What to Do If You’re Injured on a Maritime Helicopter Transfer
For offshore workers in the oil and gas industry, maritime construction, or energy exploration, helicopter transfers are a routine part of the job. These flights connect land to offshore platforms, vessels, and rigs — often in remote and unpredictable environments.
While most transfers go smoothly, accidents can and do happen. Hard landings, sudden weather changes, or equipment failures can lead to serious injuries during a flight or while boarding or exiting the helicopter.
If you’ve been injured during a maritime helicopter transfer, it’s important to take the right steps to protect your health and your legal rights.
Common Causes of Helicopter Transfer Injuries
Helicopter transfers are fast and efficient, but they also come with unique risks, especially in offshore environments where wind, weather, and equipment all play a role. Injuries can happen in the air, during takeoff or landing, or while transferring to or from a platform or vessel.
Here are some of the most common causes:
Hard Landings or Turbulence
Rough sea conditions or high winds can cause unstable landings. Even minor turbulence can jolt passengers, leading to back, neck, or head injuries.
Mechanical Failures
A malfunction in the helicopter’s systems — from engine trouble to rotor issues — can lead to crashes or hard landings, sometimes with catastrophic results.
Transfer Basket or Hoist Malfunctions
When workers are transferred via hoist or basket, faulty equipment or operator error can cause falls or crushing injuries.
Improper Safety Procedures
If pilots or ground crews skip briefings, fail to secure passengers properly, or ignore safety protocols, accidents become far more likely.
Weather-Related Hazards
Sudden storms, fog, or wind gusts can disrupt visibility and stability, making even routine flights dangerous.
Understanding how these accidents happen is key to proving negligence and determining who may be legally responsible.
What to Do Immediately After a Helicopter Transfer Injury
If you’re injured during a helicopter transfer, the actions you take immediately afterward can make a big difference — not just for your recovery, but also for any legal claim you may have.
1. Get Medical Attention
Always seek medical help, even if the injury seems minor. Some injuries, like concussions, internal trauma, or spinal issues, can take hours or days to fully show symptoms.
2. Report the Incident
Notify your supervisor or safety officer as soon as possible. Get the incident documented in writing, and request a copy of the report if possible.
3. Document What Happened
If you’re able, take notes or photos. Write down:
- What happened and when
- Weather and sea conditions
- The names of other passengers and crew
- Any equipment involved
4. Don’t Sign Anything Right Away
You may be asked to sign a statement or incident report. Don’t agree to anything, especially paperwork that limits your rights, without speaking to a maritime attorney first.
These steps help protect both your health and your ability to pursue fair compensation later on.
Who May Be Legally Responsible?
Helicopter transfer injuries often involve more than one party, and determining who’s responsible can be complex. Liability may rest with:
Your Employer
If they failed to follow safety procedures, ignored weather warnings, or used unqualified personnel, your employer may be at fault, especially if you’re covered under the Jones Act.
The Helicopter Operator
If a private aviation company owns and operates the helicopter, they may be responsible for pilot error, poor maintenance, or failure to follow FAA or international flight safety regulations.
The Vessel or Platform Owner
If the accident occurred during boarding, disembarking, or using a hoist to transfer to a rig or ship, the owner may be liable if equipment was faulty or if proper precautions weren’t taken.
Maintenance Contractors or Manufacturers
If the helicopter or transfer equipment failed due to poor repairs or defective parts, third-party contractors or manufacturers could also be held accountable.
Identifying the responsible party — or parties — is critical to building a strong injury claim. That’s where a maritime attorney’s investigation becomes essential.
What Laws Might Apply?
Injuries during a maritime helicopter transfer fall into a legal gray area where maritime law, aviation law, and even federal statutes can overlap. The laws that apply will depend on where the injury occurred, your employment status, and the cause of the accident.
The Jones Act
If you qualify as a “seaman”, you may be protected under the Jones Act. This law allows injured maritime workers to sue their employers for negligence.
General Maritime Law
Even if the Jones Act doesn’t apply, general maritime law may still provide a path to compensation through claims of unseaworthiness or negligence, especially if the vessel, platform, or transfer equipment was unsafe.
The Death on the High Seas Act (DOHSA)
If a helicopter crash or transfer accident results in a fatality beyond U.S. territorial waters, surviving family members may have a right to compensation under DOHSA.
Aviation Liability Laws
If the helicopter operator or pilot was at fault, aviation law may also come into play. In some cases, international aviation rules may apply.
How a Maritime Attorney Can Help
When you’re injured during a helicopter transfer, you’re not just dealing with recovery, you’re also facing complicated legal questions involving multiple parties, jurisdictions, and laws. A maritime attorney can help you make sense of it all and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Investigate the Cause of the Accident
An attorney will gather flight records, maintenance logs, safety reports, and witness statements to determine what went wrong and who’s legally responsible.
Identify All Liable Parties
Multiple companies may be involved, including your employer, the helicopter operator, and third-party contractors. Your attorney will work to hold the right parties accountable.
Fight for Maximum Compensation
This can include medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and future care needs. If negligence played a role, your attorney will help you pursue the full amount you’re entitled to.
Injured During a Helicopter Transfer? Know Your Rights
Helicopter transfers are a necessary part of offshore work, but when something goes wrong, the consequences can be serious. Whether your injury happened mid-flight, during a hoist transfer, or while boarding a rig or vessel, you may be entitled to compensation.
At Lewis, Kullman, Sterbcow & Abramson, LLC, we understand how complex these cases can be. We’ll help you identify who’s at fault, navigate the overlapping laws that apply, and fight for the compensation you need to recover.
If you’ve been injured during a maritime helicopter transfer, don’t wait. Contact us today for a free consultation and let our experienced maritime injury team go to work for you.