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What Our Clients Say

I hired Brian after I was hurt on an offshore oil platform. I would recommend Brian and his law firm to anyone who needed a good injury lawyer, and especially any offshore worker. . ..

Jackie R

Houston, Texas
Brian and his staff are courteous and professional, and they work diligently to make sure the client transitions through the process as easily and comfortably as possible.

Your sincere and satisfied client,

Steve T.

Houston, Texas
I was hurt on a boat offshore. Brian and
his law firm worked hard on my case. The settlement he got for me will
take care of my financial needs for the rest of my life. If you are
looking for someone to take your interests at heart Brian and his law
firm can give you the attention your case deserves.

Tim M.

Austin,
Texas
There are only a small number of attorneys who could handle such a complex case as mine, and Brian was at the top of the list. His response time is unsurpassed, replying within minutes to my initial enquiry. He has an instinctive understanding of the legal issues, and consummate people skills, an essential attribute in the negotiation phase of any litigation. Thanks to Brian the case was settled favorably within a year.

Steven S.,

Wales, U.K.
Brian, your book was a real eye-opener. If I had read your book sooner, I would have avoided a lot of costly mistakes.

Captain Jim Vickers
I was hurt on an offshore oil rig. I was unable to work or get proper medical care from the company. I was referred to Brian by another law firm because that firm knew Brian specialized in Jones Act cases. Brian settled my case in less than 12 months. The settlement will enable me to take care of my family financially for a long time. I would highly recommend Brian and his firm to any injured worker.

Freddy N.,

Lufkin, Texas

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Disclaimer

We designed this website to provide information to consumers, injured people, and their families. Our goal is to level the playing field between consumers and insurance companies and expose the tricks, traps, and techniques they use to cheat injured people out of their legal rights. We also let consumers know about legal news, including verdicts and settlements and other interesting legal information.

But please understand that nothing on this website is meant to provide legal information about your specific case, create an attorney-client relationship, or imply that the results of your legal case will be the same as some other case.

Burn Injuries and the Jones Act

If you work on a vessel and have received burn injuries, you need to continue reading to find out more about your legal rights. This article examines the causes of burn injuries within the maritime industry, the types of burns and the compensation available to injured maritime workers.

As a maritime worker, you regularly work in conditions that pose a hazard to your safety. Working with heavy machinery, ropes, chemicals and equipment increase your risk of a burn. Burns can be caused by heat, cold, electricity, chemicals, light, radiation or friction. When a burn is caused by chemicals, such as acids or bases, there is the risk of damage down to the bone. Electrical burns are also incredibly dangerous and are caused by electric shock. An electrical burn can cause internal injuries.

The severity of burns varies greatly. Burns have the potential to damage muscle, blood vessels, bone and epidermal tissue and can cause injury to nerve endings. Depending on how bad the burn, the injured worker may experience shock, infection and respiratory distress, which can all be fatal. In addition to these potentially fatal complications, burn victims often experience emotional distress, scarring and deformity.

There are different degrees of burn injuries that can occur offshore. First-degree burns only affect the skin and the pain is usually minor. Second-degree burns may cause blistering and can be more painful if the nerves were injured. Third-degree burns cause extreme damage to the skin and may require skin grafting. Fourth-degree burns, which are the worst, damage muscle, tendon and ligament tissue and if the victim survives, skin grafting will most likely be needed.

Injured seamen are protected under a federal law known as the Jones Act. The Jones Act provides compensation for injured workers, which includes maintenance and cure. Maintenance is meant to cover the injured seaman’s living expenses, while cure is designed to cover medical expenses relating to the injury. When a seaman is injured due to negligence by the vessel owner or because of an unseaworthy vessel, the Jones Act allows him or her to pursue damages, such as pain and suffering, disfigurement, mental anguish, medical expenses, lost wages and other costs associated with the injury.

If you have been burned while working offshore, contact the experienced Jones Act lawyers at Vujasinovic & Beckcom P.L.L.C. at (713) 224-7800 or (877) 724-7800. We will make sure you receive the compensation you deserve for your injuries.