Maritime Attorneys

Primary Focus: Maritime Law & the Jones Act

Maritime attorneys are lawyers who practice the law as it pertains to navigable waters in the United States and on the open water such as the Gulf of Mexico. Their primary focus is on issues pertaining not only to maritime law, also known as admiralty law, but also the Jones Act.  Admiralty law refers to the United States laws and regulations, including international agreements and treaties, governing the activities in any navigable waters or the open sea. It is a federally recognized law that formalizes the long-standing maritime traditions of maintenance and cure. The Jones Act, formally known as the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, safeguards specific rights of seamen, by allowing seamen to bring legal actions against ship owners, ship captains or other crew members. Other maritime laws that form the basis of offshore and maritime injury law include the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act, which provides certain workers' compensation benefits for maritime workers who are not seamen and Death on the High Seas Act (DOHSA).  The Death on the High Seas Act provides a venue for the widow or dependents of a maritime worker to seek compensation for his death due to negligence or the un-seaworthiness of a vessel operating more than three nautical miles from shore.

Why You Should Involve A Maritime Lawyer

If you or a loved one is injured while employed as a maritime worker, it is important to involve maritime attorneys who know the differences among these complex maritime laws and can get you the compensation you deserve. Since not all maritime statutes will apply to every case, it is imperative to contact the professionals who are able to give you accurate, detailed information regarding maritime law and your legal rights. Since maritime law is such a complex set of laws and regulations, it is better to consult with experienced maritime attorneys, rather than just a personal injury lawyer.

A Client Focused Approach

Based on the Gulf Coast, the maritime law firm of Gordon, Elias & Seely, L.L.P., represents offshore workers, longshoremen and Jones Act seamen and their families in accidents involving serious injuries and fatalities. We have successfully represented injured workers and families in some of the biggest maritime cases in the U.S., including the BP Transocean accident.

The firm of Gordon, Elias & Seely, L.L.P., consists of partners Steven J. Gordon, Todd Elias, and Jeff Seely, have dozens of years of combined legal experience and a proven reputation for successfully litigating on behalf of injured maritime workers. We have the dedication as well as the resources to handle Jones Act / Maritime Law cases for clients in all kinds of maritime professions.

Our Law Firm Also Represents Families

Many seamen and offshore workers have legal rights under the Jones Act and general maritime law to seek compensation for an injury caused by the negligence of an employer, vessel owner or other crew. Our law firm also represents families who have lost a loved one in a maritime accident in filing wrongful death claims. It’s important to talk to a Louisiana offshore injury lawyer who understands seamen's rights under the Jones Act, the Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act and the Fishing Vessel Safety Act. Our maritime attorneys will review your case and explain your legal options free of charge.

Our Law Firm is Committed to Our Clients’ Health and Well-being

The maritime attorneys of Gordon, Elias & Seely, L.L.P., are committed to our clients’ health and well-being. If a maritime employer is refusing you needed medical treatment for a serious injury or condition, we’ll make sure that you get to a doctor and receive the treatment you need. In some instances, we will pay for an injured maritime worker’s medical care or advance money for necessary expenses, including food, shelter, clothing and medical care. It’s part of our commitment to the hardworking maritime workers and their families  we are proud to represent.

Whether you are a deckhand, a mate, an engineer, a tankerman, a cook, or a captain, if you have sustained a serious injury through the fault of others, maritime attorneys of Gordon, Elias & Seely, L.L.P. want to help. We treat our seamen clients as we would wish to be treated. We give clients our cell phone numbers so we can be reached at any time.

Contact us today to put our aggressive, client-focused approach to work for your or your loved one's maritime injury.