Hurt on the job? Slip and falls are the most common cause of offshore injury. Learn more.

According to a study published in the October 2004 edition of the American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 43% of the total injuries to offshore workers are related to slips, trips, and falls. Slippery decks, uneven flooring, unstable surfaces, bad weather conditions, and heavy equipment contribute to this risk.

Slip and fall injuries may be minor or life threatening. The severity of the injuries depends on the height from which the victim falls and the surface that he fell on. The hips, legs, arms, back or head may be injured. Common slip and fall injuries include:

• Cuts

• Bruises

• Broken bones

• Spinal cord injury

• Traumatic brain injury

• Internal injuries

If you have been the victim of a slip and fall accident at sea, you may not feel your injuries immediately following the fall. Some injuries, especially brain injuries, may take several days to show symptoms. So, after a fall it is always a good idea to have a doctor check you out. This protects your health and your legal rights. You will need these medical records if you decide to file a Jones Act lawsuit against your employer.

Under the Jones Act, maritime workers have the right to file a Jones Act lawsuit against their employers if the injuries that they sustain while on-the-job can be shown to be due to the employer’s negligence. Working at sea in inherently dangerous, so employers must provide proper training and safety equipment and they must keep vessels in seaworthy condition. If an employer is aware of a dangerous working condition, or should be aware of it, and does nothing to protect the safety of employees, then an injured employee may file a Jones Act lawsuit.

If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident while working offshore, contact the Louisiana Jones Act lawyers at The Young Firm to learn more about your legal rights. Call us at 1-866-938-6113 to speak to a maritime attorney or to request a free copy of our book, Employee’s guide to Maritime Injury Law.

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