Texas is a hub for the maritime industry. Throughout the Gulf Coast region, offshore workers engage in jobs essential to enabling our nation to function. Many of these jobs are related to the oil industry, which is notorious for having severe accidents, injuries, and fatality rates. Any maritime damage, regardless of the industry, can pose serious consequences to a victim’s physical, financial, and emotional well-being.
Our legal team of Houston maritime attorneys has over 22 years of experience at The Adley Law Firm and is prepared to fight for your right to fair compensation.
Aggressive Advocacy For All Victims
The Houston personal injury lawyers at our firm are passionate about fighting on behalf of injured victims and their families. We use our skills and resources to help them recover the compensation they need and deserve effectively.
This includes legal representation for all maritime workers, such as:
- Longshoremen
- Oil industry workers
- Offshore workers
- Harbor employees
- Seamen
We are prepared to handle cases involving injuries that occurred on barges, cruise ships, tankers, offshore platforms, and other maritime locations. Whatever your point may bring, our firm is prepared to handle it.
Highly Knowledgeable Jones Act Attorneys
At The Adley Law Firm, we have worked with many clients throughout our years of practice, many of whom were maritime workers along the Gulf Coast.
Our firm’s hands-on experience in assisting injured workers with personal injury claims has allowed our attorneys to accumulate a solid grasp of the federal laws and regulations that establish the rights of seamen and other offshore workers.
Highly familiar with the Jones Act — the federal legislation that allows injured maritime workers to seek compensation from the negligent employer. Our firm can quickly and effectively evaluate your claim, determine the best approach to the case, and work aggressively to obtain the maximum compensation possible.
Suppose your case also involves additional circumstances, including unseaworthy vessels or an employer’s failure to provide adequate medical treatment. In that case, you can be confident that our legal team will thoroughly investigate and successfully resolve the issues.
Personal Injury Representation for Seamen
The Jones Act is crucial to you as a staff member if you are a maritime or overseas employee. The Jones Act is officially referred to as the Merchant Marine Act of 1920. Federal regulations dictate what is known as “cabotage” or the transportation of goods between ports throughout the United States.
Most important about the Jones Act for workers are the provisions dealing with seaman’s rights in the workplace. The Jones Act is similar in some ways to workers’ compensation. It protects injured seaman and allows them to recover financial damages for injuries that they suffer in conjunction with their job duties.
If you worked in the maritime or offshore industry and were injured on the job, you may have a Jones Act claim.
Who Qualifies For Protection Under The Jones Act?
Not everyone who works offshore will qualify for protection under the Jones Act; one must meet specific qualifications of a Jones Act seaman.
There are three basic requirements:
- A seaman must work on a U.S. flagged (Jones Act) ship.
- A seaman must spend a considerable amount of time on said ship.
- A seaman must be integral to the ship’s operation.
The Jones Act itself is somewhat unclear on who precisely certifies as a Jones Act seafarer; it just mentions that the employee should be appointed to a vessel that fulfills Jones Act requirements which should add to the ship’s function. This contribution should be “significant,” which might likewise be up for analysis. Due to the uncertainty of this statute, it is wise to acquire the assistance of a maritime lawyer.
If you are unsure about your status as a seaman, you can seek legal counsel from The Adley Law Firm. Should you qualify as a seaman, you are entitled to rights under the Jones Act, which could include filing a Jones Act claim after a work-related injury or illness. This would also be considered the fault of the employer for failing to provide safe working conditions.
Dangers of Working in The Offshore Industry
The offshore and maritime industry is one of the most physically grueling and dangerous occupations in the United States. Workers are often asked to deal with heavy equipment such as drilling rigs, heavy piping, and cranes, all of which can cause severe damage and even death.
When ships are not adequately maintained and an injury results, workers could be entitled to compensation due to a claim of unseaworthiness. In other words, if a boat did not meet the standards of “seaworthiness” and a seaman was injured, as a result, the seaman could recover compensation in a claim against its employer.
Another possible area of compensation could come by way of maintenance and cure claims. With this type of claim, a worker could recover compensation from their employer in the total amount that would cover a seaman’s day-to-day living expenses in addition to medical costs. Until the injured worker is fully recovered to return to work, the employer will have to continue to pay maintenance and cure benefits.
Protect Your Rights With The Adley Law Firm
With the assistance of a Houston maritime injury attorney at The Adley Law Firm, you can better understand your rights as an offshore worker and how you may be able to obtain monetary compensation for your injuries.
Call Our Maritime Injury Lawyers Today!
If you would like to learn more about the Jones Act and whether you are eligible for compensation, please do not hesitate to get in touch with our attorneys. The subsequent injury may have rendered you unable to work for some time and you may be wondering who will pay for your medical expenses or how you will provide for your family while you are out of work.
Call us today at (713) 999-8669 for a free consultation on your case.
