Houston, Texas Jones Act Lawyer and Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and Gulf Coast Maritime Lawyer
The Jones Act allows offshore workers, divers and other maritime workers to obtain compensation for injuries sustained while the employee is engaged in work that contributes to either the function of the vessel or the purpose of its voyage.
We realize that working aboard a ship, towboat, rig, offshore tug, crewboat, platform, jack-up rig, or any other type of commercial maritime vessel can be difficult work. But employers and vessel owners have a duty to ensure that their vessels are free from dangers and to warn maritime workers of any hazardous conditions in their workplace. Because the processes of determining liability and awarding appropriate compensation under the Jones Act can vary widely, the guidance of qualified counsel is essential to achieve a full and equitable recovery.
Obtaining compensation for injuries under the Jones Act involves several challenges, including:
- Proving that the plaintiff's injuries are the result of employer or co-worker negligence.
- Ensuring that the case is filed within the applicable statute of limitations
- Identifying the worker's status at the time of injury
- Determining which remedies are available, and selecting those that will provide the greatest financial recovery to the injured worker
- Analyzing the benefits of filing suit in state versus federal court
To begin the process of 1) proving the cause and extent of your injuries, 2) establishing your eligibility to file and pursue a claim under the Jones Act and 3) ensuring that your claim is filed on time, contact the experienced and skilled Jones Act attorneys at Fitts Zehl, LLP.
Our Texas Maritime Lawyers have Obtained Substantial Recoveries for Injured Maritime and Offshore Workers under the Jones Act and General Maritime Laws
The Jones Act and maritime lawyers at Fitts Zehl LLP have recovered significant damage awards for offshore workers along the entire Gulf Coast, including workers in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Virginia and Alabama. Injuries covered under the Jones Act range from back and knee injuries, to dismemberment and severe burns resulting from onboard fires and explosions. Other common maritime accidents involve pressurized pipes and pipe caps, ship/port and ship/platform collisions, jack-up and submersible rigs, and unseaworthy vessels.
We work with a broad team of medical, financial and accident investigation professionals to establish legal liability and obtain the maximum compensation available We have recovered damages and maintenance and cure benefits for hundreds of injured clients, including past and future medical expenses, loss of income, and pain and suffering.
Because the Jones Act is so complex, it is essential that you hire an attorney with experience in maritime law. Questions regarding the worker's location, distance from the shore, role, and duties when the injury occurred can greatly affect the worker's ability to recover damages, and are immediately investigated by the maritime lawyers at Fitts Zehl LLP.
It is also essential to correctly determine whether the Jones Act, Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act, workers' compensation law or general state or maritime liability laws apply. The experienced maritime attorneys at Fitts Zehl will work aggressively to ensure that you receive the greatest recovery for your damages and that valuable time is not wasted pursuing a claim under an invalid or incorrect liability theory.
Under the Jones Act, maritime employers owe their workers a number of duties, including:
- Providing a safe work environment, and safe equipment, tools, and safety devices
- Inspecting the work environment to ensure that it is safe and free of hazards
- Providing adequate training, supervision and assistance to workers
- Taking measures to ensure that workers are safe from the harmful intentional acts of others
- Adopting and Enforcing safety rules and regulations
Contact Our Jones Act Lawyers Today
If you have been injured in a maritime or offshore accident in Alabama, Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Mississippi (including New Orleans, Houma, Port Fourchon, Cameron, Mobile, Gulfport) or anywhere else along the coast, contact the offshore injury lawyers at Fitts Zehl LLP. We offer free initial consultations and employ in-house Spanish-language speakers. We work on a contingency-fee basis so that you pay nothing unless we win. Our offices are centrally located in the Galleria Financial Center. To contact us, call 866-586-8988.
