Maritime/Jones Act Accidents

Texas Maritime Lawyer • Louisiana Jones Act Lawyer • Mississippi Offshore Accident Lawyer

Maritime accidents are all too common in the Gulf of Mexico and other coastal and offshore sites. The individuals who work offshore in the maritime industry are exposed to a number of dangers, causing serious accidents to occur every day. As a Houston-based trial firm, Fitts Zehl, LLP represents offshore workers and Jones Act seaman who have been injured in maritime accidents in the Gulf of Mexico and across the United States, helping the injured receive the compensation they deserve.

Many Types of Maritime Accidents
Maritime accidents are extremely varied in nature but may include:

• capsizing
• chemical spills
• collisions
• slip and falls
• faulty equipment or safety gear
• defective or old machinery
• drowning
• electrocutions
• explosions
• exposure to hazardous chemicals or other substances (e.g., asbestos, benzene, chlorine, cleaning solvents)
• falls from elevated areas or slippery decks
• fires
• poor safety policies
• reckless navigation

These accidents can occur offshore or onshore on commercial and private vessels such as ships, boats, towboats, crew boats, platforms, barges, oil rigs, jack-up rigs or cruise ships. Any accident that is related to the maritime industry is considered a maritime accident, and specific admiralty and maritime laws apply.

Depending on the nature of the maritime accident, injured parties and/or their loved ones may be entitled to compensation to cover medical costs, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, pain and suffering and more. However, the law applies strict deadlines for injured individuals to take legal action, so it's always wise to speak with an experienced Jones Act lawyer as soon after the accident as possible.

Contact Fitts Zehl about Your Maritime Accident
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed while offshore, the experienced Jones Act attorneys at Fitts Zehl LLP can help. Contact us today for a free and private consultation with one of our lawyers.

Fitts Zehl was recently named 1 of 5 “Power Lawyers and Law Firms of 2009.