Mississippi River Accident Attorneys

Over $1 Billion Recovered for Maritime Accident Victims. We are proud to have a reputation for aggressively fighting for the rights of injured workers.

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Maritime Workers Rights Protection

For over 40 years, Lambert Zainey has been protecting the rights of ships’ captains, pilots, mates, deckhands and other maritime workers who find themselves injured and unable to work after an accident on the Mississippi River.

Working On The Mississippi River

The Mississippi River and its tributaries combine to create one of the largest river systems in the world. The river’s course takes it through 10 states — Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana. It’s been a hub of trade since before the European settlement of North America. Today, with major cities and ports located all along its length, the Mississippi River plays a vital role in keeping the U.S. economy strong.

Every day, hundreds of barges, tugboats, push boats and other vessels make their way in and out of ports all along the river, and it’s the job of Mississippi River maritime workers to ensure they reach their destinations on time.

Companies We’ve Fought Against

Lambert Zainey has obtained recoveries from a long list of maritime companies, including some of the biggest names in the industry.

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Common Mississippi River Accidents

Working on the river isn’t without its dangers. River workers are exposed to many of the same risks as workers on ocean going vessels. On the crowded Mississippi River, accidents can happen at any moment. Some common accidents include:

Ship’s operations
Supervising the deck crew
Overseeing the loading, stowage, securing and unloading of cargoes
The safety of the ship’s crew and passengers
Standing watch
Ship’s security
Assisting with navigation
Assuming command in an emergency

What Laws Protect Maritime Workers Hurt In Mississippi River Accidents?

The Mississippi River is defined as a navigable waterway under the law, which means most Mississippi River maritime workers are protected by the Jones Act and other maritime laws. This means “brown water” Mississippi River maritime workers share many of the same rights as their “blue water” counterparts on the open seas when it comes to seeking compensation for the damages caused by their injuries.

case results

Over $1 Billion Recovered for Maritime Accident Victims

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$330 MILLION SETTLEMENT

Oil storage tank rupture at the Murphy Oil USA refinery in Chalmette, LA. The fastest class certification and resolution of a case of its type and magnitude to date.

SETTLED IN ONLY 12 MONTHS

Arco cryogenic platform explosion caused by improper cold cut of Southern Natural Gas pipeline. Settlement for the injured and deceased in approximately twelve months.

What Compensation Can Injured Mississippi River Workers Recover?

When it comes to Mississippi River accident attorneys in Memphis, TN, Davenport, IA, St. Louis, MS, and other cities along the Mississippi River, few have the substantial maritime injury litigation experience possessed by the Lambert Firm. We represent maritime workers injured all along the Mississippi River, from Minneapolis and St. Paul in the North all the way to the Southern Delta Gulf ports at Iberia, Morgan City, Terrebonne and Fourchon. Our record speaks for itself: We’ve obtained over a billion dollars in settlements for our clients.

Depending on the circumstances, a maritime worker may be entitled to compensation for past and future medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering and other damages after being injured in an on the job Mississippi River accident.

Past medical expenses
Future medical expenses
Lost wages
Lost earning capacity
Loss of enjoyment of life
Pain and suffering

Frequently Asked Questions About Mississippi River Accident Claims

If you are a ship’s captain, pilot, mate, deckhand or other maritime worker who has been injured due to a Mississippi River accident, we urge you to reach out to Lambert Zainey without delay. Statutes of limitation apply for maritime injury lawsuits, and the sooner we get to work on your case, the better your chances of success.

Contact Lambert Zainey to schedule a free consultation with one of our outstanding Mississippi River accident attorneys. Lambert Zainey operates on a contingency basis, so there are no upfront fees or costs for our clients, and we don’t get paid until we win your case.

In the meantime, find out answers to the most frequently asked questions we hear from injured Mississippi River workers:

Mississippi River workers face many dangers. Common injuries include:

In most cases, the answer is going to be “yes!”

Under the Jones Act, injured workers who qualify as a “seaman” have specific protections. When trying to determine whether a maritime worker qualifies as a seaman, we look at several things:

Was the river worker employed on a vessel that is in navigation?
Did the river worker’s duties contribute to the function or mission of the vessel?
Did the worker spend at least 30 percent of employment on this vessel?

If an employer is “arbitrary and capricious” or “willful or callous” in delaying, denying or terminating maintenance and cure benefits, maritime law allows an injured Mississippi River worker to take legal action that includes punitive damages and attorney’s fees.

Unfortunately, it’s hard to estimate this with reasonable accuracy because the circumstances of each case are so different. In some cases, it may take take a few months to resolve a case. In other cases, it can take a year or longer.

Injured river workers sometimes decide not to explore their legal options because they fear being put on a “blacklist” and unable to get another job in the maritime industry.

While we can’t say for sure whether any “list” is floating around among maritime employers, we feel strongly that this should NOT be a factor in deciding whether to pursue a claim. Maritime workers, including workers on inland waterways like rivers, are protected by laws against blacklisting or otherwise retaliating against workers.

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NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED ATTORNEYS

CONTACT US

Our experienced attorneys are here to guide you through every step of the process, from initial consultation to settlement or trial.

800-521-1750
(504) 581-1750
701 Magazine St., New Orleans, LA 70130
Info@LambertZainey.com

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