Few events are as devastating as an offshore helicopter accident. Whether a crash occurs during a routine transfer to a platform or in the middle of an emergency evacuation, the consequences for workers and their families can be life-altering. If you or someone you love has been injured or killed in an offshore helicopter accident, understanding your legal rights is one of the most important steps you can take, and time matters more than you may realize.
At Falcon Offshore Injury, we represent injured offshore workers and the families of those who have lost their lives in some of the most complex and high-stakes maritime cases in the Gulf Coast region.
Helicopters are the primary means of transporting workers to and from offshore platforms, and the conditions under which they operate leave very little margin for error. Flights take place over open water, often in poor visibility, high winds, and unpredictable weather. Emergency landing options are essentially nonexistent once a craft is over the Gulf or open ocean.
When something goes wrong, the consequences are severe. Common causes of offshore helicopter accidents include:
Many of these accidents are preventable, and when negligence is involved, injured workers and families have the right to pursue full accountability.
One of the defining features of offshore helicopter accident cases is that liability is rarely simple. Multiple parties may share responsibility depending on the circumstances of the crash, including:
Identifying every potentially liable party from the outset is critical, because missing a responsible party can mean leaving significant compensation on the table.
An experienced offshore accident attorney will conduct a thorough investigation to ensure that every avenue of liability is explored.
The legal framework governing offshore helicopter accidents is one of the most complex intersections of law that exists, combining maritime law, federal aviation regulations, and specific statutes that depend on where the accident occurred and the nature of the work being performed.
The Jones Act may apply if the injured worker qualifies as a seaman under maritime law, which can depend on the nature of their duties and their connection to a vessel. Jones Act claims allow injured seamen to pursue their employers for negligence and can provide compensation well beyond what standard benefits offer. Your attorney can help determine whether you qualify as a Jones Act seaman and what that means for your claim.
The Death on the High Seas Act (DOHSA) applies when a death occurs more than three nautical miles from shore in waters subject to U.S. jurisdiction. This federal statute governs wrongful death claims arising from offshore helicopter crashes that occur over open water and sets specific parameters for what damages a family can recover. Understanding how DOHSA applies to your situation is essential to building a complete claim.
General maritime law and the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act may also apply depending on the circumstances, as may Federal Aviation Administration regulations, which govern aircraft maintenance standards and pilot certification requirements. The intersection of these frameworks is precisely where having an attorney with knowledge in maritime aviation cases makes the greatest difference.
The compensation available after an offshore helicopter accident depends on the applicable legal framework, the severity of the injuries or the circumstances of the death, and the number of liable parties involved. Potential categories of recovery include:
In wrongful death cases governed by DOHSA, it is important to understand that the statute limits certain categories of non-economic damages, which makes it all the more important to identify every available legal theory and liable party to secure the total recovery available to surviving family members.
If you have been injured or have lost a family member in an offshore helicopter accident, the steps taken in the immediate aftermath can have a lasting impact on your ability to pursue a claim.
Evidence in helicopter crash cases, including flight data, maintenance records, and crew communications, can be lost, overwritten, or destroyed quickly. Early legal intervention is the most effective way to make sure critical evidence is preserved.
Offshore helicopter accident cases involve strict legal deadlines that vary depending on which laws apply and where the crash occurred. Missing a filing deadline can permanently bar an injured worker or a grieving family from recovering any compensation at all, regardless of how strong the underlying claim may be.
Beyond the deadlines, these cases are technically and legally complex. They require attorneys who understand both maritime law and aviation regulations, who know how to work with accident reconstruction experts and aviation safety specialists, and who have the resources to take on large operators, helicopter companies, and their insurers.
At Falcon Offshore Injury, our maritime wrongful death and offshore injury team is here to help you understand your rights and pursue every available source of compensation. We handle these cases on a contingency basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
Contact us today at (956) 232-3089 to schedule your free, confidential consultation. If an offshore helicopter accident has affected you or your family, do not wait to get the answers you need.
