Shreveport Personal Injury Lawyers

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Shreveport Catastrophic Injury Lawyers

For individuals who have suffered a severe injury, the future can be terrifying. You may be saddled with enormous medical debt and unsure about how you’re going to pay for treatment. You may be unable to continue in your current line of work. You may be in need of continuous medical care or rehabilitation and unsure about how you will get the assistance you need. Or, maybe, you’re the family member of someone who is going through this exact thing—and you’re left to worry about the daily concerns of life while carrying this new weight. 

If you find yourself in this situation, it’s important to know that you have a place to turn.

At Arnold & Itkin, we have helped hundreds of families and individuals just like you. People who had questions and no answers. People who just needed help to put their life back on track. By getting our Shreveport accident lawyers involved, you can rest assured knowing that you have a team on your side that is invested in your future and ready to fight for what matters most at a time like this: your full recovery. 

Though causes of catastrophic injuries vary, the following injuries are often catastrophic:

• Burn Injuries—Serious burn injuries destroy large portions of the body and may cause scarring that affects victims physically and mentally for the rest of their lives. The most severe burns require extensive surgeries, amputations, or cause permanent nerve damage.
• Blunt Force Trauma—Blunt force trauma occurs when an object strikes with enough force to cause serious injury. One of the most common blunt force traumas that lead to catastrophic injury is blunt force trauma to the head, which can cause a lifetime of cognitive problems.
• Hearing & Vision Loss—When an injury causes the loss or impairment of a person’s vision or hearing, they are forced to completely change how they interact with the world around them. This period of adjustment is often costly, as it requires many to seek a new career, take fewer hours at work, and invest in resources and tools to aid them.
• Spinal Cord Injuries—These injuries subject survivors to drastic lifestyle changes. Spinal cord damage impairs physical movement and, in the worst cases, causes complete paralysis.
• Neck & Back Injuries—The neck and back face a lot of stress from the rigors of daily life. In fact, these areas are the most common location of pain for the average American. Serious injuries to these areas cause a lifetime of discomfort and limited mobility.
• Neurological Injuries—Damage to the brain or the nervous system results in serious impairment to our mobility and quality of life. The loss of fine motor control, the loss of our senses, or even nerve pain can end our careers or subject us to physical hardship for life.

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Shreveport Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers

After a spinal cord injury, you and your family may be facing tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills and ongoing care. You may not be able to work again. These financial concerns are often just a small picture of the suffering you are experiencing. Spinal cord injuries also take a serious physical and emotional toll.

The cost of care for quadriplegia, for example, is more than $1 million for the first year and over $184,000 for each subsequent year. The lifetime cost for a 25-year-old with quadriplegia is more than $4.7 million. 

How to Prove Fault in Spine Injury Lawsuits

Spine injuries can almost always be traced back to someone’s negligence. That’s why our Shreveport spinal cord injury lawyers dive into the details of your case, investigating what happened and who is responsible.

To get the answers we need, we often work with:

These professionals can point to the cause of your accident, which helps us determine fault. When we know who is responsible, we can make them answer for the harm they have caused and demand justice on your behalf.

What Is the Most Common Spinal Cord Injury?

The Columbia University Department of Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine has said that the most common spinal cord injuries occur in the cervical and thoracic areas. Your cervical spine runs from below your skull to the base of your neck. Your thoracic spine runs from the base of the neck to the back of your ribcage. Injury to either part of your spine can lead to paralysis of the entire body or part of your body. Typically, injuries to the upper spine are most likely to cause more widespread paralysis.

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Shreveport Burn Injury Attorneys

Burns are some of the most traumatizing catastrophic injuries a person can sustain. Besides being incredibly painful and difficult to recover from, the effects of a burn injury can change the rest of a person’s life. Each day, countless burn survivors deal with the repercussions of their injuries. An altered appearance, limited mobility, and lasting pain are just a few of the challenges burn injury survivors overcome each day.

