Blog

Maritime Negligence – Jones Act Seaman

Doyle Dennis Avery LLP Trial Lawyers has filed suit in Hidalgo County (Edinburg, Texas) under the Jones Act and general maritime law against Ariel of SW Florida LLC.

On or about May 1, 2016, Doyle Dennis Avery LLP ’s client was a Jones Act seaman, working on Ariel SW Florida’s vessel, the M/V Capt. G.C. II.  On that date, the vessel was not equipped with proper shackles, cables, and rigging equipment.  As a result, Doyle Dennis Avery LLP ’s client suffered a serious hand injury when attempting to work on a shackle on a sliding rig. 

To add insult to injury, Doyle Dennis Avery LLP ’s client developed MRSA and osteomyelitis (a serious bone infection) in his hand due to the lack of timely and appropriate medical treatment by Ariel of SW Florida, following the incident.

The suit alleges negligence under the Jones Act, unseaworthiness under general maritime law, and wrongful denial of maintenance and cure.  The Jones Act and duty to provide a seaworthy vessel require an employer and vessel owner to provide crewmembers with a reasonably safe place to work and a properly fitted and equipped vessel.  Moreover, a Jones Act employer and vessel owner are required to provide maintenance and cure to a seaman who is injured while working as a crewmember of a vessel.  Maintenance is a daily wage that must be provided to compensate for a portion of lost wages while a seaman is out of work.  Cure is medical treatment for the injury.  The Jones Act employer and vessel owner are required to pay maintenance and cure until a seaman is certified to have reached maximum cure or maximum medical improvement.

Due to the injuries suffered, Doyle Dennis Avery LLP has filed suit for physical impairment, lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional damage, medical bills, punitive damages, and attorney’s fees.

Doyle Dennis Avery LLP Trial Lawyers focuses its practice on representing Jones Act seamen and offshore workers who suffer an offshore injury.  Doyle Dennis Avery LLP Trial Lawyers has years of experience in litigating such matters through trial and on appeal and has earned multiple significant trial victories for Jones Act seaman and offshore workers who are injured in maritime accidents.  To read about some of these trial victories, read our Significant Cases page.  If you or someone you know has suffered an offshore injury or maritime injury, you may have significant legal rights, and should contact the experienced offshore injury lawyers at Doyle Dennis Avery LLP without delay.