If you have been injured in a workplace accident whilst working on an oil rig, hiring an oil rig work accident lawyer might be beneficial. This guide will look at the benefits of seeking legal representation to help you seek compensation for your injuries.
Oil rig work accident lawyer
You might be wondering, “In what instances can I claim for injury at work?”. If the incident was caused by employer negligence and you were injured as a result, you could make an accident at work claim. We will explore what constitutes negligence in more detail throughout this guide.
You might also have questions, such as:
- After my accident at work, how much compensation may I get?
- How do I make a work injury claim?
We have aimed to answer these questions throughout our guide. In addition, we will explore the steps you could take following an accident at work, such as the evidence you can gather to support your case.
Please continue reading for more information. Alternatively, if you would rather speak to an advisor from our team, you can do so by:
- Calling 0800 073 8805
- Using our live chat feature
- Start your claim online.
Choose A Section
- When Can You Use An Oil Rig Work Accident Lawyer To Claim? – A Guide
- When Are You Eligible To Claim For A Work Injury Claim?
- Potential Evidence In An Oil Rig Work Accident
- What Accident At Work Compensation Could You Receive?
- Why Use A No Win No Fee Oil Rig Work Accident Lawyer To Help You Claim?
- Learn More About Making A Claim For An Accident At Work
When Can You Use An Oil Rig Work Accident Lawyer To Claim? – A Guide
There are many oil rigs that are located offshore in the UK and, despite being offshore, employers must still adhere to health and safety regulations to ensure that your job can still be done without risk of injury.
Often workers will stay on sight when working on an oil rig, and these regulations still apply to employers when their employees are off duty.
However, not all injuries will lead to an injury at work claim. Some instances could see an employee responsible for their own injury or your employer might have done everything within reason to ensure your safety and you are still harmed.
As previously mentioned, you need to demonstrate that negligence occurred in order to seek compensation. Negligence involves someone owing you a duty of care, breaching the duty of care they owed you and causing you to sustain harm as a result. Your employer owes a duty of care to keep you safe at work. We have explored this in more detail in the section below.
Our advisors can provide you with a free consultation. If they deem you to have an eligible claim, they can connect you with an oil rig work accident lawyer.
When Are You Eligible To Claim For A Work Injury Claim?
The general duty of care that your employer owes you is put in place by the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
This central piece of legislation states that all employers must take reasonable steps to ensure that the workplace, environment, equipment and facilities are safe enough to be used without the risk of injury.
There are other pieces of legislation that set out an employers specific responsibilities with regards to offshore oil and gas industry. As per these pieces of legislation, an employer must:
- Co-operate with the owner of the installation as well as other employers and people to ensure the health and safety of those on board and those working in connection with it.
- Carry out an assessment of the risks that you are exposed to and put measures in place to control the risks.
- Provide free health and safety training during work time.
- Provide insurance that covers instances of you getting hurt or becoming ill at work.
If they fail to do so, you could experience harm in an accident. Examples of accidents that could occur, include:
- Slips, trips and falls causing a shoulder injury.
- Manual handling accidents causing a back injury.
- Explosions on board.
- Exposure to hazardous chemicals.
- Injuries sustained from faulty equipment.
If you have been injured in an accident at work similar to this, you may wish to hire an oil rig work accident lawyer. Get in contact foir more information.
List Of Oil Rigs In The UK
Here are some examples of the various oil rigs in the UK:
- Buzzard
- Douglas
- Elgin
- Forties
- Captain
- Ninian
Potential Evidence In An Oil Rig Work Accident
As previously stated, you must be able to prove that employer negligence has led to you being injured. Gathering evidence is a helpful way to do this.
However, before you think about evidence to support your claim, you should always seek medical attention. This will allow you to receive treatment for your injuries and generate medical records that can support your claim.
After seeking medical attention, you can:
- Fill out the accident at work book
- Gather witness contact details for statements to be taken at a later date
- Acquire CCTV footage of the incident and/ or the scene where it happened
- Take pictures of your injuries and the scene of the accident
Lastly, it could be useful to seek legal advice. Our team of advisors are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and could connect you with an oil rig work accident lawyer if you are eligible to claim.