One of the most heartbreaking aspects of burn injuries is the fact that they’re often caused by the negligence of another party. No one should suffer for the rest of their life because someone else was reckless. At Arnold & Itkin, our Shreveport burn injury lawyers are focused on earning the financial stability that survivors need and deserve.

Common Types of Burn Injuries

Burn injuries happen in different ways and don’t always require direct exposure to a fire or heated object. While it’s common for burn injuries to be caused by exposure to a fire or explosion, they can happen in other ways.

Burn injuries include:

• Thermal Burns: These are the burns that most often come to mind when one thinks of a "burn injury." They are caused by exposure to a heated or hot substance such as fire, steam, liquids, and metal.
• Chemical Burns: Some burns, such as chemical burns, can occur with or without the presence of heat. For example, refinery workers are often exposed to hydrofluoric acid, a substance that’s useful during the production of various items. Besides causing burns, hydrofluoric acid exposure is concerning because it also introduces toxic substances into the body.
• Flash Burns: A person doesn’t need to be exposed directly to an explosion or fire to sustain injuries. Flash burns occur from the heat and energy a person is exposed to by being too close to an explosion.

Inhalation Injuries Often Accompany Burns

Inhalation injuries are serious and often accompany burn injuries. These injuries are caused by the inhalation of smoke or vapors that were present when a person sustained their burns. Inhalation injuries are important to be aware of because of the damage they cause to the respiratory system, eyes, and other parts of a person’s body.

The symptoms of inhalation injuries include:

Inhalation injuries have three main categories: heat inhalation, toxic inhalation, and smoke inhalation. Heat inhalation occurs when a person tries to breathe hot air, most often near a fire or explosion. Toxic inhalation occurs as fires burn toxic substances or a person is exposed to dangerous chemicals. Finally, smoke inhalation is a dangerous injury and causes about 60 and 80% of fatalities for burn victims.

Learn more about burn injuries on Medlinplus.gov

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Shreveport Brain Injury Lawyers

After a traumatic brain injury, a lawsuit is the best way for you to secure your future. Your injuries may require a lifetime of care, and you may not be able to work. Our Shreveport brain injury law firm believes you have been through enough. Let us fight for your future so you can focus on healing.

What Causes Brain Injuries?

Most brain injuries—no matter how severe—can be linked back to a blow or sudden jolt to the head. Minor brain injuries, like concussions, can resolve quickly and require little or no medical care. Severe brain injuries, on the other hand, completely change lives. They require ongoing care and affect nearly every aspect of someone’s life.

Some of the most common causes include:

At the heart of all of these is negligence. After a TBI has occurred, Arnold & Itkin is here to investigate the cause, determine the at-fault party, and fight for the compensation clients need.

What Are the Symptoms of Brain Injuries?

While every brain injury will be different, there are some common symptoms that can help you identify the injury.

Common brain injury symptoms include:

If you think a brain injury has occurred—even one that might appear minor—you need to see a doctor as soon as possible. A medical professional can determine how severe the injury is and begin whatever treatments are necessary.

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Shreveport Wrongful Death Attorneys

Losing a loved one because of another person’s negligence may cause families to experience incredible pain and hardship. The hardships grieving families experience have multiple dimensions: physical, emotional, mental, and financial. The loss of a loved one creates stress as well as grief, especially for families who have lost a source of income or have extensive medical bills. Although money won’t bring back your loved one, financial support could ensure your family is provided for during this difficult time.

The Shreveport wrongful death attorneys at Arnold & Itkin have helped countless families after losing a loved one. We're ready to see how we can help you.

Can I File a Wrongful Death Claim in Shreveport?

Who can file wrongful death claims varies from state to state. In most cases, immediate family members have the right to file a wrongful death claim. Children and spouses have the primary right to file—meaning that if the child or spouse of an accident victim is already pursuing a wrongful death claim, it is unlikely that any other family member can.

The following people could potentially file wrongful death lawsuits:

There is a statute of limitations of one year on wrongful death claims, so families only have a year to file a wrongful death claim before it is too late.

