Houma Crew Boat Accident Lawyer
Crew boat workers generally have very diverse duties from loading and unloading all types of cargo – including people. Performing these duties on a vessel often places them in dangerous situations – especially when weather conditions are rough. The risk of serious injury, and even death, is compounded when boats are unseaworthy or have simply not been maintained to regulatory standards.
Anyone who has been injured while on a crew boat should contact a Houma crew boat accident lawyer to review the accident and their injuries. A skilled maritime injury attorney can help them determine who might be responsible for their injuries and discuss how best to proceed forward. Contact our firm today to get started.
What are Common Causes of Crew Boat Injuries?
Crew boats are used for many reasons, including the transport of cargo and people to just about anywhere such as oil platforms, drilling rigs, diving ships, or simply to another location via waterways.
Whatever job a crew boat worker performs, simply performing it on a vessel which moves and may transport dangerous cargo can result in serious accidents, such as being:
- Injured by machinery
- Exposed to harmful substances or environments such as contact with electric currents
- Caught in winches
- Injured as a result of a vessel sinking, capsizing, or workers falling overboard
- Collisions with fixed structures or other vessels
The bottom line is that when accidents happen and crew boat workers are injured, they still need to provide for themselves and their families, and Houma crew boat accident attorney can help injured workers do so.
What Sources of Income are Available for Injured Boat Workers?
Like workers’ compensation for those who work on land, those who work in maritime and admiralty-related jobs, including crew boat workers, may be entitled to compensation for lost income and medical bills when they are injured. These sources of compensation include the Longshore & Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, the Jones Act, and the Unseaworthy Vessel Claim.
The Longshore & Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) provides disabled longshore and harbor workers with medical coverage, compensation, and vocational rehabilitation services. The Jones Act, also referred to as the Merchant Marine Act, provides certain sailors with compensation when their illness or injury occurred while performing their duties. Unseaworthy vessel claims (also known as vessel negligence claims) provide those who were injured while working on a boat or vessel with compensation if the vessel was not seaworthy or was dangerous.
A knowledgeable Houma crew boat accident attorney can review the situation and determine what types of compensation may be available – and from whom.
Trust Your Case With a Houma Crew Boat Accident Lawyer
Anyone who has been injured in Louisiana when working on a crew boat and needs help understanding whether they are entitled to compensation – and where that compensation might come from – should turn to an experienced Houma crew boat accident lawyer.
It is always important to keep in mind that there may be other avenues to receiving the compensation you need to provide for your family that are not readily apparent as the laws which govern maritime and admiralty accidents are complex and often seem to overlap.
This is where having an experienced Houma crew boat accident lawyer on your side can help the most. Find out more about what type of compensation you may be entitled to for your injuries by turning to a skilled attorney at Kopfler & Hermann. Contact our firm today to discover your legal options.