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Category: Maritime Injuries

Marine Pilot Injured on the Job? These Are Your Legal Rights

Maritime Injuries Apr 28, 2022

The job of a marine pilot is extremely important. It can also be extremely dangerous. From negligent boat captains to high seas, there are many issues that can put a marine pilot’s life on the line. Even if an accident isn’t life-threatening, it can still cause life-altering injuries. From chronic pain and physical disabilities to mounting medical bills and the inability to earn a living, accidents on the water often leave marine pilots facing substantial losses. 5 Important Facts About Injured Marine Pilots’ Legal Rights If you are a marine pilot and you have been injured on the job, here is what you need to know about your legal rights: 1. Marine Pilots Can Seek Compensation for All Types of Accidents The marine pilot’s job is unique in that it entails a broad range of risks. While marine pilots are tasked with ensuring that large ships make it safely to port, marine pilots’ own safety often goes ignored. As a result, marine pilots frequently suffer injuries in accidents involving: Negligent pilot boat operation Negligent operation of large ships and other vessels Being forced to pilot vessels in dangerous weather or sea conditions Pilot ladder (or Jacob’s ladder) failures Slips, trips, and falls on deck Falls overboard Collisions between pilot boats and other vessels 2. Marine Pilots Can Seek Compensation for All Types of Injuries If you were injured on the job as a marine pilot, there is a good chance that you are entitled to financial compensation regardless of the […]

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A Look Back at Maritime Accidents in 2021

Maritime Injuries Feb 2, 2022

Every year there are numerous maritime accidents in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the Gulf of Mexico, and other waters around the world. Unfortunately, 2021 was no exception. There were dozens of serious and fatal accidents last year. While some of these accidents made national or international headlines, most are known only to those who were involved or who lost loved ones too soon.

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Maritime Safety for Veterans

Maritime Injuries Aug 10, 2021

Many U.S. military veterans transition into the commercial maritime industry following their retirement from service. There are many careers in the commercial maritime industry that are well-suited to military veterans’ training and skills, and veterans often spend long careers as “merchant mariners” in both inshore and offshore waters.

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Why Docks are Dangerous for Maritime Workers

Maritime Injuries Jul 1, 2021

Seaman and Other Maritime Workers Need to be Mindful of the Potential Hazards of Working on a Dock Working on a dock can be dangerous. Docks present various risks, and workers can – and do – suffer various types of injuries. While dock owners and employers should take steps to mitigate these risks, many fail to do so, and these failures often have severe consequences.

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5 Important Facts for Offshore Workers Who Live in Florida

Maritime Injuries May 28, 2021

Many Florida residents work offshore. If you are among them, it is important to make sure you have a clear understanding of your legal rights—especially when you get injured on the job. Here are five important facts for offshore workers from Florida maritime injury lawyer David P. Willis: Fact #1: Most Offshore Workers are Entitled to “No-Fault” Benefits When They Get Injured on the Job There are two primary laws that protect offshore workers: (i) the Jones Act and (ii) the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA). Both of these laws entitle offshore workers to “no-fault” benefits when they get injured on the job. The right to “no-fault” benefits means that you can file a claim regardless of how you got injured. Whether your employer is responsible, a coworker made a mistake or you accidentally caused your own injury, you should talk to a Florida maritime injury lawyer about filing a claim under the Jones Act or the OCSLA. Fact #2: Many Offshore Workers Can Seek Additional Compensation for Fault In addition to “no-fault” benefits, many offshore workers can seek fault-based compensation as well. The Jones Act allows offshore workers to sue their employers for even “slight” negligence, and offshore workers will often have fault-based claims against other companies as well. For example, if you got injured on a rig, platform or vessel, the owner of the rig, platform or vessel may be liable. Or, if you got injured by a defective tool or piece of equipment, the manufacturer may […]

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What are Your Legal Rights After a Shrimp Boat Accident in Georgia?