The loss of a loved one isn’t only emotionally devastating, but for some families, it can also be the loss of their largest (or only) source of income. Filing a claim against the people responsible for your loved one's death not only holds them accountable, but it also provides your family with a potential replacement source of income while you grieve and move forward.

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Shreveport Work Accident Attorneys

Work accidents affect millions of workers nationwide. Over two million workplace accidents were reported in 2017, and over five thousand workers were killed on the job, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In Louisiana alone, there have been over 1,600 work fatalities since 2011. Employees go to work expecting a safe work environment, yet employers frequently fail to provide workers with the safety training and equipment necessary to prevent accidents.

Facts About Workplace Accidents

Accidents can occur for a variety of reasons and sometimes there is no one to blame. However, that is not usually the case for workplace accidents. Research conducted by OSHA stated that most workplace accidents and fatalities could have been prevented if the employer had followed safety regulations.

Illnesses and injuries caused by unsafe workplaces are more common than you might think:

• More than 50,000 workers die every year from occupational diseases or injuries.
• Over the last 4 years, the workplace fatality rate has been 3.4 deaths per 100,000 workers.
• Workplace violence caused 24,610 severe injuries and 803 deaths in 2012.
• In 2013, the most violated OSHA standards were fall protection measures.

If you lost your loved one in a work accident, contact our Shreveport wrongful death lawyers today for a free case review: (888) 493-1629. We're here to help when you need it most.

What Are the Common Workplace Accidents in Shreveport?

Shreveport is home to a number of industries, and work-related accidents occur in just about every environment that you can imagine, to all types of employees, contractors, and sub-contractors.

Some of the most common work accidents in North LA include:

What Causes Work Accidents in Shreveport, LA?

One of the most common causes of workplace injuries is employer negligence. Employer negligence can put other workers in danger if they fail to train workers or provide them with safety equipment. Companies should also maintain a safe work environment to prevent workers from sustaining injuries.

Other forms of negligence that can lead to work injuries include:

• Equipment Failures: Fatal injuries can occur if equipment is poorly manufactured, maintained, or operated. Some of the most dangerous include industrial, hand-held, and electrical equipment.
• Falling Objects & Flying Debris: This can cause damage to a worker’s eyes, ears, and head—leading to a disability that robs a worker of his or her ability to earn a living. This commonly occurs at construction sites, logging sites, factories, warehouses, and shipyards.
• Slips & Falls: A slippery or cluttered floor, poor lighting, and lack of railings can lead to serious injuries—especially if a worker falls on their head. Slip and fall accidents frequently occur at hospitals, construction sites, factories, ships, warehouses, stores, and drilling rigs.
• Improper Maintenance: Companies should regularly perform maintenance on machines and equipment to prevent breakdowns and injuries.
• Failure to Comply with Safety Regulations: When employers fail to meet federal regulations that govern workplace health and safety, they put their workers at risk.
• Inadequate Inspections: Employers should be identifying potential risks in the workplace, such as defective ladders and scaffolds. They should also be aware of problems with equipment such as derricks, cranes, hoists, pulleys, and forklifts.
• Insufficient Training: Employers are required to train employees how to perform their work safely and to be informed of potential hazards.

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Shreveport Oilfield Accident Lawyers

Serving Land Rig Workers in Bossier Parish, Caddo Parish & Beyond

Oilfield work is often sought after because it pays well and does not necessarily require years of higher education to make a good living. Most oilfield workers are tough as nails, but cautious. They realize the importance of following safety protocol, and they find a great deal of satisfaction performing highly physical jobs. They’re accustomed to working hard and enduring challenging conditions and long hours, but they aren’t invincible.

Oil and gas workers across the U.S. are seriously injured or even killed in oilfield accidents that could have been prevented, had their employers done more to protect their safety.

Types of Oilfield Accidents & Their Causes

Oilfield work has inherent dangers. These come with working in close proximity to highly volatile materials, toxic substances, heavy machinery, and unpredictable wells. These dangers may exist, but they do not guarantee that accidents will happen. They certainly do not excuse oil and gas companies for cutting corners, ignoring safety standards, or failing to properly maintain equipment, which are the real causes of blowouts, explosions, and other catastrophes. Oilfield accidents are preventable.

