Offshore Attorneys

Offshore attorneys are personal injury lawyers who focus much of their career on representing individuals injured while working in a maritime occupation.

While employees in various professions are protected under and compensated via worker's compensation laws, for maritime workers, the Jones Act:

protects employees' rights
stipulates when injured maritime workers are entitled to compensation for their injuries
stipulates that maritime workers can be entitled to settlements if they are made to sail on an “unseaworthy” vessel
dictates how much settlement awards should cover
allows families of deceased maritime workers to collect death benefits, should their deceased loved one be killed on-the-job

Like worker's compensation laws, the Jones Act is complicated. As a result, it's essential that injured maritime workers meet with an experienced offshore attorney (once their health is stable) to learn more about their legal rights and win the settlements they deserve.

How the Jones Act Works

Also referred to as the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, the Jones Act protects individuals who spend at least 30 percent of their working time in the service of a sea vessel. Such workers commonly include:

cruise ship employees
dock workers
ferry workers
fishermen and crabbers
longshoremen
oil workers
seamen and officers
technicians, electricians and engineers who work aboard sea vessels
tug and barge hands

When such maritime workers are injured on the job, they can recover compensation for their injuries if they can prove that:

a ship owner, captain and/or crew were negligent or reckless
this negligence or recklessness caused or intensified their injuries

Depending on the nature and severity of the injuries sustained, offshore attorneys can help injured maritime employees win compensation for their:

past hospital bills
ongoing treatment costs
lost wages
permanent disabilities
future costs of living
pain and suffering

Types of Maritime Injuries

Injuries for which maritime workers can be covered may include:

back and neck injuries
burns
crushing injuries
disfigurement
electrocution
falls (including those resulting from slippery surfaces, collapse of structures, faulty equipment, etc.)
fractures
loss of limbs
permanent disabilities
traumatic brain injury

Should a maritime employee be killed on-the-job, families will be entitled to death benefits, which typically include compensation for funeral and burial costs and unpaid medical bills.

When to Meet with an Offshore Attorney

Immediately following a work-related injury, it's crucial that maritime employees seek emergency medical care to prevent further health complications. Once their health is stable, it's also essential that injured maritime workers meet with an experienced offshore attorney to:

Find out if they are entitled to a settlement via the Jones Act.
Learn more about the process associated with winning compensation for their injuries and losses.
Get advice regarding the best manner in which to pursue their case.

To encourage injured parties to seek the settlements they deserve, offshore lawyers offer initial consultations for free and will delay payment for their services until (or unless) a settlement or court award is reached.

Have you or a loved one been injured while working in the maritime industry? If so, contact us today to talk to an experienced offshore injury lawyer who will evaluate your situation and fight t protect your rights.

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Offshore Attorneys

How the Jones Act Works

Types of Maritime Injuries

When to Meet with an Offshore Attorney

Other Areas of Law