Maritime Law Blog

New facility means faster settlements for BP claims, but don't give up your rights.

Residents and businesses affected by the Gulf Coast oil leak may now submit their damage claims to the Gulf Coast Claims Facility, the new independent group that is taking over the administration of BP's $20 billion compensation fund. If you are considering applying for a quick settlement from BP, you may want to speak to a maritime attorney to make sure that you are not giving up any of your rights under maritime law. To learn more about the rights of oil spill victims, contact the Louisiana maritime attorneys at The Young Firm. 1-866-938-6113.

Injured while working offshore? Read the accident report before you sign it!

If you have been injured while working offshore, it is important that you report your injury to your employer. When you report your injury, your employer is required to fill out an accident report. Learn more about the importance of accident reports. The Young Firm of New Orleans represents those who injured offshore in Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Arkansas and Alabama. If you think you have a maritime injury case, call our New Orleans law office at 1-866-938-6113 to schedule a free consultation with a maritime law attorney.F or more tips to help you win your offshore injury case, request our free book: “6 Secrets Your Company May Not Tell You When You Get Injured Offshore.”

Do you qualify for the Unemployed Oil Rig Workers Compensation Fund?

Under presidential order,BP has created a $100 million fund to compensate oil rig workers who are not able to work because of the disaster. Learn how to access this fund and make your claim. While it is not necessary to have an attorney in order to make a claim, you may want the advice or the assistance of an attorney. The New Orleans maritime injury attorneys at The Young Firm assist victims of offshore accidents every day. If you have questions about your rights, contact our office at 866-938-6113.

Who is responsible for the Deepwater Horizon explosion?

Eleven workers are presumed dead after the April 20 explosion of the Deepwater Horizon floating drilling rig. It is important to remember that the ordeal continues for the 115 workers who survived the accident and for the families of those lost or injured. At The Young Firm, we believe that worker safety should the highest priority for companies that operate offshore. We have compiled this list of companies involved in the ownership, operation and servicing of Deepwater Horizon. All these companies may be liable to some degree for injuries sustained during the explosion. To learn more, contact the maritime attorneys at The Young Firm at 866-938-6113.

Photos of HORIZON and Interview with Rescue Captain posted

Read about the interview with rescue captain of the HORIZON accident and view photos here that he took

Help for DEEPWATER rig workers

Our office has posted helpful information for DEEPWATER accident victims and their families on our site.  The information can be accessed by clicking the link above.  This information includes important facts about the process for hiring an attorney.

Deepwater Horizon Explosion Reported in Gulf of Mexico- Transocean owned

The Transocean DEEPWATER HORIZON in the Gulf of Mexico reported an explosion early this morning. Read more about the accident here including news article links. Several crew members may have been injured according to reports.

Waiting for a check? Maritime law protects a seaman’s wages.

Federal Maritime Law is very specific with regard to seamen’s wages and there are very strict penalties if a seaman is not paid earned wages in a timely manner. If you have been at sea and are having difficulty getting your earned wages after returning, contact The Young Firm. Our New Orleans maritime attorneys are experienced in all aspects of maritime law. Call us at 866-938-6113.

Gulf of Mexico seamen have a right to proper lifesaving equipment!

Every year, seamen’s lives are lost because their vessel is not adequately equipped with appropriate life-saving devices and emergency equipment. Failure to provide adequate life-saving equipment that is in good repair makes the vessel owner liable if a crew member is injured or loses his life. To learn more about the responsibilities of vessel owners and how to file an unseaworthiness claim for your injuries, contact the maritime attorneys at The Young Firm 1-866-938-6113.

What is the “Death on the High Seas Act”?

Hurt on a cruise ship? Cruise ships are legally responsible for passenger safety.

Two ships collide, crew feared dead - the dangers facing mariners on busy waters

A serious offshore accident in the Straits of Malacca highlights the dangers that maritime workers face when operating a vessel in busy waterways, either in US or international waters.

