What to Do in Case of an Offshore Accident

Offshore Platform vs. Offshore Rig
Posted by: rzehl
July 31, 2008

Offshore injuries are an ever-present threat for all maritime workers. To make things more complicated, the location of an accident can often determine one's rights and available remedies under law. Offshore oil rigs are usually movable. As such, a maritime worker injured on a movable offshore oil rig may be entitled to recover as a seaman under the Jones Act. On the other hand, a maritime worker injured on an offshore oil platform would only be entitled to benefits as a longshoreman under the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA) because platforms are generally affixed to the bottom of the sea floor in a permanent fashion. There could even be a claim against a third party under General Maritime Law if that party contributed to the injury.

Offshore injury cases can pose a myriad of problems to those unaccustomed to dealing with them. It is absolutely essential that you hire the best to handle your maritime case. Contact the experienced Texas maritime injury attorneys at the Fitts Zehl Law Firm by phone at (800) 993-4887 or by email at info@gulfcoastmaritimelawyer.com.

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Exposure to Toxic Substances
Posted by: rzehl
July 24, 2008

Maritime employees face difficult working conditions everyday. Each time a worker boards a rig or vessel, he or she is undoubtedly aware of the risks involved. While at sea, it is important for offshore workers to take any and all necessary precautions to avoid accidents. However, being careful is rarely enough to avoid injuries resulting from exposure to toxic substances.

Many maritime workers are exposed to dangerous substances in the course of their offshore employment. Benzene, asbestos, cleaning solvents and other dangerous chemicals are often present on rigs, platforms and ships. Exposure to these contaminants can have a devastating effect on the human body. If you or someone you know was injured due to exposure to a toxic substance, it is imperative that you contact an experienced maritime attorney to properly handle your claim.

The experienced Texas maritime lawyers at the Fitts Zehl Law Firm know how to help injured maritime clients. Contact us by phone at (800) 993-4887 or by email at gulfcoastmaritimelawyer.com.

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The High Price of Being Injured
Posted by: rzehl
July 10, 2008

Serious injury and even death occur far too frequently on the nation's busy waterways and oceans. Unfortunately, many of those who are injured, or the families of those who have died, at sea are often inadequately compensated for their losses. As a result, they may have a difficult time making ends meet in the future.

Initially, following an injury, one's expenses are usually quite obvious. Lost wages, pain and suffering, costs of hospitalization and rehabilitation all tend to be recognized almost immediately. However, unless one has been in this unfortunate position before, certain additional, long-term costs may be ignored when calculating an individual's desired recovery amount.

These may include, but are not limited to:

In-Home Care

Lost Earning Capacity

Long-Term Rehabilitation

Future Physical Health Complications Associated With the Injury

Future Mental or Emotional Health Complications Associated With the Injury

Future Medication Costs

Counseling

Vocational Rehabilitation

The experienced maritime attorneys at the Fitts Zehl Law Firm have helped numerous clients recover the full amount of compensation to which they were entitled. If you or someone you know has been injured offshore, contact the maritime lawyers at Fitts Zehl, LLP by email at info@gulfcoastmaritimelawyer.com or by phone at (800) 993-4887.

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What Damages May I Recover Under the Jones Act?
Posted by: rzehl
June 24, 2008

There are many different kinds of damages available to an injured seaman under the Jones Act. However, it is important to keep in mind that these legal damages only exist in order to compensate a party for any injury or loss suffered. These damages do not exist to make anyone better off than they were before an accident.

Under the Jones Act, you may be eligible to recover:

Medical Expenses-The Jones Act allows recovery from one's employer for any necessary hospital treatment, surgery or medication following an offshore injury.

Pain and Suffering-The Jones Act allows an injured maritime employee to recover compensation for any pain and suffering resulting from an on-the-job injury.

Disfigurement-The Jones Act may allow compensation for any permanent physical disfigurement resulting from an injury. This includes compensation for any embarrassment felt due to scarring, missing limbs, loss of hearing or vision or any other unwelcome change in physical appearance or performance.

Mental Anguish-The Jones Act may provide compensation for any mental anguish resulting from the inability to enjoy the activities that you used to enjoy. This includes recreational activities like jogging, fishing, playing golf, etc.

Lost Wages-Under the Jones Act, once employer negligence is proven in causing the injury, an injured seaman may recover lost wages stemming from the time he was unable to work because of the injury.

Lost Earning Capacity-The Jones Act may provide compensation for any drop in an injured worker's ability to earn money. Essentially, a worker may recover the difference between pre-injury wages and subsequently lower post-injury wages.

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Common Offshore Injuries: Neck, Shoulders, Back and Knees
Posted by: rzehl
June 23, 2008

Offshore workers face serious, life-threatening conditions every day. Whether on a ship or an offshore oil rig, maritime workers are expected to perform hard manual labor under extremely demanding conditions. As a result, any negligence on the part of an employer, ship-owner, or fellow crew member can, and often does, lead to serious injuries and even death. The most common injuries tend to be neck, shoulder, back and knee problems. These orthopedic injuries are often the result of unreasonable demands made on a seaman by the supervisor. These demands can include:

•1. Ordering a seaman to lift something that is too heavy.

•2. Ordering a seaman to work overtime even when he is exhausted or ill.

•3. Ordering a seaman to continue working in inclement weather.

•4. Ordering a seaman to work with faulty equipment or under dangerous conditions.

•5. Ordering a seaman back to work before a prior injury has fully healed.

If you or someone you know was injured while working offshore, contact the experienced Houston maritime lawyers at Fitts Zehl, LLP by email at info@gulfcoastmaritimelawyer.com or by phone at (800) 993-4887.

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