The first paperwork and the first doctor
An accident report is usually put in front of you quickly, sometimes while you are still medicated or still aboard. Read what it actually says before signing, and do not agree to a description that does not match your memory or that leaves out a condition on deck. If you are sent to a physician the company arranged, you are generally free to be seen by a doctor of your own choosing as well, and it is reasonable to do that. Describe every symptom to whoever examines you, including the ones that seem minor beside the obvious injury, because what is left out of an early examination is hard to add convincingly later. Keep your own copy of anything you sign, and note the date you signed it.
Recorded statements, pay, and pressure
A request for a recorded statement often comes early, framed as a routine step in processing your file. You can say that you are not ready and would rather answer in writing or through counsel, and that is a normal response rather than an accusation. Continued pay while you are off work is a benefit and not a favor, and accepting it does not resolve anything - be careful with any document presented alongside it that asks you to release or waive something. If you are told that bringing in a lawyer will complicate matters or affect how you are seen at the company, treat that as information about the situation rather than as advice. Write down what was said to you and by whom, on the day it is said.
Choosing a firm for a vessel matter
Not every injury practice handles crew cases, so it is fair to ask directly how many vessel matters a firm has worked on and what kinds they were. Ask who will actually answer when you call, whether that is the attorney sitting across from you or a case manager you have not met, and how fast you can expect a reply while you are at sea or in another time zone. Ask how fees are calculated, which expenses are treated separately from fees, and what happens to those expenses if the matter ends without a recovery; a firm should explain that plainly and put it in writing. If you are more comfortable working in Korean, ask whether that holds for the whole matter or only for the first meeting. A Jones Act law firm that answers these questions without hedging is usually easier to deal with later, when the questions get harder.
