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.

Common offshore injuries on the Gulf Coast

Mesothelioma, a delayed risk for maritime workers

Coast Guard requires random drug testing of 50% of crewmen in 2010

The Coast Guard requires that maritime employers establish random drug testing programs for licensed crewmen. The Coast Guard recently issued its requirements for 2010, and in 2010, a minimum of 50% of workers must be tested. Maritime work is dangerous. When alcohol or drugs are involved, accidents can occur. If you’ve been injured offshore because a co-worker was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you have rights to compensation under maritime law. Call the New Orleans office of The Young Firm at 866-938-6113

Were you injured on an unseaworthy vessel?

If you work on a Jones Act Vessel, the vessel’s owner has a responsibility to maintain the vessel in seaworthy condition. If you’ve been injured while working on an unseaworthy vessel, contact Louisiana’s maritime experts at The Young Firm at 866-938-6113. We can help you get compensation for your injuries, medical expenses, rehabilitation and therapy, lost earnings and pain and suffering.

Two men hurt in helicopter crash – Is this covered under maritime law?

Jones Act seamen injured offshore are eligible for maintenance and cure

If you’ve been injured in an offshore accident and are unable to work because of your injuries, your employer could owe you for “maintenance and cure”.  This is the money that your employer is supposed to pay you after an accident so that you can pay your living expenses and medical bills until you are able to return for work.

 

Maintenance – the money given to injured seamen so they can pay bills and living expenses – typically isn’t very much money.  Some companies believe that $15 to $30 a day is adequate, but depending on your situation this may not be enough to cover your expenses.

 

Many working Jones Act seamen have bills like rent, a mortgage, utilities, transportation costs, and food to pay for – all of which would need to be covered by the maintenance compensation if they become incapacitated because of a workplace accident.  If the amount their employer offers them for maintenance isn’t adequate, they may have to involve an attorney to get what they need to survive.

 

Cure is the money give to injured Jones Act seamen so they can pay for medical bills resulting from their injuries.  Your employer is required to pay you for reasonable medical care until your condition is not likely to improve further – a point that your employer and your doctor may disagree on.

 

Do you have questions about an offshore injury that you sustained on a vessel or questions about maintenance and cure?  Please don’t hesitate to contact the experienced maritime law and Jones Act lawyers at The Young Firm to discuss your situation.

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!

“Deadliest Catch” fishing boat captain Phil Harris dies

The Discovery Channel has announced that fishing boat captain Phil Harris whose commercial fishing ventures were featured on the reality TV series “Deadliest Catch” has died. The maritime law attorneys at The Young Firm would like express our sorrow for this loss. Harris is only one of many fishermen who risk their lives every day. If you have lost a loved one at sea, you have rights. Contact the Young Firm at 866-938-6113 to learn more.

Maersk Alabama attacked by pirates again

Somali prates attacked the Maersk Alabama for the second time in seven months. This time, however, the pirates were turned back by private guards aboard the U.S.-flagged ship who repelled the pirates with gunfire and a high-decibel noise device. Piracy is only one of the many dangers that face sailors. If you’ve been injured while on the job, contact Louisiana’s maritime experts at The Young Firm at 866-938-6113. We know maritime law, and we can tell you if you have a case.