Spine injuries are often life-altering. As an offshore worker, you might be unable to return to work, lose mobility, or even be unable to live independently. You have options for pursuing compensation for your medical care, lost income, and other expenses and losses after an accident on the open sea. A New Orleans Jones Act maritime accident spine injury lawyer can help you build a case and protect your recovery.
A New Orleans Jones Act maritime accident lawyer at Poolson | Oden Injury Lawyers will handle your claim with no upfront costs to you or your family. We have recovered more than $30 million for our clients in the last 5 years, alone. We know how to build compelling cases and fight for fair compensation. Call us today for a free consultation with our team.
Let Our New Orleans Spine Injury Lawyers Seek Jones Act Damages for You
Maritime workers hurt on the job may turn to the Jones Act and General Maritime Law to recover compensation for their damages. The recoverable damages in a Jones Act claim include a wide range of related expenses and losses that the injured worker incurs because of the accident and injuries. Some examples include:
- Emergency evacuation from the vessel, if required
- Hospitalization and treatment
- Other medical care costs
- Future care and support needs
- Lost income and future lost ability to work and earn a living
- Non-economic losses, including mental and physical pain and suffering
These losses are challenging to evaluate on your own, but our New Orleans personal injury lawyers are equipped to review all of your losses and pursue the full value of your damages.
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Our New Orleans Jones Act Lawyers Have Unique Experience With These Cases
At Poolson | Oden, our attorneys have more than 80 years of combined experience handling serious injury cases. You can count on our lawyers to work as a team to present a strong case against whatever the defense tries to use to reduce or deny your claims.
Our Promise to You is that your health and well-being will always come first. In our office, legal follows medical. We want to ensure you reach maximum medical improvement as a patient in order to make a full evaluation and pursue top-dollar money for you based on your expenses, losses, and future care needs.
When it comes to Jones Act and General Maritime Law cases, our attorneys have the necessary experience to take them on—and win. Most workplace injury lawyers do not have the knowledge or experience to handle these cases. We do. You can count on us to work on all parts and aspects of your case to secure a great result for you including:
- Research and investigate the best venues and jurisdictions for your case
- File your lawsuit and serve the boat company and/or contractors with the lawsuit
- Conduct jury panels and focus groups to identify what the potential jury will think about your case
- Participate in written discovery and depositions to discover the at-fault party’s liability
- Meet with your doctors to ensure you are receiving the best medical treatment available for your injuries
- Manage other prep work and even go to trial to ensure the best possible outcome for you
We work on a contingency fee basis. You will never need to pay upfront fees to hire our team. Let us review your case and discuss how we can help today.
Our New Orleans Maritime Accident Spine Injury Lawyers Understand the Jones Act
When you work on an offshore rig or a seafaring vessel, you do not have access to workers’ compensation in most cases. Workers’ comp laws are generally state laws, and they do not apply on the open ocean (“navigable waterways”). This leaves the Jones Act to protect injured seamen.
The Jones Act, 46 U.S. Code § 30104, is a part of the 1920 Merchant Marine Act. It allows workers with spine injuries to file a lawsuit against the liable party whose negligence caused their accident or injuries. This is generally their employer and/or the boat owner(s).
If you find yourself in this situation, suing your employer or the boat owner may seem like an intimidating step. However, our team knows how to handle this process and build a case based on their negligence. This is often because they failed to provide a safe working environment, did not offer proper training, or failed to enforce safety rules.
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How a Maritime Accident Spinal Injury Could Affect Your Life in the Future
If you suffered a spine injury while working offshore, you likely need to pursue compensation because your injuries have affected both your physical abilities and your financial standing. Our lawyers understand the effects of spine injuries on maritime workers and why you need to recover maximum compensation.
Physical Limitations and Reduced Mobility
Spine injuries can cause chronic pain and reduced flexibility, and they limit lifting and twisting. When there is lasting spinal cord damage, many people suffer partial or total paralysis. This can lead to loss of mobility and/or independence.
Career and Work Challenges
Many maritime jobs require heavy duty physical labor. Even a relatively minor spine injury may force you into lighter-duty roles. Often, workers with serious spinal injuries cannot return to their previous jobs or find other careers in the industry. They may require vocational training or be unable to work at all.
Financial Consequences
Spine injuries often require extended hospitalization, injections, surgeries, rehabilitation, pain management, and ongoing care and support. The long-term costs can be significant. Lost income and reduced earning potential only make this situation worse.
Emotional and Psychological Effects
Chronic pain and disability can lead to depression, anxiety, and emotional distress. Depending on what happened and how the accident occurred, some workers suffer from PTSD, as well.
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Act Quickly to Get Our New Orleans Jones Act Maritime Accident Spine Injury Attorneys Working on Your Case
Contact our team as soon as possible after your accident and injuries. Building these cases takes time, but we can help you get the best treatment and ensure your rights are protected while you heal.
Under 46 U.S.C. § 30106, you likely have three years from the date of your accident to sue the liable party based on the Jones Act. Working quickly after an incident occurs allows our team to build a stronger case.
Talk to Our New Orleans Jones Act Team About Your Spine Injury
Poolson | Oden provides free consultations for injured offshore workers. You can learn how a New Orleans Jones Act maritime accident spine injury lawyer from our team will help you build a case and fight for the compensation you deserve. Contact us today.