Edinburg Offshore Accident Lawyer Protecting the Rights of Maritime Workers

Offshore work has long lived up to its reputation as being dangerous. Offshore workers often are forced to deal with fires, explosions, faulty equipment, and generally poor working conditions.

As a result, you must obtain strong legal representation immediately if you have been injured in an offshore accident. Many laws dictate how offshore accidents should be handled that are not always common knowledge, even for experienced personal injury attorneys.

For this reason, it is imperative that you hire a lawyer who has a working knowledge of maritime laws and how they may apply to your injury case. Our Edinburg personal injury law firm has extensive experience handling offshore accident cases and would be honored to assist you in your time of need.

Contact the Brasure Law Firm, PLLC of Edinburg, TX, to schedule a free initial consultation with a qualified legal team member who can thoroughly evaluate your case. Our law firm works on a contingency fee basis, meaning we only get paid if we win your case.

What Are the Different Laws That Apply to Offshore Accidents?

Several different maritime laws may apply to offshore accidents and other Texas personal injury statutes. Therefore, you must hire an attorney to determine which law applies to your situation. Some of the most well-used maritime laws that pertain to offshore accidents include:

• Jones Act: This legal act applies to employees who work on sea vessels and oil rigs, including those not attached to the ocean floor. This act provides financial compensation to the injured worker for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
• Longshoremen’s and Harbor Workers Act:  This legal Act is also called The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act and compensates individuals employed on navigable waters in the United States. The compensation this act provides workers provides both disability and death benefits for employees of any crew or vessel who are exploring or developing natural resources on the Outer Continental Shelf. The Longshoremen’s and Harbor Workers Act is ideal because it compensates maritime employees not covered under the Jones Act.
• Death of the High Seas Act: Assists the families of offshore workers who died more than three nautical miles outside territorial waters.

If you are still trying to determine what law may pertain to your case, contact our law offices, and ask to schedule a meeting so that we may answer your legal questions and assess your needs.

What Factors Contribute to Offshore Accidents?

Offshore employees face some of the most hazardous conditions in the United States workforce. The volatile nature of oil and gas elements greatly contributes to the dangerous conditions faced daily by offshore workers.

For this reason, offshore oil rigs and other sea vessels are prone to significant accidents occurring, such as:

• Explosions/fires that occur due to heavily combustible materials.
• Blowouts from an uncontrolled flow of oil and gas
• Spills can lead to slip and fall accidents.
• Exposure to dangerous toxins and chemicals.
• Hazardous heavy equipment, such as drills, hoists, and spinning chains.
• Faulty transportation, including boats that carry workers to and from shore, which are known to capsize.

All of these factors can lead to offshore workers experiencing severe or catastrophic injuries. Catastrophic injuries can leave the victim unable to work for the rest of their lives and require specialized nursing care. Catastrophic injuries include:

• Amputations
• Loss of organs
• Organ damage
• Spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)

Some other common injuries include developing cancer, leukemia, and severe burns from chemical exposure. Many workers also suffer lifting injuries or overexertion from heavy lifting. Finally, the offshore oil and gas industry is well known for the many deaths workers have suffered due to poor conditions.

If you have been injured or experienced the death of a loved one due to an offshore accident, contact Brasure Law Firm, PLLC, to obtain quality legal representation immediately.

Can I Collect Compensation After Being Involved in an Offshore Accident?

If you have been injured in an offshore accident, you must hire an attorney with a working knowledge of these specific types of injuries and the various laws meant to protect workers. Under Texas injury and maritime laws, injured workers can collect financial compensation through economic and non-economic damages. However, in some cases, employers and their insurance providers try to dispute or deny an injured worker’s claim. When this occurs, the injured party needs an attorney who is fearless in standing up for their rights.

Economic damages are awarded to accident victims to pay back the out-of-pocket expenses incurred due to their injuries. Some of the most common include:

• Past and future medical bills
• Lost wages
• Loss of earning potential

Non-economic damages are awarded to compensate victims for intangible losses they have suffered and are based on the circumstances of the case. Non-economic damages may include:

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional trauma
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Loss of companionship
• Permanent disfigurement and scarring

Why is it Necessary to Hire an Offshore Accident Lawyer?

You must hire an attorney to represent your interests if you or a family member has been injured in an offshore accident. Other personal injury attorneys in our area may claim to be able to handle offshore accident cases but lack the training and experience to obtain a favorable outcome for clients.

Brasure Law Firm, PLLC of Edinburg, TX, is passionate about helping injured offshore workers and their families obtain the justice and maximum compensation they deserve. Our legal team will not be intimidated by the attorneys who work for offshore oil and gas companies. Instead, we will fight to see that you recover a settlement that will give you the peace of mind you need to face the future.

Contact the Brasure Law Firm, PLLC, at 956-903-2873 to schedule a free no-obligation consultation to discuss your case. Remember, we collect no money unless we win your case.