Maritime Lawyer Tips for Workers Injured Offshore

The following is a guest blog post by the Texas Maritime Lawyers of Schechter, McElwee, Shaffer & Harris, L.L.P. This worldwide Jones Act law firm has handled personal injury cases for over 45 years.

Maritime Lawyer Tips for Workers Injured Offshore

Generally speaking, crew members injured on ships or vessels don't know much about maritime law. This lack of knowledge may cause an injured offshore worker to engage in behavior that will hurt their claims. Jones Act seamen have to be careful what they say and who they say it to after they get hurt. They must be careful about what activities they engage in because chances are, someone is watching them.

Maritime Lawyer Tip #1: Report your accident as soon as possible, but avoid signing off on Accident Reports or Statements.

Incident Reports, Accident Reports, and Statements are all important parts of the evidence that can help prove your maritime claims. You should try to avoid signing any legally binding documents if you are in severe pain or on any sort of pain medication. If you are physically and mentally able to sign something, make sure everything on that form is correct before you sign it. Completing an accurate accident report is good for your maritime injury case because it creates the start of an ongoing body of documentation showing what happened to you. However, please know that you are not legally required to sign anything. Your company may tell you that in order to get medical treatment you have to sign something; that is not true.

Maritime Lawyer Tip #2: Do not give a recorded statement until you have spoken with not just any lawyer, but a maritime lawyer.

Insurance adjusters and safety men try to get injured seamen to give recorded statements or written statements after they are hurt for many reasons. A big reason is so you can't later change your story. You also may not know the extent of your medical problems at the time of your statement. Waiting to see how you feel in a few days is probably a better idea. Just like with the signing of forms mentioned above, you are not required to give a recorded statement by law. These people are acting in your employer's interest, not on your behalf, no matter how nice they are. They are trying to trick you. However, if you do decide to give a statement, don't lie and don't admit any fault.

Maritime Lawyer Tip #3: Get a second opinion from a doctor you choose. Don't just rely on what the company doctor says about your injuries.

While your employer may want you to see the doctor of their choosing, you also have the right to see your own medical provider. Working offshore involves hard, physical labor and you need to take the steps necessary to preserve your body so you can continue to work and support yourself and others.

For more answers to these and your other Jones Act and maritime law questions, contact the offshore injury lawyers of Schechter, McElwee, Shaffer & Harris, L.L.P. at info@smslegal.com or visit them on Facebook.