Three Houston-area men and two Louisiana residents were found dead early Thursday after their fishing boat slammed into a barge along a canal southwest of New Orleans, authorities said.

The fishing boat was found about 9:15 a.m. partially jutting out from below a barge that was moored along Falgout Canal near Houma, authorities said.

“You still had a portion of it that was underneath the (forward edge) of the barge,” said Maj. Euia Usie, with the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office.

At least one of the victims was found lying on the barge while the others were still inside the boat or in the water, Usie said.

“They were close together,” Usie said.

Sheriff’s officials identified the local victims as Rene Gauthier, 59, of Houston; Lawrence Flak, 54, of Conroe, and Katy resident William Voss, 49. The two Louisiana victims were Michael Carrere, 43, of Bayou Blue, and Carey Meche, 52, of Metairie.

Usie said his agency is assisting Louisiana’s Department of Wildlife and Fisheries in the investigation. He didn’t know how the victims were discovered.

Capt. Samuel Martin of Wildlife and Fisheries told the Houma Courier that workers tending to the barge found the men’s boat. The men, he said, likely died from injuries received upon impact. He said he was unsure whether the group wore life vests.

“Drowning was not the issue,” he told the Courier. “Trauma was the issue from them striking the metal barge.”

Terrebonne Parish Sheriff Vernon Bourgeois told WDSU-TV in New Orleans that the men were last seen around 10 p.m. Wednesday leaving the Dulac area on the way to Bayou Dularge.

Investigators don’t know how the 24-foot aluminum fishing boat with an outboard motor became pinned under the barge.

The men were planning to attend the Houma Oilman’s Fishing Invitational, officials said.

“All these gentlemen are oil-field employees that have been coming to the tournament for several years,” Usie said.

Officials said a steady stream of cars passes along a road running near the canal.

“You really couldn’t see it too much from the road because of the way the barges were placed,” Usie said.

He said there is a “fair amount” of boating traffic along the canal.

“We have a lot of people that fish down here for a living and they use it,” Usie said.

The Lady Mary, a 71-foot scallop boat based at Cape May in southern New Jersey, sank at approximately 5:00 AM on Tuesday, March 24, 2009. There were seven people aboard the fishing boat about 75 miles off the coast. The accident is expected to rank among the worst commercial fishing disasters in the history of the United States.

By Tuesday night, only one survivor had been found. Two of the three crew members were pulled from the icy water by a Coast Guard helicopter, but both later died.

More than 100 commercial fishermen have died at sea off the New Jersey coast, since reliable records started being kept in1931.

One of the worst accidents happened in 2001 when the Artic Rose sunk in the Bering Sea, which killed 15 people. The Aleutian Enterprise also sank in the same location in 1990, killing nine people.

All seven crew members in the recent accident off the New Jersey coast were wearing cold-water survival suits, according to the Coast Guard. However, a national search and rescue expert said that chances are not good for survival in 40-degree water.

The survivor, Jose Luis Ariese, told authorities that the members had lifesaving suits and abandoned ship, although he didn’t give a specific reason as to why they left the boat. Ariese had spent at least two hours in the icy water and was treated and released from the hospital.

What is benzene?

• Benzene is a chemical that is a colorless or light yellow liquid at room temperature. It has a sweet odor and is highly flammable.
• Benzene evaporates into the air very quickly. Its vapor is heavier than air and may sink into low-lying areas.
• Benzene dissolves only slightly in water and will float on top of water.

Where is benzene found and how is it used?

• Benzene is formed from both natural processes and human activities.
• Natural sources of benzene include volcanoes and forest fires. Benzene is also a natural part of crude oil, gasoline, and cigarette smoke.
• Benzene is widely used in the United States. It ranks in the top 20 chemicals for production volume.
• Some industries use benzene to make other chemicals that are used to make plastics, resins, nylon and synthetic fibers. Benzene is also used to make some types of lubricants, rubbers, dyes, detergents, drugs, and pesticides.

