I was injured on the job and my employer is giving me a hard time - What should I do?
Thanks. We get this question a lot.
Far too often, when someone is working offshore (either on a boat, dredge, drilling rig, supply boat, or in any job that requires them to work on or over water), they are exposed to unique and often dangerous conditions.
When an offshore worker is hurt, the employer has certain legal obligations to handle the situation appropriately.
However, far too often, the employer does not handle the situation appropriately.
Here are some tricks the employer (or its insurance company) may try if you are injured offshore and cannot work, and need medical treatment:
1. Try to get you to give a "recorded statement" either immediately after you are hurt, or while you are still in pain;
2. Tell you that if you don't give a recorded statement, you won't get any medical treatment;
3. Require you to go to company doctors for your medical care;
4. Refuse to pay your full wages while you are recovering;
5. Require you to come back to work before you are ready, and if you don't, claim that they have to "let you go" or "find someone else" for the job;
6. Try to blackball you with other employers in your industry;
7. Sue you for not coming back to work! (Yes, your employer can and may try this trick);
8. Tell you not to get your own lawyer, then offer you some totally unreasonable settlement.
All of this tricks are common. They are also inappropriate. You should not fall for them.
Unfortunately, if you are injured offshore, it is likely that the company (and its insurance company) will have an army of lawyers working behind the scenes to hurt your case or eliminate your legal rights. And you may not even know that these lawyers are working behind the scenes.
Before you do anything, arm yourself with information. Order a copy of our law firm's book, "The Truth About Offshore Injury Claims."
