Working as a seaman can be very dangerous. From the heavy machinery and equipment required on vessels, oil rigs, and drilling platforms to terrible weather to untrained crew to the remote nature of working on the water, many things can cause a maritime accident and leave seamen injured and alone, wondering where to turn for help.
If you or a loved one have been in an off-shore accident, we can help. An Avoyelles Parish seaman injury lawyer can handle every aspect of your injury claim or Jones Act lawsuit while you focus on rest and recovering from your injuries.
What Should I Do After a Seaman Accident?
- Ensure that you’re safe and there’s no more imminent danger.
- If you’ve been injured onboard a ship or out on an oil rig, it’s vital to get to shore as soon as possible. If you have no other way, you can call the Coast Guard. Once you are ashore, seek medical attention from a qualified healthcare professional.
- Report the incident to your employer (this is very important. Under the Jones Act, you have just seven days to notify your employer). Your lawyer can be present if you wish.
- Record any details you can remember, especially if you witnessed safety violations happening around you.
- Keep copies of everything: the accident report, medical bills, and any medical documentation. These can become evidence in your case.
- If you can, take pictures of the accident and your injuries.
Seeking treatment right away will improve your chances of making a full recovery. It can also help strengthen your claim that the accident was not caused by negligence on your part. An Avoyelles Parish seaman injury lawyer can begin working on your case immediately following the accident. Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers are open 24 hours a day.
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
The Jones Act, also known as the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, was created to allow injured seamen to sue negligent employers for compensation. To qualify, you must be considered a Jones Act seaman.
This means you must work on a navigating vessel (an oil rig or platform can count as long as it has some form of controllable navigation), contribute to the success of its overall goals, and spend at least 30 percent of your working hours onboard.
The deadlines within a Jones Act lawsuit are very important. You must notify your employer of the accident within just seven days. You have up to three years from the date of the accident to file your lawsuit. An Avoyelles Parish seaman injury lawyer can walk you through it and make sure everything is handled properly and on time.
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 | ClientHow an Avoyelles Parish Seaman Injury Lawyer Can Help
Your lawyer can do a lot for your case. Here are some of the ways a seaman injury attorney from our team can help you:
1. Documenting Your Injuries
Tell your lawyer about all of the injuries you sustained. If there were witnesses around, your lawyer can contact them so they can corroborate your story. Your lawyer can also consult experts to review your medical reports or incident reports.
2. Investigating Your Claim
Your lawyer can help investigate your seaman injury case. It involves steps like this:
- Determining what caused your accident
- Figuring out who may be liable for your injuries
- Deciding how best to recover damages on your behalf
- Calculating a settlement amount
Depending on where you were injured, it may make sense to contact local authorities such as the sheriff’s office or the Avoyelles police department to determine if there are any witnesses, surveillance footage, or 911 records.
3. Negotiating with Insurance Companies
Insurance companies can be some of the most difficult parties to deal with. They can try their best to find any loophole to keep your claim from being compensated. Negotiating with them is one of those things that take experience and practice.
4. Filing your Jones Act Lawsuit
Your lawyer can help you file a suit against your employer to recover your medical bills, time off work, and other related expenses.
The reassurance from Digger and his staff gave me that renewed hope that it’s going to be okay down the road.
ClientCan I Afford a Lawyer in Avoyelles Parish?
At Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers, we know that the aftermath of an off-shore accident can be one of the most difficult times in your life. Along with being injured, you’re likely facing expensive medical bills and may not know how you’re going to pay them. This financial strain can be increased if you had to take time off of work to recover.
These are some of the reasons our seaman injury lawyers work on a contingency basis. This means if we win and you receive compensation, your lawyer will simply take his or her legal fees out of a percentage of your total settlement package. If we lose, you don’t owe us anything. No upfront costs. No hidden fees.
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.
ClientLaborde Earles Injury Lawyers Is Ready to Take On Your Claim
Accidents like yours happen when people least expect them – often because they trusted others to do their jobs correctly. It doesn’t matter whether you slipped and fell on deck or were burned in an electrical fire. When you’re injured at work, we can help.
Our seaman injury attorneys can help you with all of the documentation and paperwork involved with suing your employer. When you’re injured in an off-shore accident, there are plenty of legal nuances that you have to consider before taking legal action. Maritime law is complex and ever-changing. You don’t have to go it alone. Our law firm has experience dealing with maritime injury cases from start to finish.
Contact Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers Today
At Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers, we proudly serve the Avoyelles Parish area and are here to help injured seamen seek compensation. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
