Lambert Zainey Smith & Soso

08/20/2026

If you’ve been injured on the job, you might wonder: Should I use my health insurance to cover the costs? 🩺 This guide helps you navigate the financial and legal aspects of medical treatment for maritime injuries.

📋 What’s inside:
🔍 When it’s appropriate to rely on health insurance.
📌 How maritime laws handle medical expenses.
💼 Your employer’s responsibilities under the Jones Act.
⚖️ Why consulting an attorney can ensure your rights are protected.

Read the full article here: https://lambertzainey.com/blog/can-i-use-my-health-insurance-to-pay-for-medical-treatment-for-a-maritime-injury/

08/20/2026

You get severely injured offshore. Instead of calling for an immediate medevac, the captain hands you ibuprofen and tells you to wait in your bunk until the next scheduled crew boat.
This happens entirely too often. Why? Because emergency medical evacuations cost the company money, and halting operations hurts their bottom line.

Under maritime law, a shipowner has an absolute, non-delegable duty to provide prompt and adequate medical care to an injured seaman. Giving a worker aspirin for a severe injury or delaying a Coast Guard medevac to save money is not just callous—it is actionable negligence under the Jones Act.

If your condition worsened, or a loved one lost their life because the company delayed their medical treatment, you have the right to hold them accountable—including suing for massive punitive damages.

Read our latest legal guide on your right to emergency medical care at sea and how we punish companies who put profits over survival.

READ YOUR RIGHTS:
https://lambertzainey.com/blog/ship-owners-prompt-and-adequate-medical-care-injured-seamen/

If a ship owner delayed or denied medical care and your condition worsened, you may have a separate negligence claim on top of maintenance and cure. Lambert Zainey explains. Free consult.

08/18/2026

Congratulations to Lambert Zainey Partner Chris Zainey, who was announced yesterday as the recipient of the 2026 Public Service Award by the Federal Bar Association New Orleans Chapter. This esteemed honor, named for the late legal pioneer Camille Gravel, recognizes attorneys who have made substantial impacts through public service and pro bono work. We are incredibly proud to see Chris's unwavering dedication to our community and the legal profession recognized at such a high level.

08/13/2026

Filing a Jones Act lawsuit is a big decision, but can your employer fire you for it? 🛠️ This guide breaks down your rights as a maritime worker and what to do if you face retaliation.

📋 What you'll learn:
🚢 Key protections for maritime employees.
📌 Signs of illegal retaliation by employers.
🔍 How to handle threats or unfair treatment at work.
⚓ Why a maritime lawyer is crucial in these situations.

Read the full guide here: https://lambertzainey.com/blog/can-i-be-fired-for-filing-a-jones-act-lawsuit/

08/05/2026

Did you survive a vessel capsizing, a blowout, or a catastrophic collision at sea? Even if you walked away without a single physical scratch, the psychological damage can end your career.

Maritime employers and insurance adjusters frequently try to convince workers that if they aren't bleeding or broken, they have no claim. That is legally false.

Under maritime law, if a company's negligence placed you in immediate risk of physical harm and you genuinely feared for your life, you may pass the "Zone of Danger" test. This means you can sue for emotional distress, PTSD, and lost wages.

Furthermore, your employer is legally obligated under Maintenance and Cure to pay for your psychiatric care, therapy, and medication.

Do not let an employer minimize your trauma. Read our complete legal guide to the Zone of Danger test, how PTSD is compensated under the Jones Act, and the steps you must take to document your psychological injuries.

READ YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS 🔗https://lambertzainey.com/blog/emotional-distress-and-the-zone-of-danger-in-maritime-injury-litigation/

If you feared for your life during a maritime accident — even without physical injury — you may have a valid PTSD or emotional distress claim. Lambert Zainey explains the zone of danger test.

