Working in the maritime industry is one of the most dangerous and difficult occupations. Whether you work on the ocean, an inland waterway or dock or harbor, you run the risk of serious injuries each and every day that you are on the job. When are injured in a work accident you need to be sure that you take the right steps to protect your legal rights. Maritime laws and legal procedures can be complicated and confusing to sort through on your own. If you make a mistake and say or do something that you shouldn’t have, you could jeopardize your ability to recover the financial compensation you need to recover from your injuries.
If you have been injured in an accident, your company and its insurance carrier are most likely going to take immediate steps to try to limit their financial liability for your injuries. Even though your employer may tell you that things will be okay and the company will do everything it can to help you recover, you should not trust your employer to protect your interests.
When your employer, its insurance company or its lawyers contact you after an accident you need to be careful with what you say and do. One of the first things they are likely to do is to ask you to give recorded statement about your accident. When you are injured in an offshore accident or any other type of maritime incident, you should never give a recorded statement without talking with your lawyer first.
While your employer’s insurance company may tell you that making a statement will help support your claim and/or get you a settlement more quickly, you should not always believe this. These companies are hoping you will say something about the accident or your injuries that will prove damaging to your case. Insurance companies use these recorded statements frequently to try to reduce the amount of money they have to pay out when someone is injured.
Do Not Give Any Statements Until You Speak with Your Maritime Accident Lawyer
If your employer or its insurance company is insisting that you provide a recorded statement about your maritime accident, you need to talk with an attorney immediately. Oftentimes when a maritime accident occurs the employer’s insurance carrier will try to get the injured worker to give a recorded statement before the worker has a chance to speak with a maritime or Jones Act lawyer. It is important to know that you are under no obligation to give a recorded statement to your employer or its insurance company. No matter how much pressure your employer is putting on you, you have the right to refuse. You should consult with an experienced maritime injury lawyer who can explain what is happening and help you figure out how to best proceed with your case.
The Willis Law Firm has more than 40 years of experience helping injured seamen and other maritime workers deal with difficult employers and their insurance companies. We understand how the maritime industry operates and we work one on one with our clients to help them obtain a fair financial recovery for their injuries. When you are faced with a challenging situation we are here to help. Call us today at 1-800-468-4878 to schedule a free confidential consultation.