 

On August 18 a tanker carrying naphtha, a flammable light petroleum product, collided with a bulk carrier while navigating through the strait.  The crash caused the tanker to catch fire, and nine missing crew members are thought to have perished in the blaze.

 

Sixteen other crew members were rescued by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, but rescuers have given up hope that they will find the remaining crew alive.  So far two dead bodies have been recovered.

 

What happened in this case?  Why did two large vessels collide with one another in a well-traveled body of water?  Maritime accident experts are investigating the case, trying to determine what caused the two ships to crash.

 

If you or someone you know is hurt in a maritime accident, it is important that you know you have rights.  Don’t let your employer, the vessel owner, their insurance company, or their lawyers push you around.  Sadly, many companies seem all too willing to put profits before people – but this doesn’t have to happen to you.

 

Want to find out how to protect yourself?  Please order our FREE book “Employee’s Guide to Maritime Injury Law” – that’s right, it is completely free – so you can arm yourself with the facts.

Looking for a Jones Act / Maritime Law attorney?

If you’ve been injured offshore, you face not only a long recovery from your injuries and an uncertain future, but you also bear the burden of medical bills, rehabilitation costs, lost income, and basic problems like how to pay for your living expenses.

 

This is enough to worry about without the pressure of having to hire a lawyer to stand up for your rights.  Unfortunately, if you want to be taken seriously by your employer and get the compensation you deserve after an offshore or maritime injury, you need good, experienced legal help.

 

The number one thing you need to look for in a maritime lawyer is experience.  You will do yourself no favors if you hire a nice attorney who hasn’t handled a good number and variety of maritime / Jones Act cases.

 

Why does this matter?  Maritime cases are governed by a murky, confusing, and convoluted set of laws that can trip up inexperienced attorneys.  A good lawyer with years of experience and an impressive, proven record of successful Jones Act cases is your best bet if you want to secure a reasonable recovery.

 

You can read more about the qualities you want for your maritime / Jones Act lawyer in our law library article “5 Qualities Your Jones Act Maritime Lawyer Must Have”.  Trust us, this is one article that you want to read before hiring an attorney.

Will sour economy affect longshoremen’s jobs – and safety?

Members of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) are stunned to find themselves hurting in this economy.  Traditionally considered a business that was recession proof, the world economic slowdown is taking its toll on offshore workers across the globe.

 

Usually economic woes in the United States are not an issue for longshoremen.  When exports drop, usually imports pick up as Americans seek cheaper goods.  When things turn around and imports drop, exports usually rise.  In this economy both imports and exports are down, hurting shipping companies and longshoremen.

 

Some ship workers are seeing work hours drop by as much as a quarter, and others are facing sporadic work or layoffs.  Veteran longshoremen tend to fare better and are often offered first pick of available jobs, while less experienced longshoremen struggle to work enough hours to make ends meet.

 

A number used to measure the price to move materials by sea called the Baltic Dry Index reached a record high in May of 2008.  However, in December 2008 the index had dropped to its lowest point since 1986.  Not only are there fewer ships sailing, but they also contain fewer goods so it is taking less time to unload the ones that do arrive. 

 

The concern in a down economy is always that employers will be less careful about safety and employees – wary of biting the hand that feeds them – won’t be as forthcoming about reporting accidents, injuries, and unsafe working conditions.  In an attempt to safeguard dwindling profits, employers may also be more aggressive in fighting Jones Act and maritime law cases.

New law allows punitive damages under maintenance and cure

BREAKING NEW LAW!  The United States Supreme Court recently held (June 2009) that punitive damages may be awarded against an employer for arbitrary denial or failure to pay maintenance or cure benefits.  This was actually the law back prior to approximately 1993 when a Federal Court of Appeal held that punitive damages were not available.  For the last 16 years we have seen dozens and dozens of clients have their medical treatment denied by their employers, mainly because there was no penalty available if the employer wrongfully denied benefits.  Finally the law has been re-defined to help the employee-- this is a much needed change.
If your employer is refusing to pay maintenance or cure, call us today.  This new law can help your claim!

