The state of Louisiana maintains one of the most active and productive offshore fishing and drilling industries in the United States. Ours is a state comprised of hardworking individuals unafraid of long hours or overnight work – which has unfortunately led to an influx of traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries impacting offshore workers.

If you or a beloved member of your family recently experienced a brain injury and believe it may be linked to incompetent co-workers or a poorly managed rig or vessel, please contact the Baton Rouge attorneys of Dodson & Hooks APLC today – we are here to help.

Recent Traumatic Brain Injury Settlements in Louisiana

Injuries to the brain or spinal column can leave a lasting impact on the victim, precluding him or her from maintaining gainful employment or enjoying an enriching quality of life. What’s more, brain injury victims often require lifelong care or daily skilled nursing assistance in order to complete routine tasks. Therefore, personal injury settlements involving traumatic brain injuries tend to be relatively large, thereby guaranteeing the plaintiff continued financial stability in the wake of a life-altering experience.
In Louisiana, several brain injury plaintiffs recently settled with major offshore drilling and commercial fishing operations, including the following real-life examples:

• Ambitious boat captain trainee suffered head trauma after the vessel upon which he was training hit a wellhead. His recovery was in the six-figure range and encompassed his medical expenses and pain and suffering.
• Two seamen from the South Pacific suffered severe and debilitating burns to their head and neck while the vessel was docked in the Mississippi River.
• Successful plaintiff received generous compensation following severe blow to the head by a falling pipe while docked at the Dow Chemical Plant in the Iberville Parrish.

Traumatic Brain Injuries and the Jones Act

At Dodson & Hooks APLC, we excel in representing seamen and offshore workers – particularly those having experienced traumatic brain injuries as a result of negligence. Historically, seamen aboard a commercial vessel did not have a way to hold their supervisors responsible for injuries sustained while on board – including the aggravation of injuries that could have been mitigated if properly treated.

With the dawning of the 90-year old Jones Act, seamen – defined as those working at least 30 percent of the time on an offshore vessel – are granted the legal right to pursue a cause of action against their employer in the event a traumatic brain injury occurs based on negligence while on board, including any of the following scenarios:

• Improperly or under-trained staff
• Working during inclement weather
• Failing to initiate safety updates and precautions on the vessel
• Failure to properly supervise staff and workers when performing dangerous work tasks
• Improper communication between supervisors and staff, resulting in injury.

Contact a Baton Rouge Traumatic Brain Injury Attorney

If you are an offshore worker employed by one of the many companies engaged in business within the state of Louisiana, we are here to help you. Traumatic brain injuries can cause lifelong disability and hardship, for which you should be adequately compensated. For more information, contact Dodson & Hooks APLC today by calling 225-756-0222.