Many offshore workers ask if they should meet alone with the company or the company's insurance representative to discuss settlement with the company, before the worker speaks with or hires an attorney. In almost all cases this is a horrible mistake. First, the company typically will never make a firm offer to you. Instead the company will repeatedly ask how much you would like to settle the claim for. No matter what figure you give to the company or the insurance representative, the company or insurance representative will offer significantly less. Sometimes the injured employee has no idea the value of his claim if he has not yet talked to a maritime lawyer. More importantly, very often injured maritime workers will try to settle their claims so that they can obtain money to receive further medical treatment. If there is any need whatsoever for further medical treatment it is critical that you do not settle your claim until all necessary medical treatment has been performed. Most company doctors will not perform expensive medical testing to fully discover any possible injury. You simply cannot settle your maritime claim until an independent, trustworthy doctor has performed after all such testing. It would be like trying to buy a car without test driving the car, or even seeing the car beforehand. You would simply be guessing at the value.

Frequently Asked Questions

 


Q: Should I try to settle my maritime case before I hire an attorney?

A: Many offshore workers ask if they should meet alone with the company or the company's insurance representative to discuss settlement with the company, before the worker speaks with or hires an attorney. In almost all cases this is a horrible mistake.

First, the company typically will never make a firm offer to you. Instead the company will repeatedly ask "how much" you would like to settle the claim for. No matter what figure you give to the company or the insurance representative, the company or insurance representative will offer significantly less. Sometimes the injured employee has no idea the value of his claim if he has not yet talked to a maritime lawyer.

More importantly, very often injured maritime workers will try to settle their claims so that they can obtain money to receive further medical treatment. If there is any need whatsoever for further medical treatment it is critical that you do not settle your claim until all necessary medical treatment has been performed. Most company doctors will not perform expensive medical testing to fully discover any possible injury. You simply cannot settle your maritime claim until an independent, trustworthy doctor has performed after all such testing. It would be like trying to buy a car without test driving the car, or even seeing the car beforehand. You would simply be guessing at the value.


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