Maritime Law Blog

162 reported illnesses linked to Louisiana oil spill

The Louisiana state health department says it has received 162 reports of illnesses to the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Of the 162 reported cases of illness, 128 involve offshore workers involved in the Deepwater Horizon oil spill clean-up. Offshore workers who become ill while on the job are protected under maritime law. Maintenance and cure benefits provide coverage for the injured worker’s medical costs as well as payment for living expenses if the sickened worker is unable to work. To learn more about maintenance and cure and other rights of injured offshore workers, call The Young Firm at 866-938-6113.

Louisiana Jones Act benefits do not exclude maintenance and cure

It is important that seamen know that there are additional benefits that can supplement a Jones Act claim. Under general maritime law, all seamen injured while working in service to their vessels are eligible for maintenance and cure regardless of who is at fault for the accident. They are also eligible to receive your wages until the end of your voyage or the end of your mutually agreed upon employment period. If you have been injured at sea and have questions about your benefits, contact the Louisiana maritime lawyers at The Young Firm

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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.