Maritime Offshore
Maritime injuries and deaths among seamen and private citizens on commercial and recreational vessels continue to increase annually.
Offshore maritime injuries, including gulf injuries and deaths, are often due to a third party’s negligence or the un-seaworthiness of a vessel. Un-seaworthiness refers to the failure of the owner, operator, or manufacture of a vessel to provide proper facilities and supplies that meet the standard safety requirements.
The National Transportation Safety Board and the Coast Guard’s Marine Safety program set the safety standard requirements for operators, crew, and product manufacturers of a vessel. In addition, these agencies also regulate sea travel and investigate maritime offshore accidents.
Some of the most serious maritime offshore accidents are a result of negligence, collisions, product defects, severe environmental conditions, and operator errors that occur on:
- Offshore drilling vessels – drilling vessels such as jack up rigs, semi-submersibles, and drill ships used in oil and gas exploration in gulfs and other offshore bodies of water
- Supply and crew boats – transport people and property around gulfs and often operate in unstable weather conditions
- Tugs and barges – operators often get hurt due to faulty equipment or another party’s negligence and are entitled to special protection under the Jones Act
- Lay barges – vessels involved in laying down oil and gas pipelines across offshore bodies of water. Seamen often work long hours and in extreme temperatures, which can lead to injuries and even death.
An injured offshore maritime worker is eligible to recover losses, which may include pain and suffering, mental anguish, lost wages, medical bills, and more.
There are laws that provide remedies and protect the rights of injured maritime workers:
- The Jones Act - applies only to seamen and provides remedies for injuries caused by negligence and/or un-seaworthiness of a vessel. Compensation includes economic and non-economic losses.
- General Maritime Law (GML) provides injured seamen remedies, which may include maintenance, daily allowance, sufficient medical care, and more.
- Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) provides compensation benefits to maritime workers who are not seamen including disability payments and rehabilitation services.
Due to the complex nature of maritime offshore laws, it is important to contact an experienced and qualified maritime attorney who can help protect your legal rights.
If you or a loved one has suffered a serious maritime injury or death, you may be eligible to file a maritime lawsuit. Please contact us today to speak with a qualified attorney who can evaluate your case free of charge to determine the best way to protect your legal interests. Frank Lamothe has extensive experience in representing maritime offshore workers. He has lectured on offshore litigation at national and local level conferences. He was featured on a NBC News Monitor presentation entitled “Danger on the Rigs” which aired on July 16, 1983.