An individual assessment
Discuss whether you can pursue oil rig and offshore accident claims
Offshore injuries can involve unusual jurisdiction, employment and transport arrangements. AJS first needs to establish where the event occurred, which entity employed you and whether it involved a fixed installation, vessel or transfer. Different legal routes may be relevant, so do not assume an ordinary onshore workplace process applies. Request an initial scope assessment with the contractual documents and incident details before committing to representation or relying on a deadline stated elsewhere.
See the wider workplace accident claims serviceEstablish location and employment arrangements before procedure
What needs to be established
An offshore enquiry should state the installation or vessel, geographical location, employer and contracting arrangements. A UK home address does not establish which law governs an accident overseas or offshore. Travel to an installation may involve a different route from an injury while working there. Supply the employment agreement and journey details so jurisdiction, responsible parties and potential deadlines can be checked promptly.
How this affects your enquiry
Describe the operational task: lifting, drilling support, maintenance, access, transfer or another activity. Identify relevant permits, isolation arrangements, shift handovers and the equipment involved without circulating confidential operating documents publicly. An incident investigation may address operational safety, but it does not necessarily determine compensation, employment rights or every party's legal responsibility.
Preserve the rotation and medical-transfer chronology
What needs to be established
Keep rotation dates, the incident reference, witness details and records of medical evacuation or treatment. Colleagues may be dispersed between shifts or employers, so a clear list of who observed each part of the event can be important. Preserve communications arranging medical transfer and any restrictions on returning to offshore duties. Do not assume a fit-to-travel decision is equivalent to a complete injury prognosis.
How this affects your enquiry
Offshore earnings may include allowances and rotation-dependent payments. Provide a representative record and identify which payments continued, stopped or depended on work actually performed. AJS needs to assess whether it can accept the matter, including any cross-border aspects. Initial contact should flag the location and urgency rather than assume ordinary domestic accident procedures and limitation rules necessarily apply.
Prepare for your oil rig and offshore accident claims discussion
Give a focused account of your circumstances
Identify the installation or vessel, operating area, employer and contracting company. Record whether you were travelling, transferring or carrying out work when injured. Preserve roster, offshore incident reference, medevac and treatment records, along with the relevant employment and insurance documents. Explain any overseas proceedings or representative already involved and the practical effect on rotational earnings.
Agree scope, costs and the next action
Discuss scope and funding before instruction. Read our costs information and ask which terms would apply to your case.
Oil rig and offshore accident claims: questions before instructing
Does an offshore accident always follow English injury law?
No. The location, work arrangements and legal basis require assessment. Tell the adviser where the installation or vessel was and provide the relevant contract. Avoid relying on a domestic deadline simply because your employer has a UK office.
Can an injury during transfer to a rig involve different rules?
Yes. Travel by sea or air may require a separate analysis from an accident on the installation. Preserve tickets, operator details and the exact incident location. Raise the transport element immediately so a potentially different deadline is not overlooked.
Why does the installation's location matter?
The operating area and legal connections can affect jurisdiction, applicable law and available remedies.
Is a vessel injury treated like an oil-platform injury?
Not necessarily. Vessel operations and fixed installations may engage different legal rules.
What if I was injured during a helicopter transfer?
Provide the carrier, route, booking and incident details because aviation-specific requirements may be relevant.
Can a contractor working offshore request advice?
Yes. Supply the contracting chain and employment documents so the firm's scope and possible routes can be checked.
Should I assume a three-year deadline applies?
No. Offshore, maritime, aviation or overseas circumstances require an individual deadline check.
Are medevac records useful for a claim?
They may document timing, observations and transport to treatment, alongside the wider medical record.
How should rotational earnings be explained?
Provide rosters, allowances and a representative pay history, identifying rotations actually lost and costs saved.
What if the employer's registered office is overseas?
Give the company identity and contract; the location of an office alone does not determine where proceedings belong.
Can a transfer between vessels be investigated?
Describe the vessels, equipment, weather and instructions, keeping separate observations from technical assumptions.
Does offshore safety training defeat an injury enquiry?
Training is relevant, but the specific activity, controls and incident still require assessment.
What if I signed a jurisdiction clause?
Provide the complete agreement; its effect must be assessed within the relevant legal framework.
Can a foreign compensation payment affect another claim?
Potentially. Disclose the scheme, payment and release documents before pursuing overlapping remedies.
Should I obtain confidential installation logs myself?
Do not access restricted material. Identify potentially relevant logs for consideration through proper channels.
What if a lifting operation caused the injury?
Record the load, equipment, operators and exclusion arrangements, with available incident references.
Are accommodation injuries offshore different from work injuries?
The activity and control still matter; describe whether the event occurred during duties, rest or transit.
Can family members contact AJS while I remain offshore?
They can make an initial enquiry, but authority and confidential communication arrangements must be confirmed.
What if a maritime lawyer is already instructed?
Disclose the existing retainer and jurisdiction before seeking a second instruction.
What can AJS confirm before accepting offshore work?
Whether the firm can assist, what jurisdictional advice is needed and the proposed scope and funding.
Sources and further reading
England and Wales claim enquiries. Ask about jurisdiction for other locations. See our terms and information about this website.
Related claim services
Speak to Alexander James Solicitors
Ask about your oil rig and offshore accident claims
Contact AJS with a short account of the incident and any approaching deadline.