Offshore Accident & Maritime Injury Lawyer in Gonzales

The maritime and offshore sectors are major linchpins of Louisiana industry. Our state is home to hundreds, if not thousands, of roustabouts, roughnecks, derrickmen, captains, motormen, boatswains, rig mechanics, drillers, and able seamen, and the good-paying work they do provides millions of dollars in state revenue every year.

These hard-working men and women are crucial to the economic health of Gulf Coast states like Louisiana, but their jobs can be extremely risky to their health. According to a study by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), offshore and oil drilling accidents are extremely common in the industry—more so even than dangerous land-based jobs like construction.

If you’ve been involved in a maritime accident, you could be experiencing a catastrophic injury or permanent disability rendering you unable to work or earn a living. If you’re the primary bread-winner for your family, your injury could impact your ability to provide for them as well.

You need a passionate personal injury lawyer on your side to help you recover the compensation you need to heal after your injury. You need Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys.

What Causes Maritime Injuries and Offshore Accidents?

The vast majority—around 80%—of all maritime accidents have been found to be directly attributable to a lack of proper safety protocols or other negligent behaviors, meaning that at least 80% of offshore injuries are preventable. If you’ve been injured in an accident at sea or in harbor, there’s most likely someone who can be held accountable.

The dangerous nature of offshore work means that many maritime accidents result in catastrophic injuries that can affect victims’ lives for years or decades. The main causes of offshore accidents include

• Malfunctioning heavy machinery, through lack of maintenance, misuse, or another issue
• Inadequate safety protocols, including unmaintained or missing personal protective equipment
• Overwork that results in fatigue or exhaustion
• Physical overexertion
• A lack of proper safety training or inexperienced employees
• Reckless behavior, including alcohol and drug abuse
• Falling overboard or from heights aboard ship
• Piracy

Common Offshore Accident Injuries

If you’ve been injured while working offshore, you could suffer a number of serious injuries, including

• Burns from electric shocks, fire, or heavy machinery explosions
• Crushing injuries from falling equipment
• Injuries caused by exposure to toxic chemicals
• Broken bones, sprains, or strains
• Neck and back injuries
• Spinal cord injuries that can result in partial or total paralysis
• Head injuries, including traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
• Wrongful death

Why Do I Need an Experienced Maritime Lawyer?

Personal injury claims that fall under the jurisdiction of maritime law, also known as admiralty law, can be difficult to adjudicate because maritime law is quite different from other types of law. Maritime law has its own courts, protocols, rules, and regulations, so you can’t just hire any personal injury lawyer to argue your case if you’re injured at sea.

Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys has 679+ years of combined legal experience working in the admiralty court system, so you can trust us to represent your interests while you seek compensation for your injuries. We are well-versed in these main maritime injury laws and can help you determine which you’re eligible to seek compensation under:

Jones Act

Passed in 1920, the Jones Act protects workers qualified as seamen from negligent companies, employers, captains, or others responsible for their injuries through negligence, recklessness, or an unseaworthy vessel. The Jones Act allows these workers to seek compensation for their damages caused while working at sea.

To qualify as a seamen under the definition of the Jones Act, you must spend at least 30% of your working time aboard ship. If you’re not sure whether you qualify for Jones Act benefits, our maritime injury lawyers can help.

Longshore & Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA)

Longshoremen and other harbor workers have some of the most dangerous jobs in the country—by some estimations, more dangerous than similar jobs in the construction industry on land. Workers in these professions are especially at risk for toxic exposure, crushing injuries, and other serious, life-threatening harm.

While the LHWCA provides a method for harbor workers, ship breakers, and others to seek compensation for their workplace injuries, its protections don’t apply to all workers. If you’re not sure whether your situation is protected under the LHWCA, give Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys a call.

Death on the High Seas Act (DOHSA)

If your loved one died over international waters, you could be eligible for wrongful death compensation under the Death on the High Seas Act. The DOHSA protects employees of oil companies, shipping companies, and other businesses that operate on the high seas, as well as passengers of cruise ships, aircraft, and other vessels.

Accidents Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys Can Help You Recover From

If you or a loved one has been injured while at sea or in harbor, call the experienced maritime injury lawyers with Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys at 225.888.8888 for a free consultation. We’re dedicated to making sure our Gonzales personal injury clients are property compensated for the damages they’ve suffered due to others’ carelessness.

Contact us if you’re a victim of any of the following:

• Boat or watercraft accident
• Commercial fishing accident
• Deck hand injury
• Dredging accident
• Inland drilling or offshore drilling accident
• Offshore oil rig accident
• Offshore crane accident
• Inland waterway or river accident
• Offshore helicopter accident
• Jones Act claim
• Offshore platform explosion
• Tugboat or barge accident

Give our Gonzales offshore accident law firm a call to get started on your path to healing today.