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I hired Brian after I was hurt on an offshore oil platform. I would recommend Brian and his law firm to anyone who needed a good injury lawyer, and especially any offshore worker. . ..

Jackie R

Houston, Texas
Brian and his staff are courteous and professional, and they work diligently to make sure the client transitions through the process as easily and comfortably as possible.

Your sincere and satisfied client,

Steve T.

Houston, Texas
I was hurt on a boat offshore. Brian and
his law firm worked hard on my case. The settlement he got for me will
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looking for someone to take your interests at heart Brian and his law
firm can give you the attention your case deserves.

Tim M.

Austin,
Texas
There are only a small number of attorneys who could handle such a complex case as mine, and Brian was at the top of the list. His response time is unsurpassed, replying within minutes to my initial enquiry. He has an instinctive understanding of the legal issues, and consummate people skills, an essential attribute in the negotiation phase of any litigation. Thanks to Brian the case was settled favorably within a year.

Steven S.,

Wales, U.K.
Brian, your book was a real eye-opener. If I had read your book sooner, I would have avoided a lot of costly mistakes.

Captain Jim Vickers
I was hurt on an offshore oil rig. I was unable to work or get proper medical care from the company. I was referred to Brian by another law firm because that firm knew Brian specialized in Jones Act cases. Brian settled my case in less than 12 months. The settlement will enable me to take care of my family financially for a long time. I would highly recommend Brian and his firm to any injured worker.

Freddy N.,

Lufkin, Texas

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Disclaimer

We designed this website to provide information to consumers, injured people, and their families. Our goal is to level the playing field between consumers and insurance companies and expose the tricks, traps, and techniques they use to cheat injured people out of their legal rights. We also let consumers know about legal news, including verdicts and settlements and other interesting legal information.

But please understand that nothing on this website is meant to provide legal information about your specific case, create an attorney-client relationship, or imply that the results of your legal case will be the same as some other case.

Vujasinovic & Beckcom Blog

Jones Act

11/17/2008
Brian Beckcom
Comments (0)

Can I negotiate an offshore injury case myself without hiring an attorney?

The first suggestion would be not to negotiate the case yourself if it involves a serious injury, significant time away from work, or otherwise involves more than just a minor injury or a few days away from work.

Why? Because you will be entering a war zone. The company will have experienced insurance adjusters, insurance investigators, and lawyers working "behind the scenes" to try to make your case worth as little money as possible. They know the "tricks" that can hurt your case and they will use them on you with a smile on their face so you won't even see it coming until it's too late.

The insurance adjusters, investigators, and lawyers for the company make their living negotiating cases like yours. This will not be their first time to negotiate a case or the last.

If your case is serious, you should strongly consider consulting with a Jones Act or maritime law attorney. At the very least, you should try to talk to such an attorney (or, better yet, talk to a few of them) before deciding whether to try to negotiate your case yourself. Most of the time, such attorneys will give you a free initial consultation.

If your case is a smaller one, involving minor injuries or just a few days away from work, then negotiating yourself may be more efficient and effective. Here are some "tips" for negotiating these small cases yourself:

1. Get a copy of the accident report;
2. Gather together all of your medical records and bills;
3. Ask to take statements from all witnesses;
4. Type up a letter to the insurance company, include the accident report, medical records and bills, and witness statements. In the letter, set forth your opening "demand" (your first settlement number) by multiplying your medical bills and lost wages by some factor you think is fair;
5. Give the company a deadline by which to respond. If they do not respond by the deadline, you know they are not serious about your case.

Good luck.

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