Document and record your accident – but don’t go overboard: Somehow you need to document that you were injured on the job.You need to be sure that you are reporting your accident in compliance with your company’s policies and procedures.You can do this immediately after you accident while you are still at work, or you can do it at the hospital after you are treated for your injuries.Please note: documenting and recording your accident does NOT include giving a recorded or written statement to your company or their insurance representative!You want to follow procedure, but you don’t want to give your company ammunition to use against you later.
Get medical treatment for your injuries: If you don’t seek medical treatment for your injuries, your employer may argue that you obviously weren’t really hurt.Make sure you pick your own doctor – one you know and trust – to care for you.You do NOT have to be treated by a doctor selected by or recommended by your company or their insurance representative.In fact, it is a bad idea to go to the company doctor (don’t forget which side they’re on!)Once you’ve seen your doctor, follow their instructions on caring for your injury.You don’t want your company to later claim that you made your injury worse by not following doctor’s orders.
Get witness contact information immediately:Before the witnesses to your accident have a chance to disappear or change their story, get their contact information.If you wait too long, you may find that they aren’t so willing to talk after your employer has a little talk with them.
Don’t go back to work until you are ready:If you return to work before you’ve had a chance to heal fully, you risk re-injuring yourself or perhaps even hurting somebody else.This could be bad for your case, for several reasons.First, your employer could claim that you clearly weren’t injured in the first place because you came back to work.Second, if you make your original injury worse or hurt somebody else they could point the finger right back at you.Protect yourself and stay off the job until you are completely healed.
Don’t settle your case:If you’ve been injured, you probably just want the whole sorry situation to go away so you can get back to your ‘regular’ life.Your employer and their insurance company know that you probably aren’t in the mood for a protracted battle about compensation.Don’t give in and settle quickly with your company – you could be losing out on the compensation that you really deserve.Protect yourself by speaking to an experienced maritime law attorney before you sign or agree to anything in writing!
Don’t leave your case up to fate or your company and their insurance reps.Get the experienced, hard working maritime law and Jones Act attorneys at Vujasinovic & Beckcom on your side.With a proven track record and a determination to see justice served for our clients, we will help you get back on your feet after an offshore accident.
