Lambert Zainey Smith & Soso

06/08/2026

When offshore workers get hurt during a Gulf Coast hurricane, companies love to claim it was an "Act of God."

The law disagrees. Hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico do not appear without warning. Operators have days to prepare, yet we consistently see them make decisions driven by production pressure rather than worker safety.

A storm does not eliminate your legal rights. If you were injured because your employer:

⚠️ Delayed an evacuation to protect profits.
⚠️ Rushed you back to a damaged platform before it was inspected.
⚠️ Failed to provide adequate safety equipment during emergency shut-ins.
..The company is liable.

Whether you are covered by the Jones Act or OCSLA, you have strict deadlines to report these injuries (as little as 30 days). Read our full legal breakdown of how hurricane evacuations work and who is actually responsible when they go wrong.

READ YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS ➡️ https://lambertzainey.com/blog/offshore-workers-hurricane-gulf-mexico/

Gulf hurricane season puts offshore workers at serious risk. Learn how evacuation decisions are made, what operators are required to do, and your legal rights if you are injured. Free consultation.

06/02/2026

If you’ve been injured in a maritime accident, you may feel overwhelmed and unsure of what to do next. This guide breaks it down step by step, so you can protect your rights and focus on recovery. ⚖️

📋 What the guide covers:
✅ How to report your injury the right way.
🌊 What evidence you need to gather.
✅ The importance of seeking medical care immediately.
🌊 When to reach out to a maritime lawyer for help.

Get the answers you need: https://lambertzainey.com/maritime-injury/immediate-guidance/

04/15/2026

Partner Chris Zainey recently wrapped up a busy month of speaking engagements sharing his legal expertise across the Gulf Coast. In March, Chris served as a panelist at the prestigious Tulane Admiralty Law Institute Biannual CLE, discussing "Ethics in Settlement Negotiations," and guest lectured graduate students at the Tulane University Freeman School of Business on the role of forensic economists in litigation. And here he is talking at the New Orleans Bar Association Bench Bar Conference in Gulf Shores, where he presented on professionalism in business generation for plaintiff's attorneys.

Congratulations, Chris, on continuing to lead and educate in the legal community! ⚖️🎤

04/13/2026

Five years ago today, the lift boat Seacor Power capsized in the Gulf of Mexico. Thirteen of the 19 workers on board never came home.

Our firm had the solemn responsibility of serving as Co-Lead Counsel for the families impacted by this disaster, including the family of Captain David Ledet. While the legal claims were fully resolved in 2023, the fight to protect the next generation of offshore workers is far from over.

The NTSB investigation revealed systemic communication failures that day. Most critically, it highlighted the life-or-death need for Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) for all offshore workers. Despite four separate NTSB recommendations following major maritime tragedies, the Coast Guard has still not mandated PLBs.

Today, we remember the men who were lost. We remember the families who trusted us in their darkest hours. And we renew our call for the safety reforms that offshore workers deserve.

Read our full 5-year retrospective on the Seacor Power, the NTSB findings, and what must change: https://lambertzainey.com/blog/five-years-after-the-seacor-power-capsizing-what-we-learned-and-what-still-needs-to-change/

Five years after the Seacor Power lift boat tragedy, Lambert Zainey reflects on the NTSB findings, resolved litigation, and safety changes still needed.

04/13/2026

If you were injured offshore, the company might try to offer you a quick settlement while you are still recovering. Do not sign it.

Why? Because until your doctors say you have reached Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI), it is impossible to know how much your future medical care will actually cost. The company knows this, and they want to buy you out cheap before you realize the true extent of your injuries.

A proper Jones Act lawsuit takes time to build, investigate, and litigate. However, you have a strict Statute of Limitations to file your claim before your rights are permanently erased.

Don't let the company run out the clock or pressure you into a bad deal. Read our newly updated guide on the true timeline of a maritime injury lawsuit and what to expect at every stage.

READ THE TIMELINE GUIDE ➡️https://lambertzainey.com/blog/how-long-do-jones-act-lawsuits-take/

03/20/2026

If you were hurt offshore or on the docks, the company will likely send you to their clinic. You might feel like your pain is being minimized or that you are being rushed back to work before you are ready. 🩺

Don't let a company doctor decide your future. Under the Jones Act, you have the absolute right to see a doctor of your choice and obtain independent medical evidence.

Our updated guide breaks down:

✅ Why an MRI is the "Gold Standard" for soft tissue injuries.
✅ How EMG and nerve studies prove long-term disability.
✅ Why objective testing is the "smoking gun" in a $1.37M settlement.

Your recovery and your claim depend on a correct diagnosis. Read the full guide to understand your medical rights.

READ THE MEDICAL GUIDE: https://lambertzainey.com/blog/common-medical-tests-for-maritime-and-offshore-injuries/

Company doctor says you're "fine" but you're not? Learn which medical tests (MRI, CT, nerve studies, FCE) prove maritime injuries and maximize Jones Act compensation. Free review.

03/10/2026

The basket transfer is one of the most dangerous moments offshore. It demands flawless execution. When corners are cut, the results are catastrophic.

We secured a $1,375,000 settlement for an injured mariner who suffered serious neck and back injuries during a botched personnel basket transfer between two vessels.

This result proves that a "botched" transfer is a clear example of crew negligence and a failure to provide a safe means of vessel transfer. If you were injured during a basket, swing rope, or rig transfer, you are owed major compensation.

Experience matters in high-stakes offshore cases. See more results that prove it.

SEE MORE RESULTS: https://lambertzainey.com/case-results/

03/05/2026

📱 One text message. One moment of distraction. Your life changed forever.

If you were hurt because a crew member was on their phone—texting, scrolling, or calling when they should have been watching—you need to know this:

**Cell phone distraction isn't just careless. Under the Jones Act, it's NEGLIGENCE. And your employer is legally responsible.**

We see it all the time:
- The crane operator was texting → missed your stop signal → you were struck
- The watch stander was scrolling → vessel collision → catastrophic injuries
- The deckhand was on a call → line snap-back → permanent disability

Here's what most injured workers don't realize:

✓ We can SUBPOENA cell phone records showing texts at the exact time of your accident
✓ We can SECURE surveillance footage before it's deleted (30-90 days)
✓ We can PROVE what the crew member was doing when you got hurt

But this evidence disappears FAST. Without immediate legal action, the proof is gone forever.

At Lambert Zainey, we've spent over 40 years fighting for injured maritime workers. We know how to preserve evidence, prove negligence, and win.

You didn't cause this. A distracted crew member did.

👉 Learn more: https://lambertzainey.com/blog/cell-phone-and-maritime-accidents/

Don't let the evidence disappear. Call today.

Hurt by a distracted crew member on their phone? Cell phone use during safety-critical work is negligence. Learn how we subpoena records and prove your Jones Act claim. Free case review.

02/18/2026

Not every maritime case stays in the Gulf of Mexico. Our expertise travels globally.

We successfully resolved a complex international case for two electricians injured when a government-owned research vessel tipped over while in dry dock in Scotland.

This case required navigating specialized federal law—the Public Vessels Act (PVA)—which allows citizens to sue government entities for maritime negligence. Whether your injury is offshore or overseas, our firm has the expertise to hold any vessel owner—even a sovereign nation—accountable for negligence.

The result proves our authority in specialized international maritime law.

SEE OUR FULL RESULTS: https://lambertzainey.com/case-results/