Our Shreveport oilfield accident law firm handles cases involving:

• Collisions and traffic-related accidents, including incidents involving drivers responsible for transporting oil, gas, or equipment, and accidents involving workers at the wellsite.
• Struck by or caught in equipment or machinery at a wellsite or at any stage during extraction.
• Explosions, fires, and blowouts on land rigs, at drill sites, or involving high-pressure lines.
• Falls from heights or injuries caused by falling objects that are not properly secured.
• Exposure to hazardous substances, such as hydrogen sulfide, benzene, or sulfur dioxide.

When these accidents happen, injured workers and their families deserve answers. That’s what our oilfield injury lawyers fight to provide, bringing our clients peace of mind because they know that justice has been served.

Oilfield Worker Injuries in Caddo Parish, Bossier Parish & Across Louisiana

Rig managers, roustabouts, roughnecks, derrick hands, motormen, drillers, and drivers may experience life-altering injuries in an oilfield accident. It doesn’t matter how experienced or careful they are if their employers don’t do everything required to protect their well-being. They will be injured if aging equipment fails, someone makes a mistake, or safety standards are ignored. The worst part is that the injuries they sustain are often catastrophic.

Do I have to see the company doctor after an oilfield accident?

A common practice after oilfield accidents in Shreveport and throughout the country is for the company to demand that injured workers see specific doctors. You should know that you are not required to see the doctor of your employer’s choosing. You have the right to get a second opinion regarding your injuries and your treatment. You have the right to see any doctor or specialist so you can be certain that you’re receiving the best care. If your employer is saying you must see a specific doctor or that you need to return to work even though you don’t feel ready, talk to an attorney. Don’t jeopardize your health and well-being for a company that’s most likely more interested in protecting their interests than helping you recover.

Is the oilfield a dangerous place to work?

The oilfields scattered across Bossier Parish and Caddo Parish in Louisiana are viewed as dangerous places to work, and for good reason. Land rig workers perform hard, physical labor. They work around volatile substances and heavy machinery. These hazards, however, do not excuse accidents like falls, explosions, or fires.

Oilfields are dangerous places to work when oil and gas companies do not put safety first.

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Shreveport Construction Accident Lawyers

Over 21% of fatal workplace injuries take place in construction sites, according to the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA). Construction work is one of the most dangerous jobs in the nation because people work at great heights, handle heavy equipment, and are exposed to hazardous chemicals. The risks of construction work often expose workers to accidents that result in serious injuries.

Construction workers go to work trusting that they will be given the proper safety training and equipment to avoid getting injured. Unfortunately, employers often fail to provide workers with safe, injury-free workplaces. If you’re a construction worker and you were injured on the job because of another person’s negligence, you need an experienced attorney who will protect your rights. The Shreveport construction accident lawyers at Arnold & Itkin are dedicated to helping those injured on the job recover the compensation they need.

What Are Common Hazards Faced at Construction Sites?

Human error can result in major accidents—regardless of the cause. It is the supervisors’ responsibility to train employees on how to perform their work as safely as possible to prevent putting them in danger.

Examples of hazards that can cause accidents in construction sites:

• Improper site design or inspection
• Unmarked hazards (ex: unprotected holes or roofing)
• Safety code violations
• Improperly stored materials
• Using old or defective working materials

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Shreveport Aviation Accident Attorneys

Cases that involve aviation accidents require the representation of an attorney who truly knows what they are doing. These are lawsuits that can often involve multiple parties, as well as complex questions of liability. You need a lawyer with the resources to manage a case of this magnitude, as well as a lawyer who is not afraid to stand up to large companies. The Shreveport personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Itkin LLP, have earned a reputation for being fearless advocates on behalf of our clients. Throughout the years, we have stood toe-to-toe with some of the largest companies in America, forcing them to do the right thing after their negligence caused unspeakable damage to innocent parties. Therefore, if you or someone you love has been involved in an airplane accident, helicopter accident, or even an accident at an airport, you should not hesitate to contact us immediately.