What Accident At Work Compensation Could You Receive?
In the event of a successful claim, the compensation you receive may comprise two heads of claim.
Firstly, you could receive general damages. This head of claim accounts for any physical or mental pain and suffering you endure due to your injuries.
We have drafted a table using compensation amounts taken from the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). The JCG is often used by legal professionals, such as an oil rig work accident lawyer, to help them when valuing the general damages portion of your claim. However, these figures should only be used as guidance.
This is because each personal injury claim is unique, and the payout you may receive could be different.
| Injury | Compensation Bracket | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Arm Amputations | £240,790 to £300,000 | (a) The amputation of both arms which reduces the injured party to a state of considerable helplessness. |
| Brain Damage | £219,070 to £282,010 | (b) Moderately Severe; The injury will cause very severe disabilities that leave the injured party substantially dependant on others. |
| Hand Injuries | £140,660 to £201,490 | (a) Total or effective loss of both hands. |
| Back Injuries | £91,090 to £160,980 | (a) Severe (i): The most serious back injuries that include damage to the spinal cord and nerve roots. |
| Leg Injuries | £54,830 to £87,890 | (b) Severe (ii) Very serious injuries that cause permanent issues with mobility. |
| Leg Injuries | £17,960 to £27,760 | (c) Less Serious (i): A reasonable recovery from fractures but the recovery is incomplete. |
| Wrist Injuries | £47,620 to £59,860 | (a) An injury that leads to a total loss of function. |
| Neck Injuries | £45,470 to £55,990 | (a) Severe (iii): Neck injuries, for example, a fracture or dislocation or severe damage to soft tissues. |
| Knee Injuries | £26,190 to £43,460 | (a) Severe (iii): Injuries that cause a less severe disability. |
| Foot Injuries | £24,990 to £39,200 | (e) Serious: Injuries causing ongoing pain from traumatic arthritis or the risk of arthritis developing in the future as well as other issues. |
Special Damages In An Accident At Work Claim
You might also be awarded special damages if you encounter financial losses due to your injuries.
For instance, you might have to pay for medical care, the cost of which could be reimbursed under special damages. Additional costs you could claim back might include:
- Travel expenses
- Care costs
- Home adaptations
- Loss of earnings
In order to be reimbursed for any financial losses, you should keep a record of them through receipts, bank statements, or invoices.
To learn more about the compensation you could be awarded following a successful workplace accident claim, get in touch on the number above.
Why Use A No Win No Fee Oil Rig Work Accident Lawyer To Help You Claim?
An oil rig work accident lawyer might cover you on a No Win No Fee basis. They generally operate under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA) which means that there are no fees to be paid for their services upfront or whilst your case is ongoing.
There are other financial benefits, such as not having to pay for their services if your accident at work case is unsuccessful.
However, if your case is successful, you will have to pay your lawyer a percentage from your compensation. This is legally capped and known as a success fee.
If you would like to see whether you can be represented by one of the workplace injury solicitors on a No Win No Fee basis, please contact a member of our team.
Contact Us For Free To See If You Can Claim For An Accident At The Workplace
One of our solicitors may use their years of experience to cover all bases of your claim. To learn more about the services they can offer, get in touch with an advisor. They can also discuss your potential claim.
To get in touch:
- Call 0800 073 8805
- Speak with an advisor via the live chat
- Start your claim online
Learn More About Making A Claim For An Accident At Work
We have included some of our own guides that might be useful if you want to claim for an accident at work:
- What is the injury at work claim time limit?
- Making a claim for vibration white finger
- Is there an average payout for back injury at work claims?
Additionally, we have provided you with some further reading relative to an accident at the workplace:
- Health and Safety Executive – Worker Responsibilities
- NHS – First Aid
- GOV – Statutory Sick Pay
Thank you for reading this guide on how to hire an oil rig work accident lawyer. If you have any additional questions, please get in touch using the details provided above.
Writer Beck Pill
Editor Meg Matthews