Practice Areas

Blog

News

Missing JanTran Employee Stephen Miller Found...
Posted on 9/8/2010
Louisiana oil platform explodes; one maritime worker injured...
Posted on 9/2/2010
Injured offshore worker sues claiming unsafe working conditions...
Posted on 8/31/2010
Deepwater Horizon lawsuits to be heard by New Orleans judge...
Posted on 8/15/2010
Crew member killed in offshore conveyor belt accident...
Posted on 8/10/2010

view all

Library

Jones Act Safety Rules

What happens when a maritime worker files a Jones Act Lawsuit?

Show Me The Law! -- Actual Cases to Help You

Maritime Law Blog

The New Orleans Jones Act attorneys at The Young Firm represent injured maritime workers. We maintain a legal blog about topicss that affect seamen in the Gulf Mexico and beyond. Learn more about your rights. If you've been injured while working at sea, The Young Firm has the resources to help you. Call 866-938-6113 to learn more.

Maritime Law

10/6/2009
Timothy J. Young
Comments (0)

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

The Death on the High Seas Act (DOHSA) passed in 1920 to help widows of seamen recover damages for their husband’s future earnings when deaths occurred in international waters. It now provides recovery for the death of any person that is caused by negligence or a wrongful act more than three miles from a U.S. shore. Claims may be filed by husbands, wives, parents, or children of the deceased.

Common causes for DOSHA cases include:

• Capsizing or sinking of a vessel at sea

• Fire or explosion at sea

• Inadequate maintenance or unseaworthiness

• Faulty heavy equipment

• Improper handling of cargo

• Improper training of vessel personnel

• Failure to provide prompt and/or adequate medical care in an emergency

It is important to know that claims under DOHSA can be extremely limited. Cruise ship companies and other defendants use DOHSA to their advantage to limit the damages for which they are liable. There is also a three year time limit for DOSHA suits.

Death on the High Seas Act cases and cases of wrongful maritime death can be extremely complicated. If a family member has died while at sea, there are numerous maritime laws that might be relevant. The lawyers at The Young Firm have strong backgrounds in maritime law and have successfully handled many DOHSA claims. Contact our Gulf Coast maritime lawyers at 866-938-6113 for a free consultation.

Labels: Death on the High Seas Act DOHSA DOHSA claims Jones act lawyer maritime death Maritime law attorney maritime laws offshore accident injury

7/31/2009
Timothy J. Young
Comments (0)

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.

Labels: Jones act lawyer Maritime law attorney offshore accident injury

Jones Act Law

10/24/2009
Timothy J. Young
Comments (0)

Mesothelioma, a delayed risk for maritime workers

Dock workers, shipyard workers and sailors on vessels built before 1980 may be at an increased risk of mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer linked to asbestos exposure. In fact, shipyard workers are one of the largest groups at-risk for developing asbestos-related disease; from 1990-1999, ship and boat building and repairing was the second highest occupational group of those dying from asbestos-related causes.

Before the risks of asbestos were recognized, asbestos was often used for its fire-retardant and heat-insulating properties. In ships, asbestos was used to insulate boilers, steam pipes, hot water pipes and nuclear reactors. Asbestos use on American ships has been regulated since 1980; however it continues to be an occupational hazard on older ships.

The risk of asbestos-related disease increases with heavier exposure and length of exposure. Yet, even a short period of high level exposure can cause damage. Symptoms may not appear for 20 or more years after exposure. Click to read more about asbestos, mesothelioma, and asbestos-related illness.

If you are a maritime worker who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, time is of the essence. Contact the maritime injury attorneys at The Young Firm, 866-938-6113, for a free consultation about your rights. Our free book, Employees Guide to Maritime Injury Law, provides valuable advice for all injured maritime workers and answers commonly asked questions. As an injured maritime industry worker, you do have rights and we’d like to help.

Labels: asbestos Jones act lawyer jones act rights Maritime law attorney maritime laws Mesothelioma

Jones Act Damages

9/25/2009
Timothy J. Young
Comments (0)

Common offshore injuries on the Gulf Coast

The Gulf of Mexico is the ninth largest body of water in the world. It is bordered by five states and is of tremendous economic importance for tourism, fishing, shipping and the oil industry. This means there are thousands of American workers working in and around the Gulf of Mexico.

However, these jobs are dangerous. Many jobs involve heavy equipment, working on wet surfaces and working from heights. Injuries are inevitable. The U.S. Department of Labor that working at sea is second in injury only to logging. Unfortunately, many of these injuries are due to negligence or reckless behavior.

Common Maritime Injuries include

• Impact and fall injuries such as broken bones, cuts and contusions

• Back and neck injuries, including spinal cord injuries

• Head injuries and traumatic brain injuries

• Repetitive motion injuries

• Burns and chemical exposure

• Drowning

• Crushing injuries

• Diving injuries

Under the law, workers injured at sea are entitled to maintenance and cure. Maintenance includes the cost of lodging, food and monthly bills while you are injured. Cure refers to the medical expenses that are reasonable and related to the injury. Employers are obligated to pay this.

If you have been injured while working at sea due to negligence or you have not received adequate compensation, contact the Young Law Firm. Our lawyers are maritime law specialists. We will carefully evaluate your claim and help you get the compensation that you are legally entitled to.

Labels: injured offshore rights Jones act lawyer jones act rights maintenance and cure Maritime law attorney maritime rights medical treatment offshore accident injury

Maintenance and Cure Law

11/4/2009
Timothy J. Young
Comments (0)

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

A helicopter accident left two men injured when their aircraft crashed after take-off from an offshore oil platform about 75 miles from Galveston, Texas. The helicopter was headed to another offshore oil platform.

The aircraft, the pilot, and a passenger, were left in the stranded in the water. A nearby supply ship rescued the men and brought them aboard. Both men suffered severe back injuries and were transported to the University of Texas Medical Branch for treatment. Both men are currently in stable condition.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.

If you work offshore and are injured while on the job, you have rights under maritime law. For example, you may be eligible for maintenance and cure while recovering.

Maintenance is a legal term for the amount of money it costs to cover your living expenses while recovering on land. These are the expenses that your employer covered while at sea, including lodging, food and some monthly bills. Some employers have a fixed rate of maintenance, but maintenance be adequate to cover your expenses.

Cure refers to medical expenses related to the curing of your injury. This includes doctor’s bills, medication, and physical therapy, as long as the expenses relate to the injury being cured.

If the accident is caused by negligence or inadequate maintenance, an injured maritime worker, may be entitled to additional compensation under Jones Act Law. To learn more, order our free book, “An Employee’s Guide to Maritime Injury Law.”

If you are not receiving adequate maintenance and cure, or you feel your employer was responsible for your injury, contact our Jones Act attorneys at (866) 938-6113 to find out of you have a case.

Labels: injured offshore rights Jones Act attorney Jones act lawyer jones act rights maintenance and cure offshore accident injury

8/31/2009
Timothy J. Young
Comments (0)

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.

Labels: Jones act lawyer jones act rights maintenance and cure Maritime law attorney medical treatment offshore accident injury

General

4/12/2010
Timothy J. Young
Comments (0)

Learn More About The Health Concerns Associated With Offshore Oil Rig Asbestos Exposure

Many Jones Act seamen and maritime workers did not know that asbestos fibers were used in the drilling mud on offshore oil rigs from the 1960s through the mid-1980s. Asbestos related health problems include mesothelioma, asbestosis and even a significantly higher chance of lung cancer particularly in tobacco smokers.

Labels: asbestos Jones act lawyer Louisiana Jones Act Law medical treatment Mesothelioma