Jones Act & Offshore Maritime Accident Lawyer in Lake Charles, Marksville and New Orleans
If you or a loved one have been injured in an offshore accident, our experienced offshore lawyers at Broussard Knoll Law Firm are here to help. We have won millions of dollars for injured maritime workers, and others who have suffered injuries from offshore accidents.
We will use our extensive knowledge to fight for you and help you recover the losses that you deserve. We understand the financial hardships involved in maritime accidents, especially since the injured maritime worker may be unable to work, which is why you do not pay us unless we win.
Determining Your Rights Under The Jones Act
Offshore workers face unique hazards in the course of employment, which is why a special set of laws, one of which is called the Jones Act, protect them and their rights to compensation for injuries or death.
The Jones Act ensures that injured maritime workers employed in offshore drilling or other maritime professions have legal rights if they are hurt at work. The Jones Act is a life raft of legitimate recourse for seamen who suffer a serious injury while assigned to the service of a vessel on navigable waters.
If you are injured and in need of a qualified Jones Act lawyer to represent your rights under the law, our experienced maritime lawyers at Broussard Knoll Law Firm will fight for you. We are located on the Gulf of Mexico, so our lawyers frequently represent injured seamen in Jones Act claims.
Why Injured Offshore Workers Choose Broussard Knoll Law Firm
With more than 30 years of experience and a history of helping clients to recover more than $100 million in compensation, Broussard Knoll Law Firm has built a strong reputation for successful client advocacy after offshore accidents.
Three key reasons offshore workers choose us are our experience, commitment, and the resources we can put towards handling your case.
Experience
At Broussard Knoll Law Firm, our personal injury attorneys have dedicated their careers to representing injured offshore maritime workers. We have recovered over $100 million in compensation for our clients.
With this experience, we have acquired the ability to quickly and accurately assess your claim and build a strong case that will lead to success in the courtroom. Our Jones Act Attorneys have litigated offshore accident claims from start to finish, including some all the way to the Louisiana Supreme Court.
Commitment
We truly care about maritime personal injury victims and the families of those who have been killed while working on a vessel. Offshore and maritime work is inherently dangerous, but many times, injuries occur due to negligence.
We have the knowledge and experience of different types of negligence associated with offshore accidents, such as employer negligence, poorly maintained machinery, inadequate safety protocols, and more. We have what it takes to fight for you and win the compensation you deserve. You do not pay us unless we win.
Resources
We treat every case with the attention it deserves. Our offshore accident lawyers prepare every case as if it will go to trial, assembling a legal team that may include medical, economic, and scientific experts.
Importantly, we are accessible and always aim to return any phone call within one business day. We offer a free consultation to allow you and Counsel to determine if you have a legitimate personal injury claim under the Jones Act.
Common Questions about Jones Act Lawsuits
Who is covered under the Jones Act?
The Jones Act covers crew members of any description who have an employment-related connection to a vessel in navigable waters. For instance, some of the many job titles covered under the Jones Act are deckhands, masters, captains, officers, engineers, divers, fish processors, cooks, and crew members.
Additionally, job positions that contribute to the vessel’s function, such as a drilling hand on a jack-up oil rig are also covered under the Jones Act. Whether your accident took place on an oil rig, submersible rig, jack-up rig, tugboat, or any other vessel, we can help you.
Can independent contractors be covered under the Jones Act?
Yes, an independent contractor can also sometimes be viewed as an employee under the Jones Act.
Does a seaman have to be on the vessel for a claim?
Not necessarily: a seaman may be protected by the Jones Act even if he or she is temporarily working elsewhere, even on shore, as long as the work was “in the service of the ship.”
What constitutes “unseaworthy” conditions?
A Jones Act lawyer is knowledgeable regarding what constitutes “unseaworthy” conditions on board a vessel and understands the ramifications of “negligence” for your employer. Your description of defective equipment, inadequate crew, or unsafe conditions onboard will allow Counsel to assess unseaworthy conditions as a claim.
Defining inferior equipment, unsafe work conditions not corrected, or inadequate medical treatment after an injury will be effective in evaluating a negligence charge. Proof must be offered for the claim of injury due to unseaworthiness or negligence under the Jones Act, so it is vital that you identify witnesses for corroboration.
What is “maintenance and cure” compensation?
When a maritime worker suffers a serious injury at sea as a result of his or her employer’s negligence, the Jones Act requires the employer to pay the worker’s living expenses and medical bills (referred to in a settlement contract as “maintenance and cure”) until the maritime worker is recovered.
How do employers fight Jones Act injury cases?
Employers often fight Jones Act work injury cases by claiming the injured worker did not qualify as a seaman or that the ship or offshore oil rig was not a vessel. Or they offer unreasonably low amounts for maintenance and cure.
The offshore attorneys at Broussard Knoll Law Firm, understand the tricks employers use to try to deny benefits to injured seamen. We have the experience you need to challenge an employer if you or a member of your family suffered a serious or fatal injury.
Is there a time limit for filing a Jones Act claim?
A Jones Act claim must be brought within three years of the injury, in federal court or state court. Your Jones Act lawyer will decide where to file the claim in order to recover maximum compensation for you.
Contact us today to discuss your maritime law injury claim
If you would like to discuss a potential Jones Act or general maritime law injury claim with one of our lawyers, please call 337-439-2450 (Toll-Free: 866-281-4774). Or, email [email protected] to arrange a free and confidential consultation.
We pride ourselves on our fast response times and will do our absolute best to get you the help you deserve and nothing less.
Charges
Dropped
Cases
Won
Cases
Dismissed
Countersuits
Filed
Broussard Knoll Law Firm client
CHRISTOPHER MANN
Partner, Trial Lawyer | Jones Act – Offshore – Maritime
Before joining the Broussard Knoll Law Firm team, Chris spent the first 24 years of his career as a defense attorney, representing companies and insurance companies in personal injury, employment, workers’ compensation and complex litigation cases. During this time, he gained valuable insights into how these entities operate and how they often prioritize their interests over the rights of individuals. Chris’ experiences as a defense attorney led him to question the fairness of the system, and he realized his true calling was to use his legal expertise to champion the rights of personal injury victims and their families.
Settlement
$3,075,000
Offshore- Helicopter- Wrongful Death
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
If you or a loved one have been injured in an offshore accident, our experienced offshore lawyers at Broussard Knoll Law Firm are here to help. We have won millions of dollars for injured maritime workers, and others who have suffered injuries from offshore accidents.
We will use our extensive knowledge to fight for you and help you recover the losses that you deserve. We understand the financial hardships involved in maritime accidents, especially since the injured maritime worker may be unable to work, which is why you do not pay us unless we win.
The Jones Act is named after Senator Wesley L. Jones, who sponsored the Merchant Marine Act of 1920. The act was primarily intended to protect the US maritime industry and ensure that all goods shipped between US ports were carried on US-flagged vessels, crewed by US citizens.