Offshore Accident Attorneys in Mississippi Help Workers Obtain Compensation for Their Injuries
Pascagoula lawyers experienced with seaman, oil rig and shore worker accidents on the Mississippi coast
Based in the Gulf coast city of Pascagoula, the personal injury attorneys of Cumbest, Cumbest, Hunter & McCormick have extensive experience handling claims on behalf of maritime workers and longshoremen who are injured on and offshore in the oil and shipping industries that are so essential to the U.S. economy. We understand how dangerous these jobs can be and we know how to get these injured workers the compensation they need and deserve.
Understanding the dangers of offshore occupations
The Deepwater Horizon disaster of 2010 highlighted the extreme danger of working on offshore oil drilling rigs. Workers at such facilities face not only the possibilities of an explosion or exposure to toxic chemicals but also everyday health risks like falls from heights and malfunctions of heavy machinery. Serious mishaps can happen on drill ships, jack-ups, semi-submersibles, land rigs and floating production platforms. Accidents can also occur on cargo ships, passenger ships, barges, tugboats, riverboats, ferryboats and helicopter transports. On-shore shipping operations like docking, repairs, maintenance and loading and unloading pose their own dangers. Our experience with maritime and related accident cases gives us a useful perspective on these occupations and a solid foundation for building cases for money damages.
Common injuries suffered in maritime and longshoremen accidents
Workers on oil rigs, on maritime vessels and in shipping facilities are prone to a wide range of on-the-job injuries, including:
- Head trauma and brain damage
- Neck, spinal and back injuries, with possible paralysis
- Arm, leg and other limb injuries
- Burning and scarring
- Fatal accidents
In pursuing our clients’ personal injury claims, we use expert medical testimony and other evidence to prove the full extent of the harm suffered in order to build the strongest case for workers’ compensation or money damages.
Remedies provided by the Longshore & Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act
The Longshore & Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) is a federal law that ensures the right of compensation for workers employed on, near or adjacent to navigable water and whose job duties include such activities as:
- Loading and unloading ships
- Driving and repairing trucks used to haul cargo away from the ships
- Building, repair and maintenance of ships (other than recreational vessels)
- Constructing, expanding or repairing marinas
- Drilling for oil on offshore platforms and rigs
- Building and repairing offshore oil rigs and equipment
The LHWCA does not cover captains and crews of vessels. Those workers are covered by the Jones Act, which requires proving that the shipowner’s or employer’s negligence caused an accident resulting in injuries. By contrast, the LHWCA provides benefits to injured workers regardless of fault. We provide knowledgeable, high-quality representation for workers making claims under either statute.
Contact a Mississippi law firm experienced in maritime and longshoremen accident claims
If you are hurt on the job as a Mississippi maritime worker or longshoreman, you can count on the law firm of Cumbest, Cumbest, Hunter & McCormick in Pascagoula to help you obtain the monetary compensation you need and deserve. Contact us online or call us at 866-461-1591 to schedule a confidential consultation.