1-800-MARITIME (1-800-627-4846)
As an offshore rig and platform worker, you are protected under the Jones Act and General Maritime Law. If you have been injured while working on an inland drilling barge, jack up rig or other drilling ship, you may be entitled to full compensation. The Willis Law Firm, located in Houston, TX, specializes in offshore rig injury cases and will help you with your case. The consultation is free and confidential. The Willis Law Firm is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Offshore Rig and Platform Worker Injuries

Offshore rig and platform work is dangerous and serious injuries can occur. The risk of injury for workers is high and can be even worse if the appropriate safety measures have not been put in place by the employer, vessel owner or third party.  If you have been injured while working on a semi-submersible, work boat, supply vessel, jack up rig, drill ship or drill barge, you may experience lost earnings and a long recovery.  The compensation your employer will give you most likely will not come close to what you deserve and what you could receive if you file a lawsuit.

Worker’s Rights
Drilling rigs used to search for oil and gas in swallow marshes, inland lakes, rivers and swamps are considered vessels under the Jones Act and General Maritime Law.  These laws exist to protect maritime workers and allow an injured party to bring a lawsuit against the employer, vessel owner or third party to receive full compensation for their injuries.   A successful Jones Act case can result in a large monetary sum being paid to the worker.  How many offshore rig workers have forfeited a substantial amount of money because they did not know they had a claim under maritime law?

Immediately contact a maritime attorney after an accident.  There are preliminary steps that need to be taken before the claim is made and there are deadlines as to when you can file a lawsuit.  The Willis Law Firm at 1-800-MARITIME represents offshore rig and platform workers and will work with you to determine if you have a valid case under the Jones Act and General Maritime Law.

As an injured maritime worker, you are entitled to file a Jones Act lawsuit if you feel that the accident was a result of negligence by the employer, co-workers, operators or officers.   The vessel owner can also be held liable if the vessel was unseaworthy or if unsafe working conditions existed that caused or contributed to the incident.  Defects in equipment, machinery or the vessel itself are grounds for a lawsuit.  The Jones Act provides the injured worker the opportunity to bring a claim against a third party, non-Jones Act employer and other negligent parties.  The Willis Law Firm will review the details of your case to establish if your accident occurred because of an unseaworthy vessel or negligence.

Compensation
If you or a family member has been injured while working on an offshore rig, drilling barge or other drilling vessel, you may be able to receive a hefty settlement for the injuries.  Generally, when seamen or maritime workers are injured, they will be given a small fixed amount of compensation, known as maintenance and cure, but the money stops coming as soon as the injury has reached the maximum improvement.  Your employer may treat you well right after the injury, which could persuade you from filing a claim.  In many instances, the damage done by the accident is permanent and the offshore rig worker is not able to return to work in the same capacity.  What happens then?  

The Jones Act gives injured workers the opportunity to recover lost wages, medical expenses and damages for disfigurement, pain and suffering and mental anguish.  To receive restitution under the Jones Act, you must be considered a seaman.  A seaman is defined as a crew member of a vessel or person who was assigned to a vessel or fleet of vessels. An offshore worker usually falls into this category, but an attorney who specializes in Jones Act cases, should be consulted to confirm seaman status.

Maritime law is complex and requires an experienced lawyer to interpret your rights.  The Willis Law Firm specializes in helping workers in the Gulf Coast along the Gulf of Mexico, East Coast, West Coast, inland rivers, including the Mississippi, Missouri, Kentucky and Ohio rivers, Great Lakes, Alaskan waters and the Intracoastal Waterway.  

David Willis has over 25 years of experience in admiralty law and has helped hundreds of offshore rig and platform workers.  The Willis Law will review your case and determine if you are eligible to file a Jones Act or General Maritime lawsuit. The consultation is free and confidential.  Call 1-800-MARITIME 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!  

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Willis Law Firm
1221 McKinney Street
Suite 3333
Houston, TX 77010

Toll Free: 1-800-MARITIME

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