Baton Rouge Offshore Injury Lawyer

Maritime law can quickly become complicated, particularly when injury victims are seeking compensation. For help with your maritime claim, get in touch with a Baton Rouge offshore injury attorney.

Many people make a living in the waters off Louisiana’s coast, and that means our state has its share of offshore accidents. Whether you work on an oil platform, a jack-up rig, a barge, a ferry, or even a cruise ship, if you’ve been injured in an accident due to someone’s negligence, you can be compensated for your injuries.

Cases involving maritime law can be confusing because they aren’t quite like other personal injury cases. A Baton Rouge offshore injury lawyer from Spencer Calahan Injury Lawyers will be familiar with offshore accidents and related laws, so let us take care of your claim.

We will investigate your offshore accident and see that you receive fair compensation.

Common Causes of Offshore Accidents

In any job, there are likely some risks associated with the work, and those risks might be different depending on the kind of work you do. With offshore work, you face an inherent danger of injury and death because of weather-related risks and other unforeseeable hazards.

If your Baton Rouge maritime injuries were the result of someone else’s negligence, you may be able to seek damages for your injuries.

Things that can go wrong offshore include the following:

Exposure to Hazardous Materials – If you’ve been exposed to dangerous materials like toxic chemicals, you should be compensated for the detrimental impact they have had on your health.
Equipment Failure – When equipment fails due to negligence, such as improper maintenance or manufacturing, you should be compensated for your injuries.
Fires – Dangerous fires can happen offshore, but if the fire was preventable, you may have a case for personal injury.
Explosions – Oil rigs are especially prone to explosions, but if someone’s carelessness caused a dangerous explosion that injured you, you deserve compensation.
Falls – Anyone can trip and fall, but if someone caused your fall, you may be able to seek damages.

A Brief Explanation of Maritime Law

There are two main groups of maritime workers: seamen and everybody else who works on or near the water. A seaman is a person who works on a vessel, such as a boat or ship, that is in navigation, meaning it moves from place to place.

Other types of workers protected by maritime law are those who work near the water, such as in a shipyard or along the docks.

Three primary laws pertain to injuries of maritime workers: the Jones Act, the Longshore Act, and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act. The Jones Act covers seamen, who can recover damages for their injuries based on that law. The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation acts protect the others.

Your Baton Rouge offshore accident attorney will be extremely knowledgeable of all three of these laws, as well as the other Louisiana personal injury laws that might apply to your case.

Common Offshore Injury Types

Maritime workers are employed in one of the most dangerous industries out there. The likelihood of you being hurt in an accident is unfortunately high, and the dangers involved can leave you with catastrophic injuries.

When you work offshore, you are often pitted against bad weather, long days, and physically demanding work, which could lead to fatigue and injury. Your employer has a duty to provide you with a safe working environment, whether you are a seaman or other maritime worker.

If you believe your injuries were caused by your employer’s failure to provide a safe work environment in an already dangerous profession, call a Baton Rouge offshore accident lawyer to discuss your options. We can evaluate your case, as well as your injuries, to determine what kind of compensation we can seek for your losses.

Some of the common yet serious injuries you could suffer in a Baton Rouge offshore accident include the following:

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
Severe burns
Electric shock
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Spine injuries
Amputations

Maintenance and Cure

In maritime law, the term “maintenance and cure” refers to the types of compensation you can receive if your claim is successful.

“Cure” refers to the medical care related to your injuries. This can cover hospital stays, doctor visits, medications, surgeries, physical therapy, follow-up care, and more.

“Maintenance” covers many of your other expenses. These might include your rent or mortgage, other bills, and food.

Call a Baton Rouge Offshore Injury Attorney

Offshore injuries can inflict more serious injuries than many other types of accidents. The work is dangerous by nature, so there’s no room for negligence on the part of your employer or anyone else. Negligence that leads to harm must not go unpunished.

You have a right to seek compensation for offshore injuries that weren’t your fault. For help, contact a Baton Rouge offshore injury lawyer from Spencer Calahan Injury Lawyers. Schedule a free consultation by filling out the form below or calling 225-387-2323.