Maritime Injuries May 21, 2021

It’s shrimp season in Georgia, and this means that shrimp boats are once again hitting the water. Unfortunately, this also means that many individuals who work on shrimp boats will soon suffer injuries on the job. While shrimp boat owners and operators should protect their workers, many of them cut corners, and many workers end up needing to hire a Georgia maritime accident lawyer to help them recover just compensation. Here are your legal rights when you get injured in a shrimp boat accident in Georgia: Right to Jones Act “Maintenance and Cure” Benefits The Jones Act is a federal law that protects offshore workers, including Georgia residents who work on shrimp boats. Under the Jones Act, shrimp boat workers can collect “maintenance and cure” benefits when they suffer job-related injuries. These benefits are available on a no-fault basis, which means that you can collect them no matter how you got injured on the job. Right to Sue for “Jones Act Negligence” Shrimp boat workers also have the right to sue their employers for “Jones Act negligence.” This is important because “maintenance and cure” benefits do not cover all of the costs associated with job-related injuries. If your employer is responsible for your injury (for example, if it failed to follow any necessary safety precautions), then a Georgia maritime accident lawyer can help you file a claim for full compensation. Right to Sue for Unseaworthiness If you got injured because your shrimp boat was unsafe, you may also be able […]

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Maritime Injury Claims in Mississippi: 5 Mistakes to Avoid

Maritime Injuries Apr 30, 2021

If you work offshore, as a shipbuilder or in any other maritime occupation, you need to be careful if you’ve been injured on the job. It is easy to make mistakes, and making mistakes could leave you without the compensation you deserve. To protect yourself, you need to rely on the advice of an experienced Mississippi maritime injury attorney, and you should contact an attorney as soon as possible. Mistakes to Avoid When Seeking Compensation for a Maritime Injury in Mississippi At Willis Law Firm, our practice is devoted to helping maritime workers collect maximum benefits for their job-related injuries. Here are five costly mistakes our Mississippi maritime injury attorneys can help you avoid: 1. Waiting to Report Your Injury at Work In order to seek benefits, you need to report your injury at work as soon as possible. You need to make sure you do this correctly in order to protect your legal rights. If you leave out important information, or if you accidentally report information that isn’t accurate, this could lead to a denial of benefits. We can report your injury for you, and we can conduct a thorough investigation to make sure we have all of the information we need to help you collect payment. 2. Waiting to Seek Medical Treatment After getting injured on the job, it is also important that you seek medical treatment as soon as possible. In some cases, this will mean seeing a ship doctor or other “company doctor.” However, maritime laws […]

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Do You Need an Attorney to File a Jones Act Claim in Louisiana?

Jones Act Apr 16, 2021

If you live in Louisiana and got injured working offshore, you may be able to collect financial compensation by filing a claim under the Jones Act. While some offshore workers try to file Jones Act claims on their own, this is a mistake—and it often proves incredibly costly. Your best option is to hire an experienced Louisiana maritime injury attorney to help you, and you can do so at no out-of-pocket cost. 5 Reasons to Hire an Attorney for Your Jones Act Claim in Louisiana Why should you hire an attorney for your Jones Act claim in Louisiana? Here are five important reasons to seek experienced legal representation: 1. There are Strict Legal Requirements for Filing a Jones Act Claim The Jones Act is a federal law that provides benefits to qualifying offshore and maritime workers. But, in order to secure Jones Act benefits, you need to meet the law’s strict requirements. If you make any mistakes when filing your Jones Act claim, you could end up without the benefits you deserve. 2. There are Different Types of Jones Act Claims Many offshore and maritime workers do not realize that there are different types of Jones Act claims. While maintenance and cure benefits are available under the Jones Act on a “no-fault” basis, these benefits are limited—and they are not the only benefits available. In many cases, injured workers can seek additional compensation for unseaworthiness and Jones Act negligence. 3. You Are Responsible for Calculating Your Losses When you file […]

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