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Maritime and Offshore Cases

• Gulf of Mexico Rig Explosion Still Creating Problems
• Death on the High Seas Act Benefits
• What Makes a Vessel Unseaworthy?
• Compensation for Maritime Injury Cases
• Are You Considered a Seaman Under the Jones Act?

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Maritime and Offshore Cases

• Texas Offshore Accident Attorney
• New Center for Offshore Safety Institute in Houston
• Houston Maritime/Offshore Attoreny
• The Rig Explosion In The Gulf of Mexico Continues to Create Problems
• What Every Seaman’s Family Needs to Know about the Death on the High Seas Act
• Maritime Workers at Risk of Harmful Benzene Exposure
• Unseaworthiness Claims
• Falls Are Leading Cause of Maritime Injuries
• Maintenance and Cure for Injured Seamen
• Rights for Injured Longshoremen and Harbor Workers

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The Jones Act: Your Rights as an American are Safe at Sea

Houston accident attorney Steve Lee has been helping the injured of east Texas for close to four decades. By using his experience and mastery of injury law, Steve Lee has helped thousands of injured Houston citizens receive fair compensation for their injuries. Steve Lee and Associates is currently accepting cases involving car accidents, accidents involving commercial trucks and tractor trailers, representation of the victims of drunk drivers, workers’ compensation and on the job injuries, refinery and offshore platform injuries, and maritime injuries. If you or a loved one has been injured in Houston, Texas, contact Steve Lee and Associates for a free legal consultation today.

Anyone who makes a living at sea can tell you that the ocean is a dangerous place. There is no predicting how things will go once you are out on the open water, and this unpredictability can put even the most experienced of sailors at risk.

As a result of this unpredictability, it is crucial that seagoing vessels, especially commercial seagoing vessels, are staffed with competent and professional people. Not having experienced people on board puts lives at risk. The crews aboard any tugboat, barge, oil platform or fishing boat should have and demand the highest degree of professionalism.

While it is undeniable that work on the sea is dangerous, that fact does not and should not keep ship owners, captains or other members of the crew from assuming responsibility if an employee or fellow worker receives an injury. In fact, it is against the law for anyone to keep injured seamen from receiving compensation.

The Merchant Marine Act of 1920 is part of the United States Code, which means that it is the law. It is not a suggestion or a guideline. This act put into law the rights of seamen. This act, also known as the Jones Act, allows for what is called Cure and Maintenance for every seaman who suffers from an injury during the course of performing their duties. Cure and Maintenance are meant to be issued in the event of any injury, even if the accident occurred for reasons that were nobody’s fault.

Cure: This means that your medical bills should be covered, including any rehabilitation or therapy that will be needed to get you back to normal. “Cure” means maximum medical improvement, not anything less. And this can be achieved even if you never fully recover from your injuries and even if you never will be able to return to work.

Maintenance: This is a small allowance for living expenses that should be given to you while you are injured. These payments should continue for as long as you would be working had you not been injured.

Again, these are entitlements to which you are automatically eligible. They are not suggestions or optional.

The Jones Act also allows for workers to bring suit for the recovery of damages in the event that the accident occurred due to negligence or incompetence. If the ship owner, captain, or other member of the crew was negligent or incompetent, or if the vessel was poorly maintained, not seaworthy or unfit for its intended purpose, the injured worker has every right to bring those responsible to account for their actions. They are allowed to file suit to recover future economic loss, pain and suffering, mental anguish, disfigurement, loss of capacity to enjoy life, loss of the ability to maintain a household, and other damages.

Your rights as an American are not put on hold if you happen to be doing dangerous work. Nor are they suspended if you happen to be on the open sea and not US Soil. But because maritime law is not the same as the law of the land, having an attorney who is experienced in maritime law is crucial towards getting fair treatment towards your maritime injury case.

In Houston, your smartest option would be to get in touch with Steve Lee.

Steve Lee has provided legal assistance in the Houston area for just under three decades, and has helped thousands of injured sailors and offshore refinery workers receive fair compensation for their injuries, especially when the injury occurred due to the negligence or incompetence of someone else.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a maritime accident off the Texas coast, contact Attorney Steve Lee for a free legal consultation today.

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Firm News

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