New Orleans Maritime Accident Lawyer

New Orleans Maritime Accident Attorney

Maritime Law: Who Is Covered?

Maritime law, sometimes called admiralty law, is the law that governs happenings on the water. General maritime law covers marine shipping laws, cargo damage and vessel arrests, but it most often concerns itself with the welfare of maritime workers. If you have been injured as a maritime worker, you need to consult a New Orleans maritime accident lawyer for the help you will need in recovering compensation for your losses.

The Blake Jones Law Firm excels at resolving complex injury cases, especially those that fall within the purview of maritime law. If you’re hurt while working on the water, you might be wondering who can help you fight for what you deserve—an experienced New Orleans personal injury lawyer can be a great place to start. This is a complex area of law that requires the attention of seasoned legal counsel if you want to ensure optimal results. With our team advising you, you can be confident that we will do everything we can to protect your rights and maximize your recovery as much as applicable laws allow.

New Orleans Louisiana

We take care of Your family while you can’t work

schedule a consultation

Call for A Consultation 504-525-4361

Understanding Maritime Accident Law and the Jones Act

One of the most important legal protections available to maritime workers in the United States is the Jones Act. This law aims to provide an avenue of legal recourse for anyone who suffers an injury while working in a maritime setting, and maritime laws are quite different from the laws that apply to injury claims that arise from work on land. Maritime law and the Jones Act provide many rights to seamen, including the right to seek compensation after an injury.

You are considered a seaman if you:

• Work on a vessel capable of navigating in American waters, such as an ocean vessel, tugboat, fishing boat, barge or cruise ship
• Are employed as a crew member on the vessel as a deckhand, captain, cook, engineer, rig worker or stevedore
• Spend at least 30 percent of your working time on a vessel in navigation

Quite often we deal with third party accidents over water in the Gulf of Mexico, which is covered by the Longshore & Harbor Workers Act. Whether your accident is covered under this area of the law of the Jones Act, maximizing your compensation requires the experience our team can bring to the case.

The Jones Act and other maritime laws exist to clarify the legal rights of workers on the water. Because their injuries often occur outside of state jurisdiction, these laws ensure that injured maritime workers have some avenue of recovery when they sustain injuries on the job. Under the Jones Act, an injured seaman has the right to seek maintenance and cure after an injury in any maritime work environment.

“Maintenance” refers to the living expenses the injured worker will need help covering after their accident, while “cure” refers to the medical treatment costs they will face in order to recover from their injury. Your New Orleans maritime accident lawyer can explain how the Jones Act applies to your case and what damages you can claim. They will also assist you with proving fault for your accident so you can hold the appropriate party or parties accountable.

If you are a seaman who has been injured offshore, on an ocean vessel, on the Mississippi or inland waterway, finding an experienced maritime legal team to help you recover damages is very important. When searching for an attorney to represent you, it is imperative that you choose an attorney who has proven experience handling cases similar to yours and who knows the specific laws that apply to your case. It’s important to choose an attorney as quickly as possible.

Let us make the choice easy for you. The Blake Jones Law Firm will carefully review the details of your accident, learning as much as we can about the effects it has had on your life. We will determine whether the Jones Act or other laws apply to your situation and how we can leverage the legal protections available to you in our efforts to secure compensation for your damages. You have a limited time in which to pursue your case, so it’s vital to contact us right away.

How Our Firm Can Help You

At Blake Jones Law Firm, our extensive legal team has handled numerous maritime cases, recovering compensation for workers who have suffered injuries in all types of waterway or boating accidents. If you suffered any type of injury on the water, you need to determine which laws apply to your case and how to maximize your recovery. Proving liability will be one of the most important steps in your recovery process.

Our attorneys have extensive collective experience handling cases for those along the Gulf Coast. We have handled cases in Louisiana, Alaska, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi and Texas. And we have secured multimillion-dollar verdicts, settlements and awards for our past clients. Trust our team to leverage this extensive experience for you as we determine the optimal way to recover maximum compensation for your injury.

It can be overwhelming to think of all of the legal proceedings that might follow your maritime accident, but you do not have to face these challenges alone. The right New Orleans maritime accident lawyer will be a tremendous asset and fight this fight for you. Do not give up your protected rights and chance at fair compensation after an injury. Reach out to our team to find out what our lawyers can do for you.

FAQs About Maritime Accident Law in New Orleans,LA

Can I Sue My Employer for a Maritime Accident Injury?

Yes, it is possible to sue an employer for a maritime accident injury under certain conditions. The Jones Act exists to provide an avenue of legal recourse when maritime workers are injured on the job, allowing them to hold their employers accountable for damages caused by the employer’s negligence or willful misconduct. An experienced New Orleans maritime accident lawyer can help you file this type of case.

How Much Compensation Can I Recover for a Maritime Accident?

The amount of compensation you can recover for a maritime accident will depend on several factors. The Jones Act provides an avenue for maritime workers to claim maintenance and cure after suffering an injury working at sea. It is also possible for the victim of a maritime accident to have additional avenues of recovery available to them that may enhance their total compensation. Your New Orleans maritime accident lawyer can estimate your claim’s total value.

What Is Negligence Under the General Maritime Law?

Under the general maritime law, negligence is any failure to use reasonable care in a maritime setting that results in injury to another person. Some commonly cited examples include failure to follow safety regulations for maritime operations, failure to have operable safety equipment onboard a vessel, or failure to ensure proper training for certain operations. If you believe your employer is responsible for your injury, consult an attorney right away.

Why Should I Hire a New Orleans Maritime Accident Lawyer?

You should hire a New Orleans maritime accident lawyer because you need legal counsel with proven experience handling this type of case. The right attorney will be an invaluable asset when it comes to helping you prove liability for your injury and navigate the complex maritime laws that apply to your case. You are not only more likely to win your case but also more likely to maximize your recovery with an attorney’s help.

Will I Win More Compensation if I Hire a New Orleans Maritime Accident Lawyer?

You are likely to win more compensation if you hire a New Orleans maritime accident lawyer than you could likely manage to secure on your own. The right attorney can make proving fault for your injury much easier, help you understand the maritime laws that apply to your situation, and ultimately guide you to a much better recovery than you could have otherwise hoped to secure. It is always worth hiring experienced legal counsel for this type of case.

Speak to our Experienced Attorneys Today

You have a relatively short time in which to pursue compensation for your damages after a maritime accident. An experienced New Orleans maritime accident lawyer at the Blake Jones Law Firm is an essential resource in this difficult situation. Call our office at 504-500-1234 or contact us to schedule an appointment. Flexible appointments, including on weekends, are available upon request.

We also handle cruise ship accidents. If you or a loved one was injured as a passenger, contact us to learn more about your rights.