Is There Relief for My Family?

When a Loved One is Killed on an Oil Rig

Yes. Under the Death on the High Seas Act, or DOSHA, the personal representative of a killed offshore worker may bring a civil action in admiralty against the person or vessel responsible if the death was caused by a wrongful act, neglect or default occurring on the high seas beyond three nautical miles from the shore of the United States. Compensation is for the exclusive benefit of the killed worker's spouse, parent, child or dependent relative, and it is strictly limited to monetary losses. Benefits may also be found under the Jones Act, which provides wrongful death benefits to the family of a seaman who dies due to his employer's negligence. As a seaman, you and your family would be covered under some time of maritime law, most likely either of these two.

This is, essentially, a wrongful death claim for families of seamen. The maritime work environment is a dangerous one, but thankfully there are provisions and laws in place for workers and families of workers in the event of an accident or death. Work on an oil platform is not only physically demanding, it comes with a large set of risks and hazards including flammable material, heavy equipment, and the risk of slip and fall injuries, just to name a few. Accidents can occur even if the proper safety regulations are being adhered to, but if your loved one was killed on an offshore oil rig due to the negligence of another, you are liable to file a claim under the Death on the High Seas Act. Many incidents that take place on an oil rig could have been prevented, but often safety is sacrificed for time and cost-effectiveness.