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Avoyelles Parish Seaman Injury Lawyer

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Team in Your Corner
Attorney David Laborde | Attorney Digger Earles
  1. Home
  2. Avoyelles Parish Personal Injury Lawyer
  3. Avoyelles Parish Maritime Injury Lawyer
  4. Seaman Injury
On This Page
  1. What Should I Do After a Seaman Accident?
  2. The Jones Act
  3. How an Avoyelles Parish Seaman Injury Lawyer Can Help
  4. Can I Afford a Lawyer in Avoyelles Parish?
  5. Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers Is Ready to Take On Your Claim
  6. Contact Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers Today
Contact Us Today

Get The Help
You Need

I NEED HELP NOW

Your personal injury lawyer can help you calculate your recoverable damages, which may include:

  • Medical Bills
  • Income Loss
  • Property Damage
  • Pain & Suffering
  • Emotional Distress
  • Lasting Disfigurement
Avoyelles Parish Seaman Injury Lawyer

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. 

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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.

Client
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(337) 777-7777

The 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.

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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 | Client
Contact Us Today We want to be there for you

How 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.

CTA CTA

The reassurance from Digger and his staff gave me that renewed hope that it’s going to be okay down the road.

Client
Call Us - (337) 777-7777 We are here when you need us the most

Can 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.

CTA CTA

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.

Client
Contact Us Today We will work to get you the best outcome for your case

Laborde 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.

Avoyelles Parish Maritime Injury Blog Posts:
Laborde Earles Lawyers Named Super Lawyers

Laborde Earles Lawyers Named Super Lawyers

Digger Earles and David Laborde are now featured in the publication that highlights outstanding lawyers LAFAYETTE, LA, FEBRUARY 10, 2020 — Two attorneys representing Laborde Earles Injury...

Trial attorney Rob Marionneaux joins our team

Trial attorney Rob Marionneaux joins our team

We are delighted to announce a significant addition to the Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers team as trial attorney Rob Marionneaux joins our team. With an impressive career spanning over two decades,...

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Maritime Injury FAQ:
Who Needs Jones Act Coverage? Who Needs Jones Act Coverage?

The Department of Labor says that the Longshore and Harbor Worker’s Compensation Act (LHWCA) does not cover seamen on ships, barges, fishing boats, dredges, barges, and other vessels on U.S.

What Is a Maritime Injury? What Is a Maritime Injury?

A maritime injury occurs when a worker on a ship is injured while the vessel is in U.S. navigable water. Maritime workers do not qualify for traditional workers' compensation coverage, but they do

Why the Jones Act Is Important? Why the Jones Act Is Important?

The possibility of pursuing compensation for your maritime work injuries is why the Jones Act is important. Maritime careers are typically not afforded the same type of workers’ compensation

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Avoyelles Parish Maritime Injury Practice Areas
  • Off-Shore Accidents
Additional Locations
  • Scott Seaman Injury Lawyer
  • Abbeville Seaman Injury Lawyer
  • Fort Polk Seaman Injury Lawyer
  • New Iberia Seaman Injury Lawyer
  • Mandeville Seaman Injury Lawyer
  • Duson Seaman Injury Lawyer
  • Jeanerette Seaman Injury Lawyer
  • Morse Seaman Injury Lawyer
  • Catahoula Seaman Injury Lawyer
  • Carencro Seaman Injury Lawyer

 

Frequently Asked Questions
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Phone : (337) 777-7777

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Phone : (318) 777-7777

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Phone : (318) 310-8922

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Phone : (337)-547-2777

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Lake Charles, LA 70605

Phone : (337) 612-6909

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Phone : (504) 777-7777

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Baton Rouge, LA 70802

Phone : (225) 777-7777

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