Resources

Get Help From a Mississippi Maritime Injury Attorney At Willis Law Firm, we help people injured in tugboat, barge and other offshore accidents get back on their feet with the full assistance available under the law. Whether it is a slip and fall on a cluttered deck, an equipment malfunction that causes a crushing accident, or an operational mistake that leads to a crash with another vessel, mishaps offshore can cause serious and even life threatening injuries. There is no reason to go it alone. A Mississippi maritime injury attorney at our maritime law firm can help you understand your rights and explore your options. Benefits and Compensation for Seamen and Other Workers Accident injuries can have a significant and lasting impact both for the maritime worker injured and his or her family, which includes expensive medical bills and limits on your ability to earn a living. That is where the Jones Act comes in. The century-old law makes tugboat and other maritime workers eligible for medical benefits and other compensation for injuries and illnesses incurred aboard a vessel, which includes money for missed wages and other costs of living while you are recuperating onshore.  This is a “no-fault” law, meaning you do not need to prove that your employer or some third-party was to blame for the accident in order to get benefits and compensation. Instead, you must simply prove that you are a “seaman” covered by the law and that you were injured or contracted an illness while […]

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Louisiana Maritime Injury Attorney Representing Injured Barge and Tugboat Workers  Maritime workers are a central part of Louisiana’s culture and economy who often put their own safety at risk as part of their day to day jobs. As our Louisiana maritime injury lawyer can attest, maritime accidents happen frequently, and they often come with significant physical and financial consequences, both for the person injured and his or her family. When maritime workers are injured in accidents on barges, tugboats, and elsewhere offshore, they have the right a wide range of compensation and benefits. The Louisiana Jones Act lawyers at The Willis Law Firm has been helping people injured in these accidents navigate the legal process for more than three decades. Common Types of Maritime Accidents Explained by a Louisiana Maritime Injury Attorney Maritime accidents, including barge accidents, come in many shapes and forms. Some of the most common maritime accidents include: Slip, Trip and Fall Accidents on Vessels As with construction site and premise liability accidents, slip, trip and fall accidents are very common in the maritime industry. What makes these types of accidents particularly dangerous in the maritime industry is the potential of falling overboard as a result of a slip or trip. Vessel decks are commonly crowded, uneven, wet, and slippery.  A Louisiana Maritime Injury Attorney Can Help After a Falling Overboard Incident Falling overboard is likely the type of accident that most people think of first when they consider maritime accidents. Workers or guests may fall overboard […]

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Picture it: You’ve booked the vacation of a lifetime, and it was supposed to be a time when you and your loved ones should have been enjoying the warm breeze of a tropical paradise and relaxing on white sandy beaches. However, instead, you end up sustaining severe injuries due to the negligence of the cruiseliner. If this has happened to you, the cruise ship injury attorneys at Willis Law Firm are here for you.  Unfortunately, both passengers and crew members aboard a cruise ship can be seriously hurt or even killed from various types of cruise ship accidents. That being the case, you should note that the attorneys at Willis Law Firm are different — we put clients first. Our firm is committed to holding cruise ship owners accountable.  We fight for injured passengers to get proper compensation for the injuries sustained while onboard a cruise ship.   Typical Injuries That Cruisers Can Face Our cruise ship attorneys have decades of experience representing individuals, including passengers and crew members, injured in maritime-related accidents, such as those that occur while aboard cruise ships. We have a deep understanding of maritime laws, so we can offer highly skilled representation to cruisers and/or cruise workers who have been hurt while onboard the vessel.   Some common accidents and injuries that cruisers face include, but are not limited to: Slips, trips and falls  Violence, rapes, and assaults,  Alcohol-related incidents Drowning from falling overboard  Fires and mechanical issues Weather issues and rough sea accidents Sadly, some passengers […]

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Arkansas Barge Accident Lawyer Explains Protecting Workers from Maritime Injuries Arkansas offers various waterways such as the Port of Little Rock, the Port of Pine Bluff, and various river terminals for water transportation using vessels such as barges and tugboats. With a large amount of maritime traffic using these waterways in  Arkansas each year and because of the nature of the dangerous work completed by workers aboard these vessels, accidents are inevitable and can unexpectedly occur in the blink of an eye. When these accidents are caused because of the negligence of a vessel’s owner, operator, or other crew members, there are some special maritime laws that protect these maritime workers and provide them the right to seek compensation from the negligent parties with the help of an Arkansas barge accident or tugboat injury lawyer.  At the federal level, maritime workers performing work on and off vessels near navigable waters may be covered under either the Jones Act or the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA). The Jones Act and LHWCA provide compensation to various maritime workers injured while working aboard a vessel, such as a tugboat or barge, or working offshore performing such tasks as loading, unloading, or repairing a vessel. Jones Act Protection for Arkansas Workers If you are a seaman and have been injured on a ship or vessel you may be able to file a negligence suit against your employer under the Jones Act. The Jones Act is a federal statute that provides injured seamen […]

