Working offshore on a vessel or oil rig can be rewarding. The pay is often decent and many in Louisiana find being out at sea much more exciting than sitting in an office all day. Yet, since these workplaces are so different than the tradition work environment, employers need to take extra precautions to ensure that their employees are safe. When employers fail to do so, an accident can occur that leaves an individual seriously injured.
This is alleged to have happened recently when a man’s foot was crushed in a water-tight door aboard a seagoing vessel. According to the man’s lawsuit, the vessel owner violated maritime law by failing to provide a safe work environment, neglecting to remedy a dangerous condition aboard the vessel and allowing equipment aboard the vessel to fail. The victim claims that as a result of his foot being crushed, he suffered disability, pain and suffering and even embarrassment, amongst other damages.
Maritime workers who have been injured while working on a vessel may have a cause of action to attempt to recover their losses. However, filing a lawsuit is no easy matter. A victim must be able to prove that the vessel owner was in fact negligent and that the negligent caused the victim’s injuries. This requires knowledge of not only basic negligence law, but also maritime law.
Admiralty and maritime law is a very specific set of laws that is applicable only in certain circumstances. An individual who has suffered an offshore injury may want to consider speaking with an attorney who is experienced with maritime law to see how he or she should proceed.
Source: The Louisiana Record, “Maritime worker alleges vessel owner’s negligence caused injuries,” Maravillas Magtoto, Aug. 30 2016