People who work on oil rigs and platforms are subjected to a number of risks and injuries while working offshore. More often than not, though, offshore workers do not know what they should do after an accident has occurred. If you have questions or concerns about what should be done next, contact an offshore injury lawyer at Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A. We have handled many claims for offshore workers and will work hard to ensure your legal rights are preserved.
There are a number of steps that injured offshore workers should take following an accident. Although many workers may be shaken and scared at the time of the injury, it is important for them to be aware of these steps and follow them to the best of their ability.
1. Seek Medical Attention
Regardless of when or where you receive an injury, it is crucial to seek medical attention immediately following the incident. Your health and wellbeing are of utmost importance, but some people choose to self-medicate or simply disregard their injuries altogether. Our attorneys advise against this and urge accident victims to promptly seek attention from their own doctor or a local hospital emergency room as soon as possible.
2. Inform Your Employer About the Injury
Injured offshore workers should always advise their employers of their injuries as soon as possible. That means at the very least, the harmed individual should advise his or her immediate supervisor or superior directly. Depending on the nature of the injuries, fellow co-workers may take it upon themselves to inform the employer of the accident; however, accident victims should not rely on those workers to handle that for them. In fact, accident victims are encouraged to write down what happened and provide the employer with a copy of that report as soon as they are physically able to do so.
3. Compile Necessary Information
Unfortunately, some employers will do their best to avoid properly compensating an accident victim for his or her injuries. That is why it is crucial for injured offshore workers to maintain complete documentary evidence of everything that took place after the occurrence of the accident. The documents should include contact information for all witnesses to the incident, as well as photos of the accident area and all equipment that may have caused the injury.
4. Keep Quiet and Never Sign Anything
While it is true that offshore workers should report their injuries to their employers, they should never speak to others about the specifics of the incident. Simple comments made to a friend at work or other co-workers may be used against you at a later date, should it become necessary to sue your employer. Likewise, victims should never sign any documents presented to them by their employers or accept any settlement offers without first consulting with a lawyer or admit any level of fault.
5. Seek Legal Guidance
The laws protecting offshore workers are very specific and can be quite complex. Accordingly, injured workers should seek legal advice from lawyers who are knowledgeable in maritime and offshore injury law. Working with such attorneys will provide victims with the best opportunity of obtaining just compensation for their injuries.
Employers have specific rules and obligations under the law, and when they fail to follow those rules, they can be held legally responsible. If you have sustained an injury as an offshore worker, contact Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A. today for a free consultation.
