No two workplace injury claims are exactly alike. If you or one of your loved ones was injured in an on-the-job explosion, a Jones Act maritime accident lawyer can help you recover damages.
The lawyers at Poolson | Oden have more than 80 years of combined experience. If you were injured in an explosion while working at sea, a Jones Act maritime accident explosion injury lawyer in Louisiana can help you obtain compensation.
How a Louisiana Jones Act Maritime Accident Explosion Injury Lawyer Can Help
A workplace explosion can leave you dealing with serious, potentially life-threatening injuries.
A Louisiana Jones Act maritime accident explosion injury lawyer can:
- Clarify your right to Jones Act compensation based on your maritime work
- Consult medical, financial, and maritime experts whose testimony can support your claim
- Document the explosion and its physical and financial consequences
- Handle all case-related paperwork, filings, and communication
- Represent you at the negotiation table and advise you on each offer
- Help you file a lawsuit and go to court if your employer refuses to take responsibility for the explosion and your injuries
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What Types of Compensation are Available?
A maritime explosion can cause devastating physical, emotional, and financial losses.
Through a Jones Act and general maritime law claim, you may be able to recover compensation for a variety of damages, such as:
- Medical expenses: You can recover compensation for emergency treatment, hospital stays, surgeries, medications, rehabilitation, and future medical care related to your injuries.
- Lost wages: You can seek compensation for income you lost while you were recovering from the explosion.
- Loss of future earning capacity: If your injuries prevent you from returning to your previous occupation or limit your ability to earn a living, you can recover damages for lost future income.
- Pain and suffering: You can receive compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, mental anguish, and reduced quality of life.
- Disfigurement and permanent disability: If you suffered serious burns, amputations, or other permanent injuries, you may receive additional compensation.
- Maintenance and cure benefits: Maritime employers generally must provide maintenance and cure benefits regardless of fault. These benefits typically cover basic living expenses and medical bills while you recover.
- Wrongful death damages: If you lost a loved one in a fatal explosion, you and your family may be entitled to pursue compensation through a wrongful death claim.
How Long Do You Have to File a Jones Act Claim?
You have a limited window of opportunity to file your Jones Act injury claim. According to U.S. Code 46 § 30106, you generally have three years to file. If you miss this deadline, you will likely forfeit the right to pursue compensation for your injuries.
The sooner you get us involved in your case, the more time our accident injury attorneys will have to conduct a thorough investigation and build a strong claim.
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How Do You Prove Negligence?
To prove the negligence that led to the explosion, our maritime injury attorneys can collect:
- Proof of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and other safety violations
- Coworker and other witness statements
- Photos and video footage
- Injury-related medical records and bills
- Official police and vessel records and reports
Our lawyers can also collect evidence you might find difficult to obtain or emotionally triggering, including death certificates and information on vessel repair and maintenance.
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What is the Jones Act?
The Jones Act is a federal law that provides legal protection for injured seamen. Officially known as the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, the law allows maritime workers to file claims against their employers when their employers’ negligence causes or contributes to an injury.
Unlike traditional workers’ compensation, the Jones Act permits injured maritime workers to seek damages directly from their employers. This can result in significantly greater compensation.
Even if your employer’s negligence played only a small role in the explosion that injured you, you may still have a valid Jones Act claim.
Who is Covered Under the Jones Act?
Not every offshore worker qualifies for protection under the Jones Act. The law specifically applies to seamen who spend a substantial portion of their time at work contributing to the function or mission of a vessel in navigation.
Maritime workers who may qualify include:
- Offshore supply vessel crew members
- Tugboat workers
- Deckhands
- Captains and pilots
- Barge workers
- Commercial fishermen
- Drill ship employees
- Crew members on offshore support vessels
A Jones Act maritime accident explosion injury attorney in Louisiana can evaluate your employment status and explain whether you are eligible to file a Jones Act claim.
Common Causes of Maritime Explosion Injuries
The maritime industry is fraught with dangers, including explosions that can cause serious injuries and even fatalities.
Some commonly reported causes of explosions in the industry include:
- Maritime industry vehicle and vessel collisions
- Flawed or faulty equipment and machinery
- Negligent handling or storage of flammable materials
- Negligent handling or storage of dangerous chemicals
- Improperly discarded cigarettes and smoking materials
Our explosion injury lawyers can investigate the exact cause of the explosion you were involved in and prove the negligence that led to it.
Common Injuries in Maritime Explosions
Explosions on offshore vessels and maritime worksites often cause life-altering injuries.
Some of the most common ones sustained by maritime workers include:
- Burn injuries: Explosions frequently cause severe thermal and chemical burns that require extensive treatment, skin grafts, and long-term rehabilitation.
- Traumatic brain injuries: Blast waves and flying objects can cause concussions and serious brain trauma that affect memory, concentration, and cognitive function.
- Spinal cord injuries: Workers may suffer partial or complete paralysis when explosions cause falls or violent collisions.
- Broken bones: The force of an explosion can result in multiple fractures throughout the body.
- Hearing loss: Blast-related injuries often damage the ears and cause permanent hearing impairment.
- Eye injuries: Flying debris, chemicals, and intense heat can cause significant vision damage or even blindness.
- Internal injuries: Explosions may cause organ damage, internal bleeding, and other life-threatening conditions.
- Psychological trauma: Many survivors develop anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after a catastrophic maritime accident.
What to Do After a Maritime Explosion
The steps you take after a maritime explosion can affect both your health and your ability to pursue compensation through an offshore accident claim.
It’s important to:
- Seek immediate medical treatment: Visit a doctor to get treated and document your condition.
- Report the accident: Notify your supervisor or employer as soon as possible and ensure the incident is formally documented.
- Follow your doctor‘s recommendations: Attend all follow-up appointments and follow your doctor’s treatment plan.
- Preserve evidence: If possible, keep all photographs, medical records, witness information, and other documents related to the accident.
- Avoid giving recorded statements: Insurance representatives may contact you shortly after the incident. Don’t give a statement until you consult an attorney.
- Document your losses: Keep records of all medical expenses, lost income, and other accident-related costs.
- Consult a maritime injury lawyer: Our offshore injury lawyers can investigate the explosion and guide you through the process of filing a maritime claim.
Get a Free Jones Act Maritime Injury Claim Consultation
When a maritime explosion occurs, the consequences can be catastrophic. If you or someone you love was injured in a workplace explosion, a Louisiana Jones Act maritime accident explosion injury attorney from Poolson | Oden can investigate the accident, deal with the insurance company, and help you recover fair compensation.
We want to represent you from start to finish so you can focus on getting better. Schedule a free confidential case review to start building your claim.
