If you are a maritime worker who suffered a hand, foot, arm, or leg injury on the job, our team can help you understand your options for pursuing compensation. A Metairie Jones Act maritime accident extremities injury lawyer from our law firm could help you recover money for your medical care, lost income, and other key expenses and losses.
A Metairie Jones Act maritime accident lawyer from Poolson | Oden Injury Lawyers understands how to build effective Jones Act cases. We have secured over $30 million in the last five years for people just like you. Contact us today for a free consultation with our team—we look forward to seeing how we can help you.
How Our Metairie Jones Act Lawyers Approach Maritime Accident Extremity Injury Cases
At Poolson | Oden, our team of Metairie personal injury lawyers has more than 80 years of combined experience. This includes the specialized knowledge and experience necessary to navigate maritime injury claims under the Jones Act. Ordinary workplace injury attorneys do not or cannot manage these cases.
Our case results and testimonials show that our boots-on-the-ground approach is effective in recovering compensation for our clients in these cases. We investigate the case immediately upon being hired, we work to preserve all evidence by sending spoliation letters to all involved parties including your employer, we research the best available options to file your lawsuit, and conduct extensive discovery and jury research to thoroughly learn and understand your case in order to give us the best opportunity to present your case to the jury if the liable parties do not take responsibility and pay appropriate money for your accident. This sets us apart from the competition.
We also apply something we call “Our Promise to You” in every case. A key component of this promise is that your health and well-being always come first. We make sure you reach maximum medical improvement, so we are seeking full compensation for your expenses and losses, both current and future.
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How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Jones Act Injury Lawyer for an Extremities Injury?
Our Metairie, LA, attorneys represent injured maritime and offshore workers based on contingency. We do not ask you to pay any fees or legal costs during your case. We only take our fees and other expenses from the money we secure for you. We only get paid after you do.
We will answer your questions about fees and our process during your free initial case consultation with our team. These consultations allow us to evaluate your options and explain how we can help. They are confidential and there is no obligation to hire our team unless you are ready to recover compensation in your case.
Our Metairie Maritime Accident Lawyers Understand How the Jones Act Applies in Extremities Injury Cases
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Why Maritime Workers Don’t Have State Workers’ Compensation—and What That Means
Maritime workers face unique risks on the job, often working in hazardous conditions at sea or around ports. Unlike many other professions in the United States, maritime employees are not covered by state workers’ compensation programs. Instead, they must turn to federal maritime laws—most notably, the Jones Act—for legal protection and the ability to recover damages after a workplace injury or death. The Jones Act, officially known as a part of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, is a federal law that provides a way for maritime and offshore workers to recover compensation for on-the-job injuries. Under 46 U.S. Code § 30104, this law covers workers on ships, barges, fishing boats, offshore rigs, and more.
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No State Workers’ Compensation Protection
- State workers’ compensation laws generally do not apply to maritime employees. This exclusion means injured seamen cannot simply file a claim through a straightforward, fault-free system like land-based workers might.
- The reason: The federal government regulates maritime employment to provide consistent protections that fit the unique circumstances of sea-based work.
The Legal Burden on Injured Maritime Workers
Maritime workers who are hurt on the job must take specific legal action to secure compensation:
- Proving Negligence: Injured seamen must build a case demonstrating that their employer, vessel owner, or another party was negligent, and that this negligence played a role—however slight—in causing their injury or a loved one’s death.
- Filing a Lawsuit: Unlike standard workers’ compensation claims, most maritime injury claims require a formal lawsuit under the Jones Act (or a related statute, depending on the location and type of incident).
- This process involves evidence collection, documentation of injuries and damages, investigation of vessel conditions, and sometimes testimony from expert witnesses.
- Who Can Be Sued: Lawsuits often target the maritime worker’s employer, but can also include vessel owners, operators, or even third-party contractors or manufacturers, depending on the circumstances.
Why the Process Is More Complex
- No-fault vs. Fault-based: State workers’ comp is typically a “no-fault” system—benefits are paid regardless of who was at fault. By contrast, maritime law requires injured workers to prove fault or unseaworthiness, making claims more complex and adversarial.
- Limited Recourse Without Legal Action: Without a legal filing, there’s generally no guaranteed payout for lost wages, medical expenses, or long-term disability.
What This Means for Maritime Workers
- Legal Representation Is Important: Due to the complexities and higher burden of proof, maritime injury victims require experienced maritime attorneys to handle their claims.
- Potential for Higher Compensation: While the process is tougher, successful Jones Act claims can yield compensation for lost earnings, pain and suffering, medical bills, and more—often beyond what state workers’ comp provides.
Summary Table: Key Differences
| Aspect | State Workers’ Compensation | Maritime Law (Jones Act) |
| Coverage | Land-based employees | Seamen/maritime workers |
| Need to Prove Negligence | No | Yes |
| Claim Process | Admin claim, no lawsuit needed | Lawsuit typically required |
| Damages Available | Limited statutorily | Broader, includ. pain & suffering |
| Legal Assistance | Often unnecessary | Highly recommended |
Bottom line:
Because maritime workers are exempt from state workers’ compensation, they bear a greater responsibility to prove negligence and take legal action—most often against their employer—to recover the compensation they deserve after an injury or loss at sea.
The liable parties in maritime injury cases could include:
- The employer
- The boat owner
- The boat captain (if different from the employer)
- Third Parties / Subcontractors
In most of these cases, the injury occurred because there was a problem that occurred in the work environment. A hazard developed and those charged with protecting the workers and maintaining a safe workplace failed to do so. Many maritime injuries could be prevented by following all required safety protocols, providing training, and ensuring all workers have the proper equipment.
What Damages Are Available Through a Metairie Jones Act Maritime Accident Extremity Injury Claim?
Injuries to the hands, feet, arms, or legs can occur in many ways in a maritime environment. Some types of extremities injuries a maritime worker might suffer include:
- Crush injuries
- Amputations
- Fractures
- Lacerations
- Burns
- Dislocations
- Nerve damage and loss of use injuries
- Soft tissue injuries such as sprains or strains
Under the Jones Act, injured workers can claim a range of economic and non-economic losses. This could include:
- Emergency evacuation from the vessel or rig, if required
- Medical expenses
- Future care and support costs
- Lost wages and benefits
- Reduced earning capacity for lasting injuries
- Vocational rehabilitation for some workers
- Out-of-pocket costs
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Other non-economic damages
Our Jones Act Lawyers Understand How Extremities Injuries Occur in Maritime Work
Investigating, gathering evidence, and proving negligence is crucial in Jones Act cases. Our maritime injury attorneys understand how extremity injuries occur on sea-faring vessels and offshore rigs. We can help you build a case based on:
- A slip, trip, or other fall
- Heavy machinery accident
- Falling object
- Caught-in/between accident
- Crane or hoist failure
- Explosion or fire
- Line-handling accident
- Collision
- Mooring and anchoring accident
- Hydraulic system failure
We are also familiar with the safety regulations in place to prevent these accidents and the actions your employer, boat owner, and boat captain should be taking to protect you. If they failed to do so, we can hold them legally and financially responsible for your injuries and damages.
We generally have up to three years to file a Jones Act claim under 46 U.S.C. § 30106. However, building these cases takes time. Contact us as soon as possible and let us go to work while you heal.
Contact Our Team to Discuss Your Maritime Accident and Extremities Injury
At Poolson | Oden, we provide free, confidential consultations for injured maritime workers. We can assess your case and explain how a Metairie Jones Act maritime accident extremities injury lawyer from our team can fight for the compensation you deserve. Contact us today to get started.