General Maritime Law-Protecting Injured Seamen

Posted by: rzehl
June 23, 2008
Topic: General Maritime Claims

General maritime law continues to play an important role in protecting injured seamen by holding vessel owners accountable. Under general maritime law, a ship owner owes a duty to his offshore employees to provide a seaworthy vessel that is properly maintained, manned and equipped for its intended task. If a seaman is injured or becomes ill due to the vessel's unseaworthiness, that seaman may recover damages from the ship's owner.

Any seaman that is injured or made ill during the course of his employment is entitled, regardless of fault, to receive maintenance and cure. These maintenance and cure payments cover necessary room and board as well as medical expenses during recovery and will continue until maximum medical improvement (MMI) is achieved. In addition, he is entitled to receive his full wages for the remainder of the voyage upon which he was injured or became ill.

Our Maritime Accident Attorneys understand what it takes to help an injured seaman recover what he is owed under the law. We represent clients from the entire Gulf Coast region including, Galveston, Baton Rouge, Houston and New Orleans. To reach an experienced Texas maritime attorney contact the lawyers at Fitts Zehl, LLP by phone at (800) 993-4887 or by email at info@gulfcoastmaritimelawyer.com.

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