07/30/2026

We are grateful for the opportunity to represent and achieve justice for our clients in this significant case. We successfully negotiated a $125 million settlement in a False Claims Act lawsuit against BNI, URS, and other entities regarding deficient nuclear quality procurements at the Waste Treatment Plant in Washington.

To read more about this case and other notable results, visit the link here: https://lambertzainey.com/case-results/murphy-oil-spill/

07/27/2026

If you survive an offshore or refinery explosion, walking away without a scratch doesn't mean you are safe.

The most dangerous consequence of an explosion is the invisible pressure wave. "Primary blast injuries"—like blast lung or internal hemorrhaging—often have zero immediate symptoms but can become life-threatening up to 48 hours later.

Furthermore, civilian doctors rarely see these combat-style injuries and often misdiagnose them.

If you or a crewmate were exposed to an industrial blast, you must tell the ER specifically to screen for a "blast wave injury." Then, you must protect your legal rights. For workers covered by the LHWCA or OCSLA, the clock to notify your employer is strictly limited to 30 days.

Read our new, comprehensive guide on the 4 types of blast injuries, what to tell your doctor, and who is legally responsible for the explosion.

READ THE BLAST INJURY GUIDE ➡️ https://lambertzainey.com/blog/blast-injuries-caused-by-refinery-oil-rig-explosions/

07/17/2026

Did your employer tell you that you don't qualify for the Jones Act because you are a "temp," a "day laborer," or an "independent contractor"?

They might be lying to protect their bottom line. 🛑

Maritime companies increasingly use staffing agencies to crew their vessels specifically to avoid liability when someone gets hurt. But the law doesn't care whose name is on your paycheck. It cares about what you actually do.

Under the Borrowed Servant Doctrine, if you took orders from the vessel's captain, worked primarily on that vessel, and contributed to its mission, you may qualify as a Jones Act seaman with full rights to sue for negligence.

⚠️ 2026 LEGAL UPDATE: If you are a contract worker who falls under OCSLA and Louisiana state law instead of the Jones Act, a harsh new comparative fault law just went into effect. If you are found 51% or more at fault, you now recover nothing.
Do not let a corporate label dictate your future. Read our updated guide on contract worker rights and find out where you truly stand.

➡️ READ YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS: https://lambertzainey.com/blog/contract-employees-jones-act-protections/

Contract workers and temp employees on vessels may qualify for full Jones Act protections — even if your employer says otherwise. Lambert Zainey explains. Free consultation.

07/12/2026

🤔 Can you sue your employer for a maritime injury? It’s a common question, and the answer depends on your unique situation. This FAQ explains the key points you need to know about your legal rights and options.

📋 What you’ll learn in this guide:
🔍 How maritime laws protect injured workers.
🚨 Situations where employers can be held liable.
💰 What compensation might be available to you.
🏛️ Why hiring a maritime attorney makes a difference.

Get the full details here: https://lambertzainey.com/maritime-injury/immediate-guidance/

06/30/2026

If you are injured while working on a vessel, there are two distinct clocks ticking on your claim. Missing either one can severely damage your case.

⏱️ The 7-Day Rule: You must report your injury to your employer in writing within seven days. If you wait, they will argue your injury wasn't serious or didn't happen on the job.

⏱️ The 3-Year Deadline: Under the Jones Act, you have exactly three years from the date of your injury to file a federal lawsuit.

Many injured seamen mistakenly believe that because they are receiving medical benefits, their 3-year deadline is paused. It is not. Furthermore, waiting to file means critical evidence — like vessel maintenance records and CCTV footage — will likely be deleted or recorded over.

Don't let the company run out the clock. Read our complete guide to the Jones Act Statute of Limitations and learn what you need to do to protect your claim today.

READ YOUR DEADLINES: https://lambertzainey.com/blog/statute-of-limitations-jones-act-lawsuits/

The Jones Act gives injured seamen 3 years to file — but exceptions exist and waiting costs you evidence. Lambert Zainey explains what you need to know. Free consultation.