Baton Rouge is a major center in the southern United States for industrial and petrochemical activity. The Port of Baton Rouge is the ninth largest in the country when ranked according to total tonnage shipped. It is also the northernmost inland port that is capable of servicing ocean-going cargo carriers, tankers and other large vessels.
Upon reaching the Port of Baton Rouge, large ships offload their cargo of petroleum, grain, cars or other products onto rails or pipelines for shipment east or west and onto river barges for shipping further north up the Mississippi River. Ocean-going or “deep-draft” vessels are unable to pass the Old Huey Long Bridge due to insufficient clearance and a shallow river bottom.
Protecting Louisiana’s Injured Offshore Workers
The experienced Baton Rouge, Louisiana maritime lawyers at Fitts Zehl, LLP, regularly represent seamen injured while working on ships, platforms, moveable rigs or other ocean-going vessels. In the wake of a serious accident, it is important that you know your rights under laws like the Jones Act, the Longshoreman and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, the Death on the High Seas Act or general maritime law.
If your injury occurred as a result of a carelessness captain or fellow crewmember, you may have the right to hold your company responsible the injuries or damages you have suffered. The maritime lawyers at Fitts Zehl have years of experience successfully representing workers who were injured offshore, and devote whatever time and resources are necessary to ensuring that our clients are fully compensated for their injuries.
In the past three years alone, the Louisiana Jones Act Lawyers at Fitts Zehl have recovered more than $150 million in verdicts and settlements on behalf of injured workers. In addition, we are one of the few firms hired to represent workers in connection with 4 of the largest workplace accidents in the past 10 years, including the BP/Transocean Deepwater Horizon Explosion, the BP Texas City Explosion, the Imperial Sugar Refinery Explosion, and the International Paper Explosion.
The Louisiana Maritime Lawyers at Fitts Zehl regularly represent injured offshore workers from across the state of Louisiana including Baton Rouge, Houma and New Orleans. Whether you were hurt by a negligent crewmember, a defective piece of equipment, or a dangerous condition present onboard the rig or vessel, you may be entitled to recover for your medical treatment, pain and suffering, lost wages and more.
