Terrebonne Parish Maritime Injury Lawyer
Maritime injuries affect hard-working Louisianans every day. Those who work on boats for a living – regardless of whether they are docked or at sea – likely understand that it just takes one slip, one fall, or one error in someone’s judgment to cause an accident which can result in serious injuries or death.
If you have suffered a maritime injury, contact a Terrebonne Parish maritime injury lawyer to review the details of the accident, determine who might be responsible for your injuries. You and your qualified personal injury attorney can discuss which course of action might be best for your situation.
Injured Maritime Workers Should Be Compensated
Louisiana’s maritime workers are employed by companies who provide services using a variety of ships and vessels, including:
- Cargo freighters
- Fishing vessels
- Jack-up boats
- Oil tankers
- Commercial diving boats
- Crew boats
- Derrick barges
- Anchor-handling tugboats
- Barges
- Tug and towboats
- Pipeline lay barges
- Service boats
- Dredges
- Drilling rigs, platforms, and semi-submersible platforms
- Supply boats
- Tenders
The equipment on many of these types of vessels can be dangerous – especially when used in rough seas, during bad weather, or when it breaks. Maritime injuries can include head injuries, back injuries, broken bones, lung injuries, burns, and more. In severe cases, crushing injuries can result in amputation or paralysis such as paraplegia and quadriplegia.
Maritime workers who are injured while working in a maritime or admiralty-based industry may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost income and wages, vocational rehabilitation training, and more under the Jones Act or the General Maritime Law. A skilled Terrebonne Parish maritime injury attorney can help individuals recover lost wages and compensation for their injuries.
What Is the Jones Act?
The Jones Act, also referred to as the Merchant Marine Act, provides certain sailors in Terrebonne Parish with compensation when their illness or injury occurred while performing their duties. These maritime workers, who are known as seamen, are assigned to a vessel or fleet of vessels and contribute to the mission of the vessel or fleet of vessels.
Ship owners have a duty to provide the safest environment possible to anyone who works aboard their vessels. When they breach that duty, they can be held accountable for their actions – or for failing to act reasonably.
There are also unseaworthy vessel claims. Unseaworthy vessel claims (also known as vessel negligence claims) provide certain sailors assigned to vessels or a fleet of vessels with compensation for injuries if the vessel was not seaworthy or was dangerous and it caused injury.
Maintenance and Cure Claim
Any Maritime Worker who is injured while in the service of the vessel and qualifies as a seaman (assigned to a vessel or fleet of vessels) is entitled to have all medical treatment for his injuries paid for by his employer. The injured maritime worker, if they so choose, are entitled to be treated by a physician of their choice and not the company doctor. This medical treatment is known as Cure and the injured seaman maritime worker should continue to receive treatment at the employer’s cost until they reach maximum medical improvement.
The employer is also required to provide maintenance, the rough equivalent of room and board, so long as the seaman maritime worker is not fit for duty. If the employer unfairly refuses to pay for medical treatment or begin payment of maintenance following notice, a Terrebonne Parish maritime injury attorney can force the employer to begin payment and seek damages for the unfair refusal. These damages can include attorney fees and in some cases punitive damages.
What is the Longshore & Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act?
The Longshore & Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) provides maritime workers in Terrebonne Parish who are not assigned to a vessel or fleet of vessels with medical coverage, compensation, and vocational rehabilitation services as against their employer when they suffer injury
For those who have suffered serious injuries and may no longer be able to work, it is possible to apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI, or SSD).
Despite the type of injury sustained, Louisiana’s maritime workers may be entitled to compensation to provide for themselves and their families. An experienced Terrebonne Parish maritime injury attorney can review the situation and determine what types of compensation and benefits may be available.
Consult with a Terrebonne Parish Maritime Injury Attorney Today
If you have suffered a maritime injury in Louisiana, speak with a Terrebonne Parish maritime injury lawyer today to discuss your injuries, review your medical records, and determine the full extent of your injuries.
It is important to have all the facts so that you can make an informed decision about what course of action makes the most sense for you and your family. Keep in mind that claims filed under the LHCA, Jones Act or the General Maritime Law may be denied when processes and procedures are not followed exactly.
This is where a maritime injury attorney can help you the most. Contact a lawyer today at Kopfler & Hermann to set up a no-cost, no-obligation appointment to discuss your maritime injury.