Our maritime lawyers have advised numerous injured offshore workers throughout their respective careers and do you know what they have learned? That collectively, injured offshore workers share the same primary concern, and surprisingly it has little to do with the injuries they sustained or how soon they will be able to return to work. Nope, their greatest fear is being blackballed by the very industry that employs them, the maritime industry.
Why would you pursue a maritime injury claim?
To address the concern of being blackballed or blacklisted, we need to first take a look at why you might need to pursue an injury claim. When you are hurt offshore, you could quickly find yourself in a situation where you have growing medical bills, little income and an uncertain future.
Some injuries turn out to be permanent, barring you from continuing your career as an offshore worker. The thing you need to understand about a maritime injury is that you may not know the full extent of damage or how it will impact your life. As a result, it may be critical to pursue an injury claim, as it may be the only way to be sure that you and your family are protected financially. A successful maritime accident case could entitle you to:
- Lost wages – both past and future
- Medical expenses – both past and future
- Disfigurement
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Other damages
Are you at risk of being blackballed within the maritime industry?
Even with the severity of their injuries, many offshore workers are hesitant to take action against their employers. If you fall into this group, it is important that you understand who truly is at risk of being blackballed and who is not. From the experience of our maritime attorneys, the workers who are sometimes shunned from the industry are those who:
- Have a history of filing frivolous lawsuits: These are workers who file baseless lawsuits wasting the time and money of all parties involved. It is not surprising that maritime employers are hesitant to hire them.
- Have filed 6 to 7 lawsuits during their careers: If you have been hurt offshore due to negligence or an unseaworthy vessel, you may have the right to obtain compensation. However, not every injury is grounds for legal action. Repeatedly filing numerous lawsuits over the course of your career could be grounds for blackballing.
Blackballing doesn’t happen to everyone.
If you feel that you have a legitimate offshore injury claim, you should talk with an experienced maritime lawyer. A maritime attorney will be able to review the details of your case and explain your best course of action.
