Harvey Boat Accident Attorney

Boat and Maritime Accidents Can Involve Different Laws Than Typical Injury Cases

The Mississippi River, Intracoastal Waterway, shipyards, docks, and industrial waterfront areas near Harvey involve heavy vessel traffic, including:

• Tugboats
• Barges
• Crew boats
• Offshore supply vessels
• Other types of commercial vessels

Boat accidents can involve vessel collisions, falls on deck, equipment failures, crane accidents, line handling injuries, and dock or loading accidents.

Some boat accidents involve recreational vessels, but many serious boat accident injuries in this area involve:

• Maritime workers
• Dock workers
• Others working on or around commercial vessels

The first source of compensation for injured workers is typically workers’ comp rather than third-party claims, but the options can potentially be different for maritime workers, who may be eligible for compensation through federal programs.

Donald D’Aunoy Jr. represents individuals injured in boat and maritime accidents in Harvey and throughout Jefferson Parish, helping them evaluate liability, insurance coverage, and their legal options after a serious boat accident.

Commercial and Maritime Boat Accidents Near Harvey

The Harvey area is located near major commercial waterways and shipping routes, and many residents work in maritime industries, shipyards, offshore support operations, and river transport. Common causes of commercial boat and maritime accidents include:

• Vessel collisions
• Falls on wet or uneven decks
• Line handling and rope snap injuries
• Crane and cargo loading accidents
• Equipment failures or mechanical issues
• Fires or explosions on vessels
• Falling cargo or unsecured equipment
• Dock accidents and loading accidents
• Poor maintenance or unsafe working conditions
• Fatigue or understaffing on vessels

These types of accidents can easily result in traumatic head injuries, back injuries, crush injuries, broken bones, and burns, often leaving workers with long-term disability, permanent scarring, and reduced earning capacity.

Maritime Law, Jones Act, and Workers’ Compensation

Depending on the worker’s job and where the injury occurred, a boat accident injury may fall under:

• The Jones Act (for seamen who work on vessels)
• The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (for dock workers, shipyard workers, and some waterfront workers)
• Louisiana workers’ compensation (for some land-based workers)
• General maritime law claims such as unseaworthiness
• Maintenance and cure claims for injured seamen

These systems provide different types of benefits and compensation. Some allow injured workers to recover damages such as pain and suffering and loss of earning capacity, while traditional workers’ compensation systems typically provide medical treatment and partial wage replacement but do not include pain and suffering.

In some cases, an injured worker may receive benefits under a workers’ compensation or maritime system while also pursuing a claim against a third party responsible for the accident.

Determining which law applies is often one of the most important parts of a maritime injury case.