How is exposure to benzene possible?

• Outdoor air contains low levels of benzene from tobacco smoke, gas stations, motor vehicle exhaust, and industrial emissions.
• Indoor air generally contains levels of benzene higher than those in outdoor air. The benzene in indoor air comes from products that contain benzene such as glues, paints, furniture wax, and detergents.
• The air around hazardous waste sites or gas stations can contain higher levels of benzene than in other areas.
• Benzene leaks from underground storage tanks or from hazardous waste sites containing benzene can contaminate well water.
• People working in industries that make or use benzene may be exposed to the highest levels.
• A major source of benzene exposure is tobacco smoke.

How is benzene harmful?

• Benzene can cause cells not to function correctly. For example, it can cause bone marrow not to produce enough red blood cells, which can lead to anemia. Benzene can also damage the immune system by changing blood levels of antibodies and causing the loss of white blood cells.
• The seriousness of poisoning caused by benzene depends on the amount, route, and length of time of exposure, as well as the age and preexisting medical condition of the exposed person.

What are the immediate signs and symptoms of benzene exposure?

• People who breathe in high levels of benzene may develop the following signs and symptoms within minutes to several hours:
• Drowsiness
• Dizziness
• Rapid or irregular heartbeat
• Headaches
• Tremors
• Confusion
• Unconsciousness
• Death (at very high levels)
• Eating foods or drinking beverages containing high levels of benzene can cause the following symptoms within minutes to several hours:
• Vomiting
• Irritation of the stomach
• Dizziness
• Sleepiness
• Convulsions
• Rapid or irregular heartbeat
• Death (at very high levels)
• If a person vomits because of swallowing foods or beverages containing benzene, the vomit could be sucked into the lungs and cause breathing problems and coughing.
• Direct exposure of the eyes, skin, or lungs to benzene can cause tissue injury and irritation.
• Showing these signs and symptoms does not necessarily mean that a person has been exposed to benzene.

What are the long-term health effects of benzene exposure?

• Long-term benzene exposure, such as a year or more, will effect the blood. Benzene causes harmful effects on the bone marrow and can cause a decrease in red blood cells, leading to anemia. It can also cause excessive bleeding and can affect the immune system, increasing the chance for infection.
• Some women who breathed high levels of benzene for many months had irregular menstrual periods and a decrease in the size of their ovaries. It is not known whether benzene exposure affects the developing fetus in pregnant women or fertility in men.
• Animal studies have shown low birth weights, delayed bone formation, and bone marrow damage when pregnant animals breathed benzene.
• The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has determined that benzene causes cancer in humans. Long-term exposure to high levels of benzene in the air can cause leukemia, cancer of the blood-forming organs.

How is benzene poisoning treated?

• Benzene poisoning is treated with supportive medical care in a hospital setting.
• No specific antidote exists for benzene poisoning.
• The most important thing is for victims to seek medical treatment as soon as possible.

Helicopters are used to transport offshore oil rig workers to and from the job site and to carry equipment and parts. When a helicopter crashes, the outcome is usually catastrophic. Last year, a helicopter crashed in the Gulf of Mexico as it carried oil platform workers. Five men died in the offshore helicopter accident. The crash prompted a lawsuit against Rotorcraft Leasing Co., LLC and Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc.

There are many known causes of helicopter accidents, including helicopter owner negligence, poor weather conditions, inadequate ground mechanics, excessive loads, poor maintenance and manufacturing defects. Helicopters are complex machines and many things can go wrong.

If negligence was involved in the helicopter accident, the company or person who was negligent may be held accountable. In the case of a defective part or design flaw, the manufacturer of the helicopter may be liable.

Helicopter accident cases are complex. If you or a loved one has been injured in a maritime helicopter accident, you may be able to pursue compensation. You need to contact an experienced maritime attorney who will explain your legal rights. Contact our law firm today to discuss your legal options.

