Off-shore accidents involving crew members on maritime vessels can happen frequently. The work life of a seaman can be hard. The work is often physically demanding and comes with a slew of risks to personal safety. These brave seamen face these risks head on every day simply doing their jobs. Many of them live right here in Abbeville.
Seamen are entitled to seek legal help if they sustain maritime injuries in work accidents. Our Abbeville seaman injury lawyers can help you seek compensation, guiding you throughout the injury claim process.
Common Accidents Causing Injuries to Seamen
As a seaman, your bodily physical ability can be a major factor in your earning potential. Thus, even simple accidents can impact you for the rest of your life. In the maritime industry, injuries can range from minor to devastating, just like the accidents that cause them. Some of the reasons a seaman could be injured include:
- Explosions or electrical fires
- Slips and falls
- Equipment failures
- Engine room accidents
- Repetitive tasks or fatigue
- Negligent crew members
- Improperly trained crew members
- Unseaworthiness of the vessel
Laborde Earles injury was great for me they took care of me very fast and professional. If for any reason I need legal help they will be who I use.
ClientThe Jones Act and Your Rights as a Seaman
After an injury, it’s common to be wondering what your rights are. There is specific legislation that protects seamen, but there are special requirements to access it. The first step is to establish whether you legally qualify as a Jones Act seaman.
Under the Jones Act, a seaman is a maritime worker who spends at least 30 percent of his or her time on a navigating vessel and contribute to its overall mission. This means you could be a crewmember, oil rig worker, captain, cook, or onboard engineer and you could still qualify.
How the Jones Act Supports Seamen’s Injuries
Under the law, seamen who are injured or fall ill while working on their vessel are entitled to basic medical attention, food, and shelter. This is provided by maintenance and cure coverage. This is a small amount that covers basic necessities. Under the Jones Act, if someone else was at fault for your accident, you can sue for more.
The Jones Act allows a seaman who has been hurt on the job to sue his or her employer for negligence. To claim damages from the employer, the seaman needs to prove that the owner, captain, and/or crew of the vessel on which he or she worked were negligent and that their carelessness was a contributing factor in the seaman’s injury.
What does the Jones Act Involve When It Comes To Negligence?
The Jones Act requires a seaman’s employer to ensure the vessel on which the seaman works is kept in a reasonably safe condition. Under the Jones Act, an employer can be held liable for your injuries if:
- You work in dangerous or unsafe conditions
- The vessel equipment hasn’t been properly maintained
- The vessel has broken or malfunctioning equipment
- There’s oil or grease on the deck that can cause slips and physical injuries
- Seamen are inadequately trained for the job they’ve been asked to do
- They failed to supply crew members with the necessary tools to complete their tasks
I thank God for Digger & David. I don’t know what we would have done if it hadn’t have been for them.
Rick Smith | ClientWhat Kind of Damages Can I Pursue?
A wounded seaman is entitled to all of the standard categories of damages in a personal injury case, including
- Lost wages and earning capacity: You may have had to take time off of work to recover from your injuries. This damage could provide compensation for that income. Perhaps your injuries are so severe that you aren’t able to return to the same kind of work. This could compensate for that loss.
- Past and future medical expenditures: This could include emergency treatment, medical devices like prosthetics, physical therapy, or prescription medication.
- Pain and suffering: When your injuries cause you to live with ongoing or extreme pain, your lawyer could advocate for this damage.
- Mental anguish: Off-shore accidents can be traumatizing experiences. If your mental health has suffered as a result of your accident or injuries, you could be entitled to this damage.
The reassurance from Digger and his staff gave me that renewed hope that it’s going to be okay down the road.
ClientHow Can an Abbeville Seaman Injury Lawyer Help Me?
Our firm provides free consultations to help you learn more about maritime injury lawsuits and the compensation you can pursue. This is also a chance for you to ask questions and for us to become familiar with your off-shore accident, injuries, and specific situation.
The Abbeville seaman injury lawyers at our firm are familiar with the Jones Act’s definition of seaman’s rights, and with the types of work environments seamen work in every day. Your lawyer can investigate your case, examining photos or video footage of the accident scene, and speaking to eyewitnesses, to determine the responsible party.
Your lawyer can analyze your accident’s immediate and long-term expenses, and calculate your settlement. Your lawyer can handle all communications and negotiations with the insurance company and your employer’s legal team. Your lawyer can provide solid legal guidance and assistance with your claim every step of the way.
They treated us like no other people would. Whenever we needed something they were there for us. I put my trust in them and I don’t regret it.
ClientContact Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers Today
An injury has immediate consequences: lost pay, medical expenses, pain, and suffering. Our seaman injury lawyers are here to help. We proudly serve the Abbeville area and are ready to begin the process of your injury claim. At Laborde Earles injury lawyers, we offer free consultations to discuss your case details and won’t charge you anything unless we settle or win your case.
Call us today to schedule your free consultation.
