New Orleans Maritime Lawyers

For residents of the New Orleans area, the maritime industry is a very big deal, indeed. The ports of Louisiana—the biggest in the world—form an important part of the global economy. Thousands of people across the state are employed as maritime or offshore workers.

If you live in this region, you likely know people who work in the maritime sector—you may be an active participant in this field yourself. If so, you probably know that this can be a difficult way to make a living, as work environments are typically fraught with multiple hazards, from harsh weather to toxic chemicals.

If you are employed in this tough industry, you need to ensure that you have access to experienced maritime injury attorney who can help in the event that you become severely ill or hurt in connection with your duties.

Offshore Accidents Can Be Serious

Maritime employment is hazardous—even more so than most people suspect. Threats to one’s health come from a number of sources. Weather conditions out at sea often shift dramatically with little advance notice, subjecting workers to high winds and vicious cold. Personnel who topple overboard can easily develop hypothermia, even if they are rescued promptly. Slip and fall accidents are all too common; an employee who walks into an open hatch can sustain major injuries. Equipment with moving parts sometimes mangles hands and arms.

Maritime personnel who get hurt on the job are entitled to one or more types of financial compensation. Your maritime accident lawyer will be able to explain in detail all the options available to you.

Maintenance and Cure

This is the most basic type of compensation for injured seamen. It consists of two distinct components. Maintenance refers to the weekly payments that the injured worker receives during the recovery period. Cure is the monetary compensation provided to cover the expenses associated with this recovery, such as hospital bills.

Additional Compensation

On top of this, you may qualify for other types of compensation, depending on the circumstances of your case. As a dedicated maritime law firm, we have a team of admiralty lawyers who understand all the potentially confusing aspects of legislation applicable to this field.