Maritime workers have the right to consult with a New Orleans maritime injury lawyer if they are injured on the clock. Because offshore workers operate under different laws than employees on land, injured parties may need legal guidance to demystify the laws relevant to their recovery.
Our New Orleans personal injury lawyers can guide maritime workers after serious accidents. Scott Vicknair Injury Lawyers makes it easier for employees to file injury claims under maritime laws like The Jones Act, the Death on the High Seas Act (DOSHA), the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, and the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA).
Our representation has helped maritime workers like you recover $100 million in accident damages. Book a free case evaluation with our legal team today to learn more about your right to legal action after an accident at sea.
Inside Maritime Law
Maritime law, also known as admiralty law, covers everything that happens at sea. While maritime law can include crimes and international statutes or laws, it also deals with how businesses should operate in navigable waters and what rights seamen and other crew have while they’re on the job.
Federal laws protect the rights of maritime employees in the United States. The Jones Act, initially passed in 1920, is intended to safeguard American maritime interests, ensuring that American vessels are used in American ports and carry out business for American maritime companies.
The Jones Act also safeguards the rights of seamen and other crew aboard ships at sea. You can count on our staff to break down the basics of the Jones Act and its impact on your recovery immediately following an offshore accident.
Other Laws Relevant to Maritime Injuries and Accidents
Other laws that may benefit your recovery after an offshore accident may include the following:
- The Death on the High Seas Act
- The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act
- The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act
You can work with a maritime injury lawyer in New Orleans, LA, to determine how these laws impact your claim-filing process and overall recovery. We can also discuss how these laws impact important time limitations for maritime workers like you.
Why do I Need a New Orleans Maritime Injury Lawyer?
If you work on land, you can rely on a civil court to help you get the compensation you deserve after a workplace accident. It’s a different matter if you work at sea. Because maritime law applies to seagoing vessels, you must go to an admiralty court instead of a civil court. There are different rules to play by if you want a personal injury claim to win you a settlement.
You may find yourself in admiralty court if you were injured at sea as an employee or a passenger. You could alternatively have been involved in a boat accident or found in violation of one of many different maritime laws. It’s a lot of pressure, and you shouldn’t have to deal with an admiralty court alone.
Not all lawyers are equipped to handle the intricacies of maritime law. You’ll have to get in touch with a maritime attorney who specializes in the law of the sea, and Scott Vicknair is here to help.
Get in Touch with Scott Vicknair Today
Were you hurt onboard a vessel or involved in a maritime accident? You have a right to compensation, even if your employer didn’t tell you. At Scott Vicknair, we understand the importance of exercising your rights to get the compensation you deserve.
Any injury – maritime or otherwise – can put your life on hold. An accident or injury may mean a lengthy recovery, costly repair, medical bills, and lost wages that could put you behind on your mortgage, car payment, or other debts. All the more reason to get in touch with a lawyer who has your best interests in mind.
Work in the maritime industry is challenging and dangerous but important. Contact a New Orleans maritime injury attorney today to see how we can help you get back to sea.
Cases that a Maritime Lawyer May Handle
Working on a legal case concerning a maritime injury is difficult. People who work in maritime industries are more susceptible to injuries because of the hazards of their fields, including work with industrial materials and the perils of dangerous waters. Some of the most dangerous maritime careers include the following:
- Commercial fishing
- Vessel construction
- International cargo shipping
For employees who work in the maritime industry, filing a claim can be quite complicated. Whether you have suffered a terrible injury while in navigable waters or would like to file a claim against your employer for violating your rights as a maritime employee, you can turn to a lawyer for personalized assistance.
You can depend on the knowledge and legal experience of a lawyer who has previously helped clients who have had maritime law issues. If you have a case dealing with maritime law, do not wait to contact a lawyer who has the skills and experience to help you.
Risks of Not Hiring a Lawyer
When injured seamen like you have a case involving maritime law, someone with specialized legal experience should handle it. You should speak with a lawyer who is familiar with international maritime law and the industries that its laws impact.
