Maritime Attorney Says Traumatic Amputation of Crewman's Foot Highlights Importance of Safety Measures for Vessel Workers
Houston, Texas (PRWEB) January 20, 2014 -- A recent incident off the coast of Louisiana highlights the importance of safety measures on vessels and offshore drilling rigs, maritime attorney Matthew Shaffer says.
A crewman on a supply ship off the Louisiana coast lost his foot in an accident Jan. 9, according to the Houston Chronicle. The 27-year-old man was taken by a Houston-based U.S. Coast Guard helicopter to Lake Charles Hospital.
“Offshore injuries can quickly turn tragic,” said Shaffer, a partner in the Houston maritime law firm Schechter, McElwee, Shaffer & Harris. “Safety precautions should be of the highest priority for employers, vessel owners and crewmembers.”
The man’s foot was severed after getting caught in a line while he worked aboard the Miss Aubrey Ann in the Gulf of Mexico about 5 miles off the coast of Louisiana in the Gulf of Mexico, according to the Houston Chronicle. The ship’s captain contacted the Coast Guard, which dispatched an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter to the supply ship.
Dennis McElwee, also a maritime lawyer at Schechter, McElwee, Shaffer & Harris, has handled a similar case involving traumatic amputation aboard a vessel.
“Maritime workers know that their jobs come with inherent risks,” McElwee said. “But it’s the responsibility of their employers to minimize those risks as much as possible. Severe injuries can end your career, or worse, your life.”
The maritime lawyers at Schechter, McElwee, Shaffer & Harris have dedicated their legal careers to helping injured workers. With a combined 100 years of trial experience, they have recovered millions of dollars on behalf of injured clients in claims under the Jones Act, the Death on the High Seas Act (DOHSA), Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA), and general maritime law.
Schechter, McElwee, Shaffer & Harris is also a personal injury law firm, helping those injured in a broad range of circumstances, including chemical plant and refinery accidents, construction sites accidents, car and trucking accidents, and more.
The maritime law firm of Schechter, McElwee, Shaffer & Harris can provide legal assistance in both English and and Spanish (Español).
Workers who have been injured in a job-related accident or victims of other accident injuries can contact a maritime attorney or personal injury lawyer today by calling 800-282-2122. Schedule a free consultation with Schechter, McElwee, Shaffer & Harris today to go over your case and get experienced assistance to win your claim.
Rori Feldman, Schechter, McElwee, Shaffer & Harris, http://www.smslegal.com, +1 800-282-2122, [email protected]
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