The offshore oil and gas service industry, stevedoring companies, barge fleets, anchor salvage, dock maintenance / repair and crew boat operations, marine salvage, emergency response companies offering comprehensive marine firefighting, emergency lightering, and wreck removal services, commercial fishermen, and cruise ships are just some of the companies operating in the state Louisiana who employ maritime workers. Many of these maritime jobs are dangerous resulting in personal injuries and even death. Anyone employed in a maritime job is aware that there is all manner of hazards lurking that could result in a grave injury. Collisions between vessels, loss of footing on a slick deck, fires and explosions from well blowouts, lack of adequate railing resulting in a fall, products liability such as malfunctioning equipment, shifting cargo, improper supervision of loading and unloading, and un-seaworthy vessels are just some of the myriad situations that could result in a serious injury or death.
One of the most important decisions you’ll ever make is selecting the right Louisiana maritime attorney. It is important to know where to turn, and what to do if you have suffered a maritime related injury. The Louisiana maritime attorneys of Gordon, Elias & Seely, L.L.P., with their impressive team of seasoned, and highly respected lawyers, understand how important your job is to you and your family, no matter how potentially hazardous the work may be. All Louisiana maritime attorneys in our office have the legal experience to work with maritime workers pursuing compensation for their injuries under the Jones Act or having a complaint related to maritime law. Whether you were injured on an oil rig situated along the Louisiana coastline, at a maritime job within one of the state’s many ports, or on a vessel plying any of the state’s numerous channels, inland waterways, and rivers, we can help you. This is a situation that directly affects your livelihood, and the wellbeing of your family.
Maritime Law, also known as Admiralty Law is a specific branch of law, which handles maritime activities. It can be confusing and complex for those who are not well versed in the specificity of this branch of law. Therefore it is important to select a Louisiana maritime attorney who has the combination of the expertise and experience of litigating maritime cases rather than just hiring a personal injury lawyer. Qualified Louisiana maritime attorneys are aware of the three possible sources of compensation for an injured seaman: maintenance and cure, the doctrine of “un-seaworthiness,� and the Jones Act. Maintenance and Cure requires the ship owner to pay for an injured seaman’s medical treatment as well as his basic living expenses until the seaman can return to work. Maintenance and Cure is the right of every seaman to recover from an injury or illness, even if it did not occur on the vessel, as long as he was under service contract for that ship and/ or whether it was his or her own fault or that of the employer. An experienced Louisiana maritime attorney will be able to provide you with greater guidance as to how Maintenance and Cure can be applied to your specific situation. The Merchant Marine Act of 1920, also called the Jones Act, gives employees who fall under this category the ability to take action against a ship if it is deemed un-seaworthy, or if there is a case for negligence. People who may be entitled to compensation under Louisiana and federal 
maritime and admiralty laws include those folks who spend at least 30% of their work time on a ship that is under navigation including inland river maritime workers who spend a significant amount of time on floating and movable structures. The Jones Act not only protects maritime workers who sail or work on un-seaworthy vessels, but also protects the loved one or family of a maritime worker who while working on a vessel is killed .
Certain onshore oil industry employees may be covered under the Jones Act as well, depending on the circumstances surrounding their case. To know if you qualify for these maritime protections, call our experienced Louisiana maritime attorneys at the law office of Gordon, Elias & Seely, L.L.P.
Even if you have already met with your company’s attorney, or you have already tried to resolve your case but are unhappy with the results, you can still consult with a Louisiana maritime attorney. Call 800-773-6770 to speak to one of our Louisiana maritime attorneys, today.