When you choose not to hire a New Orleans maritime injury lawyer who specifically has experience working on cases concerning maritime law, you may not be able to get the outcome that you deserve. Lawyers who have not handled maritime cases may have gaps in their knowledge, which can result in a less-than-desirable outcome.
How to Strengthen Your Case
There are ways to strategically build and strengthen your case. If you take the time to understand the actions you can take to make yourself more persuasive, you are more likely to achieve the outcome you want.
You can gather all records that pertain to your case, as well as evidence like photographs, video recordings, and witness statements.
Refrain from speaking about your case on social media platforms as well as to family members and friends. Do not say anything to anyone else other than a lawyer that other parties can interpret as admittance of fault or blame.
Five Reasons to Hire a Maritime Lawyer
Some of the best reasons to work with a New Orleans, LA, maritime injury lawyer after an accident on an unseaworthy vessel include the following:
New Orleans Maritime Injury Lawyers Will Fight for Your Compensation
Whether you have been injured in a maritime situation or are seeking workers’ compensation, an experienced attorney can be in your corner advocating for what you are rightfully owed.
Maritime law is complex, and people involved in maritime cases may undervalue their situation and ultimately walk away with less compensation than they deserve. You’ll likely want legal counsel to closely examine and evaluate all angles of your case, as it’s easy to miss details in these scenarios.
If you are a victim in a maritime accident, you don’t want the other party to try to get away with low consequences. It is your basic right to receive the justice you deserve.
You Need Clear Communication and Clarification
As previously mentioned, maritime law is a separate entity from any circumstances that occur on land. You should not try to navigate maritime law on your own. A lawyer will work closely with you step-by-step to make sure you thoroughly understand all of the paperwork involved with your case and help you find the absolute best legal way forward.
Qualified maritime lawyers will communicate clearly and provide confident legal guidance. You do not want to waste your time trying to understand legal jargon.
Working with Someone Experienced in Maritime Law
Dedicated maritime lawyers have worked with countless maritime cases, and they have a wealth of context for figuring out the best way to approach your individual case. From personal injury to property damage, a lawyer will have likely already handled a maritime case similar to yours.
They will understand the specific evidence that needs to be gathered, which can also sometimes be hard if the incident is far away from land. If you’re not sure what evidence you should compile, a lawyer will help you gather what you need to build a strong case.
Additionally, maritime laws vary on location, and you want someone in your corner who has specific knowledge of maritime law where your incident occurred.
Keeping Track of Your Records
It will be very important to keep track of and compile your records when involved in a maritime law case. An attorney will do this for you on your behalf. If you are involved in a boat crash with another boat, your boat hits a dock, your ship spills waste or pollution in the water, or are involved in a boat injury, you must present detailed evidence of how the event transpired.
Whether you or someone else is at fault, it’s imperative to have any evidence prepared to share with the court. One of the best things about an attorney is that you don’t need to worry about keeping track of all your evidence and paperwork during this arduous time.
You should focus on your life moving forward after any unfortunate incident you have experienced.
Finding Quicker Solutions
If you caused damage to the water or someone else’s boat or dock, there may be more straightforward solutions than taking your case to court. In some scenarios, if the damage is minimal, your attorney can help you settle with the other party, which is a less drawn-out process.
In these cases, there are often far less stressful solutions that enable you to move on with your life much more quickly.
Speak With a New Orleans Maritime Injury Attorney
Maritime employers may think they don’t owe their employees workers’ compensation after offshore accidents or workplace injuries. In reality, maritime workers like you have several different means through which you can pursue compensation for medical expenses and other costs associated with offshore injuries.
You can work with an experienced maritime injury attorney in New Orleans, LA, to discuss how you can hold vessel owners, corporations, and related bodies liable for your workplace accidents. The team of lawyers with Scott Vicknair Injury Lawyers can file maritime claims that accurately reflect the severity of your losses.
Let’s work together to fight for the compensation you deserve for your offshore injuries. You can book a free, no-obligation case assessment with an offshore injury attorney today.
