Offshore oil rigs are the most dangerous places in the world to work

If you or a loved one has been involved in an offshore injury or fatality, contact us at once.

Oil-Rig Disasters / Offshore Injuries

Offshore oil rigs are the most dangerous places in the world to work. Offshore oil drilling in any environment is dangerous; the volatile nature of the ocean increases the danger factor exponentially.

Jones Act 

• The Jones Act states that any worker who spends at least 30% of his or her time on a vessel in navigable waters, including sailors, helicopter pilots, and supply personnel who rely on oil rigs for their livelihood, are entitled to take action against the owner, captain, or seafarer that causes the victim to suffer injuries and damages. 

• It is a form of workers' compensation law designed to protect the safety and livelihood of anyone injured while performing a job on the high seas. 

• Offshore platform workers also qualify as maritime employees.

Maritime / Admiralty Law 

• Maritime Law is a set of statutes that govern the rights and rules for ships, sailors, and workers injured at sea, who have very special protections and provisions which allow them to take action against those who injure them during the course of their jobs.

Commercial Fishing-Vessel Injuries and Accidents

Commercial fishing is one of the most dangerous occupations in the U.S.; many personal injuries occur in commercial fishing.

Death on the High Seas Act (DOHSA)

• Established in 1920, the Death on the High Seas Act was designed to protect widows of sailors who died in international waters. It allowed widows to collect future lost earnings their husbands would have earned had they not died.

• The act was revised in 2000 to provide compensation not only for economic losses but also for pain and suffering caused by the death of the seaman. It was further updated to include several types of airline disasters that can happen at sea.

Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA)

• Established in 1927, Congress passed the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act in order to protect dock workers who relied on ships for their livelihoods but were not sailors. 

• The act was amended in 1972 to stipulate what injuries and occupations required coverage. The changes dictated that longshoremen and harbor workers must have medical benefits, rehabilitation therapy, and compensation for lost wages should they suffer an injury or aggravate a preexisting condition.

Cruise Ship Injuries and Accidents

The cruise industry is one of the fastest-growing areas of the vacation market. Unfortunately, cruise ship injuries and accidents have also increased. 

Common shipboard accidents and injuries include:

• injuries caused by shipboard emergencies (fire, collisions, abandonment);
• assault by crew members or fellow passengers;
• injuries sustained while participating in planned activities, either aboard ship or during shore excursions;
• food-borne illnesses;
• slip-and-fall;
• sexual battery (rape) by crew members or fellow passengers.

If you or someone you know or love has been involved in an offshore injury or fatality, the professionals at the Law Office of R. Bruce Tharpe can help.

We Can Help

Contact us:

Law Office of R. Bruce Tharpe
801 E. Van Buren St.
Brownsville, TX 78520-7141
Call: 956-546-2400
Fax: 956-546-4362

E-mail:

rbtharpe@aol.com

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