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What Damages Can I Recover If I was Injured Offshore?

Many offshore workers that live in Texas are uncertain of their rights when it comes to an injury, and this means they can be taken advantage of quite easily by their employers if they are injured on the job.

An offshore oil rig.

As an offshore worker, you have a number of rights that are designed to protect you if you are injured. These laws apply to anyone working offshore, such as those working on an oil rig, a dredge, or a tanker..

If you have been involved in an accident while you were carrying out your role as an offshore worker, it is always a smart idea to consult with an offshore injury lawyer about your rights and options. There are a number of complicated laws, statutes, and acts that may apply, and some of these laws are over a century old. This means understanding their application can be difficult, even for an experienced attorney.

By seeking legal representation in your offshore injury case from a maritime attorney here at Abraham Watkins, you ensure that you have an experienced advocate working to protect your rights and ensure you receive fair and just treatment. We have worked with numerous maritime workers who have suffered offshore injuries, helping them pursue fair compensation.

Call us today at 713-222-7211 to schedule a free sit-down meeting, case evaluation, and consultation.

Damages You Can Claim Through Maritime Law

Under maritime law—one of the oldest bodies of law in the U.S.—injured workers have clear legal rights. A maritime injury lawyer can help you understand and protect those rights after an offshore accident.

Right to Legal Representation
You’re entitled to hire an offshore injury attorney. Even if your employer claims to handle things internally, having your own lawyer ensures your rights are fully protected.

Right to Choose Your Doctor
You can select your own medical provider. You are not required to use a company-approved or insurance-approved doctor.

Right to Maintenance and Cure
If you’re a seaman injured on the job, you have the right to receive maintenance (daily living expenses) and cure (medical care). These are no-fault benefits and do not require proof of employer negligence.

Right to Employer-Paid Medical Care
Your employer, the vessel owner, or its operator must cover your medical treatment. You should never bear those costs out of pocket.

Damages You Can Claim Through a Personal Injury Case

If your employer’s maintenance and cure payments don’t fully cover your damages—and their negligence caused the accident—you have the right to file a personal injury claim. This can allow you to seek:

Pain and Suffering
Compensation for the physical pain and emotional trauma you’ve experienced and may continue to endure.

Punitive Damages
Awarded by a judge in cases of gross negligence or malicious conduct. These damages are meant to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar behavior.

Maritime Laws and Acts

Maritime or Admiralty Law
Maritime laws are federal laws enforced mostly in federal courts. They provide unique protections for maritime workers injured on the job.

Doctrine of Unseaworthiness
Vessel owners have an absolute duty to provide a seaworthy ship. If any part of the vessel—including equipment or crew—is unsafe or unfit and causes injury, you may be entitled to compensation. This includes issues like understaffing or untrained crew.

The Jones Act
The Jones Act allows injured seamen to sue their employers for negligence and even request a jury trial under the “Savings to Suitors” clause. The burden of proof is lower than in typical personal injury cases—if your employer is even partly at fault, you may recover damages.

Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA)
This law covers longshoremen, dock workers, ship repairers, shipbreakers, and some land-based maritime workers. Unlike the Jones Act, negligence does not need to be proven to receive compensation.

Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA)
Extends LHWCA protections to workers on the Outer Continental Shelf, including those off the U.S. Pacific Coast and Gulf of Mexico. It provides compensation for injuries and wrongful death.

Maintenance and Cure
This legal principle requires employers to cover medical care and basic living expenses for maritime workers injured on the job—even if the injury isn’t work-related. These payments continue until the worker reaches maximum medical improvement.

Do I Need an Offshore Injury Lawyer in Texas?

Investigating offshore accidents is complex, and vessel owners often fight liability aggressively to avoid paying for worker injuries.

Many employers offer quick settlements—often far below what your claim is truly worth—especially when they know they’re at fault. If you accept without legal advice, you give up your right to seek additional compensation, even if your damages exceed the offer.

Without legal representation, it’s difficult to hold your employer accountable. A skilled maritime injury attorney can launch an independent investigation, uncover key evidence, and build a strategy tailored to your case—dramatically improving your chances of full compensation.

What Damages Can I Recover If I Was Injured Offshore

Offshore work is dangerous by nature—oil spills, faulty equipment, chemical exposure, fires, and untrained crews all increase the risk of serious injury. Injured workers may be entitled to compensation for maintenance and cure, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and even punitive damages, depending on the circumstances.

Contact Our Personal Injury Lawyers at Abraham Watkins for Help

At Abraham Watkins, our experienced maritime lawyers understand the complex federal laws that protect offshore workers. We’ve helped countless clients in Texas recover full compensation and are committed to guiding you with a compassionate, client-focused approach every step of the way.

Our attorneys excel at building a strong attorney-client relationship, a skill gained through our years of practice and have helped many maritime clients get favorable outcomes in their cases. We offer a free consultation with an offshore injury lawyer with no strings attached.

Call us today to schedule a free consultation at 713-222-7211.

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