If you are looking for a maritime injury attorney to help you or a loved one with a Jones Act or other maritime law claim, we can help. At Arnold & Itkin LLP, we have the skill and experience to handle your case with efficiency, compassion, and precision, no matter the nature of your injuries or the type of maritime work you were performing.
In addition to being knowledgeable in this complex field of law, we are completely committed to representing our clients' best interests. We have recovered billions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for injured seamen—find out how we can help you by calling (888) 346-5024 for a free consultation.
Whether it pertains to spine injuries sustained by a shipyard worker at the Port of Lake Charles or serious burn injuries sustained by a worker injured on an offshore oil rig, handling a maritime injury claim requires a certain level of knowledge and resources to have any chance of meeting with success. Because we have handled claims related to virtually all levels and types of offshore accidents and injuries, our legal team can address your particular needs with specific strategies and an approach carefully designed to address your case.
We can handle a claim related to an accident on the deck of a commercial fishing boat, an explosion on a jack-up rig or an injury sustained while a worker is being transported to an offshore oil platform. If negligence was involved, you may be entitled to compensation under the Jones Act. In the absence of negligence or wrongdoing, you may still be entitled to seek maintenance and cure benefits under general maritime law. With the help of an offshore injury lawyer at our firm, you may be able to seek—and recover—money for medical expenses, ongoing medical treatment, lost earnings, room and board, and non-economic damages like pain and suffering or emotional trauma.
Lake Charles, Louisiana is the parish seat of Calcasieu Parish in southern Louisiana, about 30 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. Lake Charles is connected to the Gulf of Mexico by means of a deep-water ship channel. With its proximity to the Gulf of Mexico and port facilities, the petrochemical industry is the mainstay economically for the parish, and recently the aerospace and gaming industries have broadened that base. Lake Charles, Louisiana is just off Interstate-10 on the shores of the Calcasieu River between Houston, TX and New Orleans, LA.
The first settlers arrived in Lake Charles, LA in 1781 and other pioneers soon followed. Captain Daniel Goos established a lumber mill and schooner dock in 1885. Captain Goos sent his schooner down the Calcasieu River, establishing a profitable trade with Texas and Mexican ports. Lake Charles is bordered by the Gulf of Mexico to the south, great forests to the north and the Atchafalaya Basin Swamp on the east.
Major Port tenants involved in the maritime industry include:
The value of economic activity from shipping via the Port of Lake Charles is measured at nearly $3.4 billion annually.
According to a 2000 Port Risk Assessment of Port of Lake Charles, LA, traffic density contributes the greatest amount of risk to the waterway, followed by volume of fishing and pleasure craft. High-risk deep draft vessels contribute a slightly higher traffic number than shallow draft vessels. As to the waterway configuration, waterway complexity contributes the most risk, followed by visibility obstructions.
Since 40% of traffic is petroleum vessels and 80% of tonnage is petroleum cargo, mandatory double hulls on ships were recommended. With seasonal boaters' lack of knowledge of waterways and the tight job-market for OSV fleet tug and tow captains, there is an increasing trend toward water accidents.
In early 2010, the United States Agency for International Development started booking shipments through the Port of Lake Charles for disaster relief to Haiti with 11,000 tons of rice and other grains arriving at the port. Government officials, shippers, and ocean carriers are offering the Port facilities as a distribution point for aid into Haiti, and these cargoes have been put on the fast track to ship through Lake Charles.
Lake Charles has many assets in addition to its contribution to the maritime industry. Lake Charles is known as the "Festival Capital of Louisiana" because it holds over 75 festivals and fairs annually. Lake Charles offers glitzy casinos, Cajun culinary dining, and year-round fishing and hunting that are second to none. Outdoor activities can be enjoyed year-round, as the climate is humid and sub-tropical with a strong maritime character. Spring and fall are pleasant, the summers are warm and humid, and the snow in wintertime is negligible.
Because offshore accidents are often serious, it is of the utmost importance for an injured worker or a family who has lost a loved one to seek legal counsel. Financial relief may be available, but recovering fair compensation may be difficult. A maritime employer may try to limit their legal accountability under the Limitation of Liability Act. The accident may have occurred overseas, bringing about an entirely new layer of complexity. With extensive experience representing injured seamen under general maritime law, the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act, the Death on the High Seas Act and the Jones Act, our attorneys can help you seek the compensation you need.
Do not risk letting your injury go unanswered by the law. Contact an experienced maritime lawyer at Arnold & Itkin to discuss your options.
Arnold & Itkin represented nearly a third of the crewmembers injured in the Deepwater Horizon explosion.
Because maritime law is so complex and so complicated, it is crucial that you work with an attorney who has an in-depth understanding of how it works and who has proven themselves in similar cases before.