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Shreveport Motor Vehicle Accident Lawyers

Motor vehicle accidents occur every day, and they can cause enormous damage. Regardless of whether a negligent driver caused the accident, someone who was distracted behind the wheel, someone who was drinking and driving, or even a defective auto part or dangerous road, you should not wait to get the help of a firm you can trust. Our Shreveport personal injury attorneys stand up for the victims of motor vehicle accidents throughout Louisiana and nationwide. If you have been severely injured in a crash, or if you lost someone you love to a fatal collision, we’re here for you.

We handle motor vehicle accident cases of all kinds, including:

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Shreveport Truck Accident Attorneys

Commercial trucks—weighing between 10,000 and 80,000 pounds—significantly outweigh even the largest passenger vehicles you may see on the highways throughout Shreveport. When tractor-trailers and other large trucks are involved in accidents, catastrophic injury and wrongful death are often the results.

The Shreveport truck accident lawyers at Arnold & Itkin are here after these collisions to help the injured and bereaved put their lives back together. When we take your case, you become like family to us. We won’t settle until we’ve secured the compensation you need to cover medical bills, put food on the table, and replace lost income. Our experienced attorneys have handled truck accident cases of all kinds, representing everyone from carrier employees, independent contractors, and passenger vehicle drivers who have been harmed by negligence.

What Are the Main Causes of Truck Accidents?

At the heart of most crashes are the dangerous policies that permeate the trucking industry. When you are a truck driver, you are only paid for the miles you drive. This means that drivers are left uncompensated for many routine—and vital—tasks. Tasks that help maintain the safety of these massive trucks and those who operate them.

Some of the non-driving tasks that drivers must perform include:

• Rig inspections at weigh-ins
• Getting a full night of rest before driving
• Rig repair & maintenance
• Waiting for loading & unloading
• Self-inspection
• Route planning

To make up for the time they spend performing these tasks—if they perform them at all—drivers end up spending too many hours behind the wheel. These long hours of driving have been proven to cause more accidents, and other drivers on the road are paying the price. Arnold & Itkin is here to hold trucking companies and drivers accountable for their unsafe practices.

What Are the Most Common Truck Accidents?

Arnold & Itkin has helped clients move forward after every kind of truck accident that you can think of.

Some of the cases we’ve handled include:

Our Shreveport truck accident attorneys know how the trucking industry workers, and we know the dangerous practices that often lead to accidents. We’ve also heard just about every excuse and seen the most shameless tactics employed to try to avoid accountability. We won’t stand for this. When companies try to give you low settlement offers, we are not afraid to take your case to court and demand the full compensation you deserve.

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Shreveport Bus Accident Lawyers

Buses can offer a false sense of security to occupants. Since they’re large, people assume they’re safe. Yet, these vehicles often lack the restraints and other forms of safety technology other vehicles. When a bus accident happens, the people inside of them aren’t the only people at risk. Since buses are significantly heavier and larger than other vehicles on the road, people involved in collisions involving them often suffer from serious injuries.

What Causes Shreveport Bus Accidents

Multiple factors and events can trigger a serious bus accident. However, all bus crashes have one thing in common: they’re preventable. When buses are operated safely, they’re a useful source of mass transportation. Yet, reckless bus driving and operations mean that dozens of people can have their lives changed by a single accident.

Common causes or factors that lead to bus accidents include:

• No safety restraints for passengers
• Poorly trained bus drivers
• Lack of regular bus maintenance
• Reckless or negligent bus driving
• Bus driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol

Determining fault after a bus accident can involve multiple layers. Sometimes, drivers can cause accidents through reckless driving. In other instances, transportation companies cause accidents by failing to train workers or make sure their fleet is properly maintained. Finally, manufacturers might be responsible for bus accidents after producing faulty or low-quality parts. Hiring an experienced bus accident lawyer can help you determine what parties could have prevented your accident.

Is Hiring a Bus Accident Lawyer Expensive?

