|
|
Cueria Law Firm, L.L.C. spends a significant portion of their practice representing workers injured or killed in accidents which fall under admiralty or maritime law. The following are some types of maritime cases we handle. For help with your particular claim, you should contact our office directly.
Offshore Drilling Vessels
Special purpose drilling vessels, known as jackup rigs, semisubmersibles or drillships are used to drill oil and gas wells in the Gulf of Mexico and in waters of the North Sea, off the coast of Africa and South America.
Unfortunately, crew members of these rigs often get hurt due to the negligence of their employer, a third party or because of the unseaworthiness of the vessel. Our firm is experienced in representing people hurt offshore. We know what kind of dedication, hard work and resources it takes to successfully handle this type of case.
Supply and Crew Boats
These vessels are the fundamental way that people and property are transported around the Gulf of Mexico for offshore jackups, semi-submersibles and fixed platforms. These boats very often operate around the clock in varying weather conditions. The members of the crew of each such vessel are owed the absolute duty by his employer to provide a seaworthy vessel. This means that the vessel should comply with Coast Guard and industry standards and should have a properly trained crew to operate the vessel.
We have represented many crewmen and passengers hurt due to the negligence of another crewman or the unseaworthiness of the vessel. Through the years, we've represented persons hurt in many different ways. In most instances, the injured person could have avoided an accident had the boat owner provided a competent crew and seaworthy vessel. We have experts available to inspect and investigate these types of accidents to assist the injured party in his claim to recover damages.
Tugs and Barges
The crewmen who man the tugs and barges of our waterways, the Gulf of Mexico and oceans waters are vital to the Untied States economy. Unfortunately, these crewmembers get hurt often through no fault of their own, do to the negligence of parties such as their employer, a crew member, unseaworthy vessel conditions or even defective equipment. These crewmen are generally considered Jones Act Seamen and thus are accorded special protection and are considered"wards of the court". For example, when they are injured, they are entitled to maintain a claim against their employer if negligence was involved and to collect damages. Additionally, without regard to fault, they are also entitled to maintenance and cure (medical treatment) at the cost of the employer or vessel operator / owner until reaching the point of maximum medical improvement (when they can get no better).
Inland Drilling Vessels
Just as jackup rigs and semi-submersibles are considered special purpose vessels, inland drilling vessels are usually considered in the same category. The Crew of such drill barges is usually given the special protection of Jones Act seamen by the courts and maintains the right to sue their employer for its negligence in causing an injury or for the vessel owner's/operator's failure to provide a seaworthy vessel. Our firm is prepared to handle these types of cases involving a large range of types of accidents from injuries due to slip and falls to explosions and the catastrophic results which may follow.
Lay Barges
After the drilling is done offshore, oil and gas must be piped to land, or if produced on land, it often has to be piped across the waters of South Louisiana. A lay barge will often lay these pipelines. The pipe is welded together on the barge and is then released (layed) in the form of a long continuously welded pipeline down behind the barge as it moves forward. The work is dangerous and often involves long hours and extreme temperatures.
The people who work on these barges including welders, riggers, mechanics or crane operators are usually considered seamen because they contribute to the " mission of the vessel" and are considered " wards of the court" with special protection under the Jones Act. As discussed earlier, Jones Act Seamen are able to assert claims against their employer for damages caused by negligence and are also entitled to maintenance and cure.
We have successfully represented persons injured on lay barges in a variety of work capacities in various bodies of water.
Dredges
One only need to look along the rivers, bayous and ports of Louisiana and the gulf coast to see Dredges at work.
These dredges often work around the clock and may have smaller support vessels under their control to help transfer men to and from shore and to assist in the make up and discharge of pipe connections. Injuries occasionally occur during the use of small push boats that are vital to the dredge's operation. The crewmen of such dredges are usually Jones Act seamen because they contribute to "the mission of the vessel" and are afforded the special protection of seamen. As discussed earlier, Jones Act Seamen are able to assert claims against their employer for damages caused by negligence and are also entitled to maintenance and cure.
We've handled many cases involving dredges and are familiar with the aspects of dredging operations.
Production Platforms
Workers that are hurt on fixed platform of the Outer Continental Shelf of the Gulf of Mexico are not generally governed by Maritime Law. The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act mandates (subject to a few exceptions) that the substantive law of the adjacent state controls the rights of most persons injured on fixed platforms.
Often, such person's only right will be to collect benefits pursuant to the Longshore and Harbor worker's Compensation Act. This is because platform workers are rarely allowed to sue their employer like a Jones Act Seaman. Factual questions determine whether injured platform workers will be able to be classified as Jones Act or Maritime Workers or limited to compensation. We have handled many such cases and have experience applying the facts and law to assist a person to gain maximum remedies under the Maritime Law or Compensation Laws.
If a third party was at fault, or other condition such as a defective product, caused the persons injury, then a tort remedy (lawsuit) may be available to the injured party in addition to compensation remedies.
Do you have a claim? Contact us or call us at 1-800-899-7102.
|
|
