I’m hospitalized while I recover from a maritime work injury. My employer assured me that everything will be taken care of. Should I still call a lawyer?

Yes, you should contact an attorney immediately. Maritime workers want to believe their employers will take good care of them if they’re injured on the job, but often, this isn’t the case.

Employers and their insurance companies are generally most concerned with protecting themselves, and they will do whatever is necessary to reduce or deny your claim.

There’s no downside to contacting a lawyer today, but procrastinating may cost you.

Don’t Hesitate to Contact an Attorney

Injured workers should take action right away to protect their rights and preserve their claims by consulting an attorney. Otherwise, they may unwittingly say or do things that cause substantial and long-lasting damage to their cases.

It’s critically important to hire an attorney with maritime law experience. This is a specialized area, and incidents that occur on or around water require the expertise of a lawyer skilled in maritime law. If you’ve been injured due to a maritime accident, don’t:

• Hesitate to seek medical attention.
• Make any recorded statements.
• Allow your employer to pressure you into returning to work too soon.
• Agree to a settlement before consulting an attorney.
• Sign paperwork without an attorney’s approval.
• Wait too long to pursue your maritime accident claim.

Pursue the Compensation You Deserve

Maritime workers are sometimes hesitant to file legitimate injury claims out of fear of being blacklisted. The idea behind a blacklist is someone may be barred from continuing to work in the maritime industry due to an injury claim filed against a former employer.

However, blacklisting is an illegal practice. Employers cannot retaliate against an employee for filing an injury claim, so you should pursue the compensation you deserve without fear. A skilled maritime accident attorney can review the facts of your case and help you take the right steps to achieve the best possible outcome. To learn more about what the law offices of Steve M. Lee, P.C., can do for you, visit us on Facebook.