At Arnold & Itkin, we work on something known as a contingency fee. Simply put, this means that we handle all expenses associated with a case and only collect a payment if we obtain results for a client. Working this way helps alleviate financial stress on clients so they can focus on what matters: recovery. It also helps make the services of our lawyers obtainable for people from all types of financial backgrounds.

Who Is Liable After a Bus Accident?

This depends on what happened during your accident. Responsible parties might include bus companies, drivers, drivers of other vehicles, manufacturers, and more. If we take your case, the first thing our team will work to determine is who might be responsible for your suffering. Once we establish this, we’ll be able to pursue the right parties for the compensation that you need and deserve.

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Shreveport Train Accident Attorneys

From Amtrak to Union Pacific, our railroad accident law firm is not afraid to stand up to the largest companies in the industry. If you or someone you love was injured in a train accident, we want you to know we’re here for you. We understand the magnitude of these cases, and we are prepared to do the work necessary to help you.

From the beginning, we take the time to sit down and listen to your story. We listen to what happened and then come up with a strategy that’s designed to take care of you and your family—helping you reach a stable future. No matter whether you were a passenger injured in a derailment, a driver injured at a grade crossing accident, or a crew member who was hurt on the job, we’re equipped to help you fight for the future that you deserve.

Aside from obstructions on the railroad, causes of train accidents also include:

• Malfunctioning crossties
• Unsafe speed of travel
• Delay in applying brakes
• Switch failure

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About Shreveport

Shreveport is the third most populous city in Louisiana and is the seat of Caddo Parish in the northwest part of the state. As of July 2021, Shreveport had an estimated population of 184,021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The area gets a lot of rainfall (more than 51 inches each year) and has a humid subtropical climate. Summers are hot and humid, while winters are often mild, although ice and sleet storms sometimes occur. Shreveport is also prone to severe thunderstorms, hail, wind, and tornadoes in the spring and summer.

Shreveport was founded by the Shreve Town Company in 1836 with the intention of building a community at the juncture of the Texas Trail and Red River that would provide a route to the Republic of Texas over land. It served as the capital of Louisiana and a Confederate stronghold during the Civil War. Shreveport grew steadily through the 19th century and became a hub for the oil industry in the United States once oil was discovered in Louisiana. Standard Oil of Louisiana and United Gas Corporation were both headquartered in Shreveport, and Shreveport Operations (a motor vehicle factory owned and operated by General Motors) further established Shreveport as an industrial community. The city faced economic problems and rising crime rates in the 1980s but has since focused on rebuilding and diversifying its economy.

Today, Shreveport’s economy is based on tourism, gambling, manufacturing, and telecommunications. Shreveport is also home to numerous sound stages and other facilities used to create and produce movies and television shows. Two airports serve the city: Shreveport Regional Airport and Shreveport Downtown Airport. There are numerous indoor and outdoor attractions in the Shreveport area that attract residents and visitors, such as the Barksdale Global Power Museum, Jubilee Zoo, Louisiana State Exhibit Museum, Marlene Yu Museum, Pioneer Heritage Center, and Sci-Port Discovery Center.

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Receive a Free Consultation from Proven Trial Attorneys: Call (888) 493-1629

If you’re unsure of where to turn or what to do next, we want you to know that you’re not alone. If you have been severely injured, the first thing that you need to do is get in touch with an experienced Shreveport personal injury lawyer you can trust to look after your best interests. At Arnold & Itkin, we are backed by a track record of success—we know how to handle the massive headline-making cases and the complex cases that don't get news coverage.

We have set state and national records with our case victories, including:

• $171 Million: One of the largest confidential settlements in history
• $117 Million: Largest single-event personal injury verdict in Louisiana history
• $110 Million: Record settlement for the victims of a dangerously defective product
• $44 Million: Largest verdict for an amputee victim after a workplace accident
• $39.7 Million: Record verdict won for a man burned in a dust fire and explosion
• $29 Million: Largest known settlement for a wrongful death offshore

To get in touch with a member of our award-winning legal team, pick up the phone and call (888) 493-1629 or send us a message through our online form. We are here to help you.