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Working aboard an offshore vessel can be extremely dangerous. Vessel injuries frequently occur due to negligence, inattention, fatigue, defective equipment or failure to follow proper safety standards. If you have been injured aboard a vessel, you may be entitled to compensation under the Jones Act.
Under the Jones Act, companies are required to maintain a “seaworthy” vessel. A seaworthy vessel is one that is fit for travel across the sea. A seaworthy vessel must be equipped with proper tools, equipment and a competent crew. Unfortunately, vessels are often “unseaworthy” because they lack these basic requirements. A vessel can be unseaworthy for the following reasons:
Accidents commonly occur aboard an unseaworthy vessel and can lead to injuries. The most common vessel injuries include:
If you or a family member was injured on a vessel, please contact a lawyer at Pierce | Skrabanek. We have extensive experience with maritime injuries. We will provide a free case evaluation. We handle all cases on a contingency basis, meaning that we don’t get paid unless we win or settle.
Our experience inside the Courtroom has garnered several awards, including induction into the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Million Dollar Advocates Forum and SuperLawyers by Texas Monthly Magazine. Please contact us for more information on vessel injuries.
Under the Jones Act, a vessel refers to both tradition vessels and modern vessels. Essentially, a vessel is anything that is used to transport goods or people across navigable waters. In fact, platforms or drilling units that are easily transportable can also be considered “vessels” under the Jones Act. Some cases have also held that floating docks or platforms which are subjected to the perils of the sea can also be construed as “vessels” under the Jones Act. This case law has broadened what constitutes as a “vessel” under the Jones Act thereby enabling seaman to recover from injuries incurred upon navigable waters.
The Supreme Court in Stewart v. Dutra Construction Co.543 U.S. 481 (2005) recently held that the term vessel “includes every description of watercraft or other artificial contrivance used, or capable of being used, as a means of transportation on water.” This decision meant that floating docks, platforms, dormitories or rigs fall under the definition of a “Jones Act Vessel.”
The Jones Act applies to virtually every vessel or boat on navigable waters, these include:
If you have been injured on navigable waters aboard one of these vessels, contact one of the experiences Jones Act and Maritime Lawyers at Pierce | Skrabanek. We have the knowledge and experience necessary to handle your case.
We know how tough things can get after an injury. That’s why we make your struggles our fight. With over three decades of combined experience, we’ve been the reliable allies our clients need, tackling financial hardships, physical pain, and major life changes. Our track record of successful verdicts and settlements speaks to our team’s passion and dedication to helping clients get the support and justice they need.
Summary: Served as first chair trial attorney on plaintiff’s case regarding a near drowning accident, which caused the vessel captain to suffer post-traumatic stress disorder. After a bench trial, the court awarded plaintiff $1.25 million, which was more than three times greater than the defendant’s highest pretrial settlement offer.
Summary: The seaman, a resident of Arkansas, worked as a roustabout on a jack-up vessel in the Gulf of Mexico. He suffered severe injuries when a drill pipe rolled onto his foot while he was assisting the crane in transferring the pipes to another deck on the vessel. As a result of the injury, the seaman had to undergo two surgeries that ultimately resulted in the amputation of his big toe.
