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Florida Offshore Injury Lawyer

Here at The Maritime Injury Law Firm, we help offshore workers throughout Florida receive compensation for injuries and illnesses that result from accidents on the job.

This can include everything from slip and fall accidents to more serious injuries that occur from explosions and collisions while working offshore.

If you have experienced an offshore accident or injury, hiring an experienced maritime injury law firm to represent you can help you navigate the complexities that come with a claim and fight to make sure you receive the compensation you deserve.

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George represented me when I got injured working on a tow boat. The company was playing pretty rough with me, but George was able to get them to provide my medical care and got me a large settlement. If you work on boats, like I do, I recommend George Vourvoulias if you are looking for a lawyer who knows maritime law.
~ Curtis Watson, Lead Deckhand

Can I sue my employer for a Florida offshore accident?

The short answer is yes. But the longer answer revolves around The Jones Act.

The Jones Act is a federal workers’ protection law specifically for maritime workers. In the United States, including Florida, the Jones Act entitles injured seamen to maintenance and cure benefits.

In fact, any injury an offshore worker suffers in service of the ship does not qualify for workers’ compensation -- but that’s a good thing.

  • Maintenance covers an injured worker’s cost of living expenses, such as utilities, mortgage, food, and more.
  • Cure benefits cover the cost of medical expenses. This even includes transportation to and from medical appointments.

In addition to maintenance and cure benefits, workers may be entitled to further compensation via lawsuits.

However, in order to sue a maritime employer under the Jones Act, an injured seaman must be able to prove employer negligence.

If you can prove employer negligence to your Florida accident, then you may be entitled to compensation for:

  • Pain and suffering
  • Disfigurement
  • Retraining
  • Past and future medical expenses
  • Past and future lost wages

What types of injuries and illnesses are protected?

There are many different types of workplace injuries that can entitle offshore workers in Florida to compensation, including:
  • Slip and falls
  • Falling overboard
  • Repetitive use injuries
  • Falling or shifting cargo
  • Poorly secured equipment
  • Chemical burns
  • Head injuries
  • Explosions
These liabilities can also apply to illnesses when caused, contributed to, or aggravated by negligence or unseaworthiness, or that manifest themselves while the crewmember was in the service of the ship.

These illnesses could include:

  • Heart disease
  • Hearing loss
  • Food or water poisoning
  • Arthritis
  • Tuberculosis
  • Pneumonia
  • Lead poisoning
  • Dermatitis
  • Asbestosis

Steps to take after an offshore injury in Florida

To help you get the proper compensation you deserve, here are four steps to keep in mind after you suffer an offshore injury:
  • Seek medical attention as soon as possible after an offshore injury (even if you aren’t sure you need it).
  • After the injury occurs, you need to inform your employer of the accident. (Reporting the incident with provable information is necessary for fair compensation.)
  • Document as much evidence as possible as quickly as possible (photographs, noting the equipment used or involved, eyewitness accounts).
  • Stay tight-lipped during this process and do not sign anything without contacting your attorney first.

Because of how serious an offshore injury can be, it’s imperative that you contact a legal professional right away for a consultation. Seeking legal representation from a maritime injury law firm will give you the best opportunity for fair compensation and representation.

Click or call to schedule a free and confidential consultation

Why Choose The Maritime Injury Law Firm for your Florida Offshore Injury

When we take on a client, we want to know what it was like to be there during their injury – what it felt like, what it sounded like, what it smelled like. We want to know what was happening through their eyes.

When you hire The Maritime Injury Law Firm, we don’t just look at your current losses. We assess the future losses that you could sustain due to the long term effects of what you’re going through due to your injury and help to make sure you still get the money you would have earned had you not been injured on the job.

With every case we take on, our goal level the playing field and go after big, life-changing justice for hardworking people in need.

And our results speak for themselves.

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Let us help you right the ship.

Click or call (504) 584-6300 to schedule a free and confidential consultation
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