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Maritime work is dangerous.  In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, maritime workers, especially those in marine terminals and ports, have a higher fatality, injury, and illness rate than other categories of workers in the United States.  From 2011-2017, the CDC reported that maritime worker deaths occurred at an annual rate of 15.9 per 100,000 workers (a rate five times that of the U.S. workforce overall).  The nonfatal injury rate for maritime workers is double that of the U.S. workforce overall.   Because such work is so dangerous, safety aboard a vessel is key to preventing injuries. Vessel owners and operators must follow numerous safety laws, guidelines, and regulations established by governmental entities such as the U.S. Coast Guard and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).  These, and other governmental agencies, put together free safety resources to help vessel owners and operators exercise safety aboard their vessels to reduce workers’ injuries.  Below are some sample resources available for free: Deck Barge Safety  Safety and Health Regulations for Longshoring Equipment Approval Standards Development Unfortunately, even with safety regulations and free safety resources, owners and operators sometimes fail to maintain a safe and seaworthy vessel, which causes accidents and injuries to maritime workers that could have been prevented. Common accidents and injuries sustained by workers include slips and falls from oily deck surfaces, falling off defective ladders, severe back injuries from lifting heavy cables and lines, fractured and broken bones, drowning from falling overboard, amputated limbs, exposures to […]

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If You’ve Been Injured, Let Our Iowa Tugboat Injury Lawyer Help Iowa has various waterways used by Iowa tugboats, including three main ports: the Port of Burlington, Port of Dubuque, and the Port of Keokuk. Many maritime employees work aboard tugboats in Iowa each year. Unfortunately, many tugboat workers are injured each year because of the dangers of the job — some severely.  Below are four common causes of tugboat accidents and injuries each year, as explained by an Iowa tugboat injury lawyer. Operator Errors Causing Vessel Collisions A majority of boating accidents that occur each year are from operator error, which in some situations leads to vessel collisions.  Vessel operators need to learn how to operate and navigate tugboats properly.  Operators should receive appropriate education and certifications as required by law.  Unfortunately, unqualified tugboat operators have caused several incidents that have caused serious bodily injury and, in some situations, even death to workers aboard the tugboat, passengers aboard other vessels, and sometimes even innocent bystanders. Tugboats are typically smaller vessels, so exceptional operational and navigational skills are essential to keep those aboard a tugboat safe.  Safety Hazards Onboard  Before a tugboat departs from the dock, it is essential that crewmembers properly inspect the boat to ensure it is safe. Issues such as oily surfaces, mechanical breakdowns, and poor safety equipment can cause accidents while the tugboat is in the navigable waters heading to and from its destination.   Tugboat Mechanical and Operational Failures Unfortunately, even with the strictest and most […]

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The U.S. Coast Guard and OSHA set federal safety standards and regulations that barge owners, including those operating in Iowa ports, must follow. Below are four things you need to know about Iowa maritime law, as well as the possible legal remedies available to individuals injured by a barge in Iowa waterways.  What Ports Are Available For Transporting Cargo in Iowa? Iowa has three main ports, including the Port of Burlington, Port of Dubuque, and Port of Keokuk. The Port of Burlington is located in southeastern Iowa in Des Moines County, Iowa, and is on the Mississippi River’s western shores.  The Port of Burlington is a hub for the micropolitan area of West Burlington and Middleton, Iowa, and Gulf Port, Illinois.  The Port of Dubuque is located in downtown Dubuque, Iowa, positioned near the upper Mississippi River inside the protected Ice Harbor. Visitors and residents enjoy the many downtown and Port of Dubuque attractions.   The Port of Keokuk is located in southeast Iowa and lies at the mouth of the Des Moines River where it meets the Mississippi River. The Port of Keokuk has a diverse economy based on agriculture, wholesale distribution and trade, and manufacturing. Lee County has two county seats: the Port of Keokuk and Fort Madison.  Thousands of residents, maritime workers, and visitors are in and out of these busy ports each year.   U.S. Coast Guard and OSHA Safety Standards Apply to Barge Owners The U.S. Coast Guard and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issue […]

