What to Do If You Are Injured on a Vessel

Maritime workers in the Gulf of Mexico and surrounding areas face some of the most dangerous working conditions in the country. Workers who spend their time onboard vessels – both in port and at sea – are particularly at risk due to the many inherent dangers that vessels present. Unfortunately, ship owners, oil companies and other employers often exacerbate these dangers by failing to take adequate steps to protect maritime employees.

If you or a loved one were injured or tragically killed while working on a vessel, the Jones Act lawyers at Morrow & Sheppard LLP can help you seek compensation for your losses. We regularly represent seamen throughout the United States, focusing on Texas and Louisiana, and we are ready to help you navigate the complex laws governing harbor and offshore injuries. To ensure maximum compensation for your vessel injury, contact us for a free consultation today.

Possible Claims for Vessel Injuries

Depending on the cause of your injury and where your injury occurred, you could have several possible claims for compensation. The laws that cover vessel-related injuries include:

• The Jones Act – The Jones Act protects “seamen” who are injured onboard vessels in navigation. Under the Jones Act, injured seamen can seek no-fault “maintenance and cure benefits” and file separate negligence-based claims for maximum compensation against their employers.
• The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (the “Longshore Act”) — The Longshore Act covers many maritime workers, which the Jones Act does not. It also provides no-fault benefits and entitles injury victims to file negligence claims against third parties responsible for their losses.
• The Law of Unseaworthiness – Under maritime law, individuals can also file claims against vessel owners for injuries caused by a vessel’s unseaworthiness. Unlike Jones Act claims and third-party claims under the Longshore Act, unseaworthiness claims do not require proof of negligence. With limited exceptions, you can file a compensation claim if you were injured on an unseaworthy vessel.

Types of Vessels Eligible for Compensation Claims

Seamen can file compensation claims for injuries sustained on any vessel in navigable waters or docked for maintenance or repair. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Attending vessels
• Liftboats
• Jack-up rigs
• Barges
• Tugboats
• Cargo and container ships
• Crew boats
• Cruise ships
• Dredges
• Drill ships
• Ferries
• Fishing Boats
• Semisubmersibles
• Standby vessels
• Supply boats
• Tankers

In addition, offshore facilities such as lifeboats, jack-up rigs, semisubmersible rigs, drillships, and floating production, storage and offloading units (FPSOs) can qualify as vessels. Regardless of what happened and where it happened, if you are entitled to compensation, our experienced Jones Act lawyers will fight to win the compensation you deserve.

Get Your Free, Confidential Consultation with Morrow & Sheppard LLP

To learn more about your legal rights after suffering a vessel injury, we invite you to schedule a free, confidential consultation with one of our experienced Jones Act attorneys. Contact us at (800) 489-2216 or online to protect your legal rights today.

Morrow & Sheppard represent clients in Texas and Louisiana, including those located in Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, Fort Worth, Corpus Christi, Beaumont, Port Arthur, Lafayette, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, New Iberia, Lake Charles, Slidell and the surrounding communities.