If you work on an oil rig, platform or other fixed structure offshore, recovering your losses after an on-the-job injury will probably involve filing a claim under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA). In this article, offshore accident lawyer David Willis explains what you need to know about your legal rights under the OCSLA.
Who is Eligible to File a Claim Under the OCSLA?
The OCSLA applies to offshore employees who work on rigs, platforms and other structures affixed to the outer continental shelf. It also applies to many offshore pipeline workers. In most areas around the United States, the outer continental shelf extends from about three to nine nautical miles from the coast to 200 nautical miles offshore.
What Types of Benefits are Available Under the OCSLA?
The benefits that are available under the OCSLA are similar to those that are available under state workers’ compensation laws. In most cases, injured workers who qualify for benefits under the OCSLA can recover:
- Medical Benefits – These benefits cover the cost of treating your injury.
- Disability Benefits – These benefits cover a portion of your lost wages if you are unable to work.
- Rehabilitation and Retraining Benefits – These benefits cover the cost of getting back to work if your injury prevents you from returning to your old job.
Under the OCSLA, death benefits are also available to surviving family members. If you have lost a loved one working on the continental shelf, you will want to hire an offshore accident lawyer to help you obtain OCSLA death benefits.
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim Under the OCSLA?
If you are eligible to receive benefits under the OCSLA, the amount of time you have to file your claim depends on the law of the “closest adjacent state” to where you were injured (or your loved one was killed). In order to protect your legal rights, you should speak with an offshore accident lawyer as soon as possible.
Do I Need to Hire an Offshore Accident Lawyer to Represent Me?
While you are not required to hire a lawyer to help you seek compensation under the OCSLA, it is in your best interests to do so. Filing a successful claim is not easy, and you will want to work with a lawyer to make sure you seek the full benefits you are entitled to recover.
How Much Can an Offshore Accident Lawyer Help Me Recover?
The answer to this question depends on your individual circumstances. There is no such thing as a “standard” OCSLA claim, and the amount you are entitled to recover is entirely dependent on the effects of your (or your loved one’s) offshore injury. To get the help you need to recover the compensation you deserve, contact the Willis Law Firm today.
Schedule a Free Consultation with Offshore Accident Lawyer David Willis
Are you entitled to benefits under the OCSLA? To find out, schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with offshore accident lawyer David Willis. Call 800-468-4878 or contact us online to speak with Mr. Willis in confidence as soon as possible.
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