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The maritime industry is very large, including over a million maritime workers across the world.  Because seamen work aboard vessels in confined spaces and close quarters to each other, such conditions are favorable for the spread of airborne diseases like COVID-19.  It is easy for germs to spread aboard vessels, especially those not kept in the highest sanitary conditions during a global pandemic. Unfortunately, maritime workers worldwide are struggling to stay safe due to the rampant spread of the highly contagious COVID-19.  If you or a loved one became seriously ill from working aboard a vessel, suffered damages, and don’t know where to turn, contact an experienced maritime injury lawyer at Willis Law Firm.  Our attorneys put clients first and are dedicated to protecting injured or ill workers from hazardous and unsanitary work conditions.  Extended Contract Periods Cause Maritime Workers to Become Fatigued, Sustaining Serious Injuries In addition to the challenges of staying safe from COVID-19 while working, some maritime workers are being forced to remain on ships past their contract period. This causes workers to become tired and mentally exhausted, making them no longer fit to safely perform their maritime work duties. Tired crew members and overextended work trips can, unfortunately, lead to serious accidents and injuries, such as: Slip and falls from oily deck surfaces,  Falling off defective ladders, Injuries from lifting heavy cables and lines,  Fractured and broken bones,  Drowning from falling overboard,  Amputated limbs, Burns from fires and explosions onboard, Exposures to toxic chemicals, and  Death. […]

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Maritime Workers Are Hurt Every Year Yearly, thousands of maritime workers are injured while working aboard a vessel in the navigable waters. Sometimes accidents occur for various reasons such as operator errors, safety hazards onboard, mechanical issues, improperly trained maritime workers, fires and explosions onboard, and failure to maintain safety standards, among other issues.  However, some workers are injured or even killed because of severe weather conditions that hit the open seas while workers are traveling to and from their destinations, as was the case with a livestock ship that sank off Japan’s coast earlier this year. If you or a loved one were injured while working aboard a vessel, the experienced maritime accident lawyers at Willis Law Firm are standing by to help you with your case.   Maritime Workers Killed When Gulf Livestock 1 Sank In early September 2020, Typhoon Masak hit Japan’s coast, causing very rough seas and dangerous weather conditions.  Only days later, a ship known as Gulf Livestock 1 carrying approximately 6,000 head of cattle and 43 maritime workers sank. The livestock ship departed from New Zealand and was headed to China with cattle. On September 2, only days after the typhoon hit, a distress call was received from the ship just off Japan’s coast. Unfortunately, only a few survivors were rescued by the Japanese coast guard from the distressed ship.  One survivor told officials that the ship had lost an engine and then capsized after a wave hit the ship.   It is essential for shipowners […]

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Millions of Americans either work aboard a vessel or enjoy recreational boating each year.  While doing so, it is important to take certain safety precautions to prevent serious injuries, including death.  Below are four tips to decrease injuries while aboard a vessel in Louisiana.  Wear U.S. Coast Guard-Approved Life Jackets  Barge workers and individuals enjoying recreational boating activities should wear life jackets while aboard a vessel that are appropriately-sized and approved by the U.S. Coast Guard.  You should always make sure your life jacket is in good condition before departing on your voyage.   Avoid Drinking Alcohol Before or During Working on a Barge or Recreational Boating Outings Vessel operators and passengers should avoid drinking alcoholic beverages before or during working or recreating on a boat or vessel.  Alcohol has been proven to impair cognitive abilities, affect judgment, and compromise balance, which can cause injuries such as falling overboard, slipping and falling, or even colliding with another vessel.   Use the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and U.S. Power Squadron’s Vessel Safety Check Service Before departing on a voyage, the operator of a vessel (and/or vessel owner) should use the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and U.S. Power Squadron’s Vessel Safety Check Service.  This service encourages checking items such as display numbers, registration documents, personal flotation devices, visual distress signals, fire extinguishers, navigation lights, and more.  Below are some additional safety resources from the U.S. Coast Guard and OSHA: U.S. Coast Guard Lifesaving and Fire Safety Division OSHA Deck Barge Safety  OSHA Safety and […]

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