Most Louisiana workers can rely on the state’s workers’ compensation system to provide them with benefits after they are injured on the job, but offshore workers in the state’s petroleum, shipping and other industries must go through a different system. Their injury claims follow different legal procedures and must go through different courts. It’s important for these workers to seek out help from lawyers who have experience in admiralty and maritime law.
The phrase “admiralty and maritime law” is somewhat misleading. The two terms mean the same thing and are used interchangeably. Maritime law is a combination of U.S. and international laws. In the United States, maritime law cases can be heard in federal courts or sometimes in state courts.
The two most important laws for injured maritime workers are the Jones Act and the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act. Together, these laws provide ways for seamen, oil rig workers, dockworkers and many other workers in the maritime industries to receive compensation after they are injured on the job.
While the purpose of these laws is similar to the purpose of state workers’ compensation, the procedures and legal details involved are very different. This is why it is so important for injured workers to seek out help from a lawyer with experience in maritime law.
The Townsley Law Firm brings decades of experience to our practice in maritime law. We help workers from the Port of Lake Charles, the Gulf and the many other commercial waterways in and around Louisiana. For more information, see our admiralty and maritime law web page.
