Commercial divers work hard during each dive, often risking their lives just to get their jobs done. Whether you are a commercial diver, or if you are considering becoming a commercial diver, it’s very important that you be cognizant of your legal rights. While many employers do have your best interest in mind, there are many others for whom money is the most important factor. If you are ever involved in an accident, you, your family, and/or your designated heirs may need to call upon the services of a law firm that specializes in representing commercial divers and their surviving family members.
Common Areas of Litigation
When a commercial diver is injured or killed, either while working underwater or topside, personal injury suits and wrongful death suits are often filed. If you find yourself requiring legal representation, look for a lawyer or a law firm with expertise in injuries and death resulting from:
- Decompression sickness
- Vestibular pulmonary and non-pulmonary barotrauma
- Arterial gas embolism
- Machinery related accidents and incidents
It’s vital that anyone who is considering a lawsuit concerning injury or death work with a lawyer or law firm that has proven experience in handling similar cases in the past. This is especially important since there are many technical terms associated with underwater work, along with safety analysis, pre-operation planning, special equipment, and technologies that are quite limited for use. Finding a legal representative who understands this terminology will help make your case as successful as possible.
In addition, lawyers and law firms who are familiar with common practices espoused by commercial diving companies are better able to uncover the root cause of an accident that led to injury or wrongful death. This greatly increases the chances that you or surviving heirs will receive a satisfactory judgment, particularly as commercial diving firms typically retain legal counsel of their own.
As the number of commercial diving jobs increases, so does the number of lawyers and law firms with expertise in handling personal injury and wrongful death cases in which commercial divers are injured or lose their lives. Some of the most experienced legal representatives are willing to travel long distances, even to remote locales, in order to ensure that their clients receive the best possible representation. In the past, representatives have traveled to the Gulf of Mexico, Africa, the North Sea, and the Pacific Rim area, along with numerous other locations; no matter where the injury or death occurred, it is likely that you will be able to find a legal representative who is willing and able to handle your case.
Like all other workers, commercial divers have numerous rights. For instance, commercial divers have the right to a safe working environment; one in which risks are carefully weighed before work begins, and one in which all equipment is maintained in good working order. You’ve invested time, money, and effort into making your career a successful one. Protect your investment by retaining knowledgeable legal counsel if needed; your future, and that of your loved ones, may very well depend on it.