If you have been injured working offshore or on the Mississippi River, you must read one of the most important articles concerning your maritime and Jones Act claim.  We have posted the 9 most important things for you to do to protect your rights.  Click here to protect your rights!

Jack Up Boat Fire In Baptiste Collette Near Vence

Read about the jack up boat fire being reported in Baptiste Collette Bayou near Venice Louisiana. This boat is believed to have housed oil spill workers. Are these workers seamen under the Jones Act? Learn what we think and why here.

Changes to Jones Act may help families of those killed at sea

The April 20 explosion of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig killed 11 maritime workers and brought the everyday hazards faced by offshore oil workers into the public eye. The U.S. House of Representative recently passed a bill that would amend the Jones Act and the Death on the High Seas Act to allow the families of those lost at sea to recover non-economic damages such as pain and suffering and loss of care, comfort, or companionship. The Jones Act attorneys at The Young Firm keep informed about the latest changes to maritime law. If you or a loved one was injured at sea, we are on your side. Call our office at 1-866-938-6113 to schedule a free consultation.

Lawmakers seek waiver of Jones Act for Deepwater Horizon clean-up

Republican lawmakers are seeking a waiver of the Jones Act so foreign vessels can assist with clean-up efforts in the Gulf of Mexico. However, it is also important that lawmakers remember that the Jones Act provides important protection for those who were injured and the families of those who lost lives in the Deepwater accident on April 20th. For information about the Jones Act, contact the New Orleans maritime law attorneys at The Young Firm. 866-938-6113.

BP has a history of safety lapses that put workers at risk

The April 21 explosion of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig which killed eleven men is not the first high-profile to occur at a BP facility. In the past 20 years, BP subsidiaries have been convicted three times of environmental crimes in Alaska and Texas, including two felonies. When companies cut costs and put workers at risk, they are guilty of negligence. A seaman who has been injured because of the negligence of his employer may have a Jones Act Case. To learn more about your rights to Jones Act Compensation, contact the New Orleans maritime law attorneys at The Young Firm. Call 866-938-6113.

Will more hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico put seamen's lives at risk?

Experts are predicting an above-average hurricane system for the Gulf of Mexico in 2010.Offshore workers must work in all weather situations. If proper precautions are not taken, their lives are put at risk during tropical storms and hurricanes. If you or a loved one is put at risk and injured because of an unseaworthy vessel or offshore facility, you are protected by maritime law. Contact The Young Firm to learn more about your Jones Act rights. Call toll free at 1-866-938-6113.

Record Gulf of Mexico lease sale may mean more offshore oil jobs

This year's record offshore petroleum lease sale is another sign of an improved economy and of an employment boost to the New Orlean's area. However, more offshore oil rig jobs means more potential for accidents. Oil rig workers work in extreme weather conditions and deal with explosive and hazardous substances. They depend on having a safe place to work and access to the proper training and safety equipment. The Young Firm has put together a free guide to advise you of your rights after an offshore accident. Request your free copy of “Employee’s guide to Maritime Injury Law.” If you need legal help or have any questions, contact our office nat 866-938-6113.

Mesothelioma, a delayed risk for maritime workers

Injured? What can you do when your company treats you unfairly?

If you have been injured while working offshore, you may not be being treated fairly by your employer. If your employer wants you to sign anything before treatment or return to work before you are healed, they are behaving unethically. At The Young Firm, we want to make sure that you get all the compensation that you are entitled to. Call us at 866-938-6113. We can help.

Compensation in no-fault maritime accidents: Who pays?

Seamen have dangerous jobs, and even if all safety precautions are taken, sometimes accidents happen. Jones Act seamen are eligible for medical benefits and for maintenance and cure regardless of who was as fault for the injury. Some employers may tell you they do not have to pay for your injury because they are not at fault. This is not true. If you need help getting all the benefits that you are entitled to, call The Young Firm at 866-938-6113.