries
Concussions
Lacerations
Spinal cord trauma

All the above-mentioned injuries are covered by federal law. This means you can simply create a claim that will hold the parties “negligent” responsible, so if you successfully win your case, you will be compensated greatly. For that to happen, you need an experienced Offshore Accident Lawyer

Through the Jones Act, employees receive maintenance and cure from their employers. However, this support is very minimal. And even then, some employers will blatantly avoid supporting their injured employees.

In some cases, an employer might try to pay a maintenance rate much lower than that which is needed to cover living expenses. In other situations, the employer might delay purpose payments. If this happens, you must contact your firm as soon as possible.

Employers might also try to restrict cure payments. For instance, your employer might try to push you to get care from the enterprise’s doctor rather than sending you to somebody who has the expertise to treat your condition properly. They might also refuse to pay for more expensive testing to diagnose the condition.

You must get to select your health provider. If you are being bullied, we will make sure that you get the care you deserve to recover from your injuries.

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Here are some questions you can ask to determine if your Offshore Accident Lawyer is worth your time.

1 What Experience Do You have Handling Maritime & Jones Act Injury Claims?

2 Can the Offshore Accident Lawyer Handle My Case If I Live In Another State?

3 How Easy Is It to Reach the Offshore Accident Lawyer?

4 Does the Offshore Accident Lawyer Practice In the Courthouse Where the Case Will Be Held?

Offshore Accident

5 Do You Have Conflicts Of Interest?
For instance, if you need to sue a maritime company that they represent, there’s conflict. A conflict can also arise if the lawyer you are interviewing has already been hired by the co-defendant.

Not all conflicts disqualify their counsel, but you should still fully understand the conflict and its nature. This is important and should be understood before you decide to hire a lawyer or not.

6 What Will the Expenses & Fees Be?

You need to be ascertained how your lawyer will charge for their support. In some situations, they might charge a fixed amount. In other situations, they might charge an hourly rate.

7 Who Will Do the Work?

Your lawyer might work for a larger law firm with paralegals and junior associates. Ensure that you know who will be on your case and what capacity they will be filling.

Your lawyer can save money by outsourcing his tasks to other employees who charge lower rates. But your lawyer should be involved fully in the important decisions about your case or should be able to explain why his colleague is more important for that part of the case.

Now that you know how to vet out your Offshore Accident Lawyer, you are well on your way to finding the right attorney for you. As long as you ask the right questions, don’t get pressured into rash decisions, and do your research and you’re good to go.

Source: Partly culled from Iveylawfirm