If you have sustained an oil rig injury, there is some good news for you. There are laws that exist, which protect injured workers and allow them to obtain compensation for their injuries. Depending on the type of job you have, you may be entitled to a significant amount of money, especially if negligence was involved.

The Jones Act is a federal law that protects the rights of injured seamen. To qualify for compensation under this law, you must be classified as a seaman, which is basically someone who works on a vessel or is assigned to a fleet of vessels for his employer. Movable or jack-up drilling rigs are considered vessels, so if you work on one of these types of rigs, you should be considered a seaman. If you work on a fixed platform, you are not classified as a seaman, but there are other laws that protect you.

Under the Jones Act, you can pursue compensation for lost wages, pain and suffering, medical expenses, mental anguish and disfigurement. This compensation is generally available when the vessel owner, employer, co-workers, operators or officers were negligent in some way, which led to your maritime injuries.

There are too many dangers faced by maritime workers to even count. Every day on the job for a seaman is a day at risk. One of the less publicized injuries suffered by seamen is hearing loss. Loud noises, especially in the engine room, can result in serious, or even permanent loss of hearing. If your hearing has been affected from working on a vessel, you may be entitled to compensation.

Various laws exist that protect maritime workers, including the Jones Act. Under the Jones Act, an injured seaman can pursue compensation for injuries and may be able to file an action against the vessel owner if negligence was involved in the injury. Also, a vessel that is considered unseaworthy could entitle the injured maritime worker to compensation.

Hearing loss that results from maritime work can often be avoided. The use of hearing protection or personal protective equipment can help prevent hearing loss or other damage to the hearing, such as buzzing in the ear. Employers are responsible for keeping their employees safe, under the law.

If you have suffered hearing problems or hearing loss from a maritime accident or from your work aboard a vessel, you should contact a maritime attorney at our law firm. There are deadlines as to when you can file your claim, so you shouldn’t wait long to contact a maritime injury lawyer.

Picture this scenario – a seaman falls on a broken ladder aboard a vessel. His employer’s insurance company offers a settlement for his injuries that appears fair, only to find out later that the amount offered was way below what the seaman’s injuries were worth. Unfortunately, this scenario is not uncommon and happens to many injured maritime workers.

If you have been injured in a maritime accident while working aboard a vessel, such as a tug, tow, barge or rig, you should contact a maritime injury lawyer. An attorney will ensure that your rights are being protected and that you are treated fairly. If you try to go it alone, you face an uphill battle with the insurance company. It is important to remember that the insurer does not have your best interests in mind.

After a maritime accident, you may be contacted by an investigator or insurer who will want to get your recorded statement. Do not give one. They will try to catch you saying something that they can use to lower your settlement offer. Also, don’t sign any papers without consulting with a maritime attorney.

If you have been injured offshore, you need to talk with a maritime injury attorney immediately. There are deadlines as to when you can file your claim and you do not want to miss out on collecting your deserved compensation. Contact our law firm today for a free legal consultation.

An accidental amputation is a catastrophic maritime injury that requires immediate action. Amputation occurs when a body part is removed and can occur during a planned medical procedure or from a maritime accident. It can be classified as complete, meaning the body part is completely severed, or it can be partial, meaning a portion remains attached to the body.

Depending on the severity of the amputation and the body part that was affected, it may be possible to reattach the appendage. If an amputation is caused by a maritime accident, emergency care is crucial. Immediately after the offshore accident, emergency services should be contacted. It is important to stop the bleeding and watch for signs of shock. The trauma of the maritime accident can cause the injured seaman to go into physiologic shock. Some of the signs to watch out for include loss of consciousness, lightheadedness, trouble standing and becoming less responsive.

The amputated limb may be able to be reattached, but there are steps that need to be taken to help improve the chances of recovery. The appendage should be cleaned with water, wrapped in a sterile cloth, placed in a waterproof container and transported in ice to the hospital with the injured seaman.

Compensation is generally available for maritime injury cases.

Working on the open seas and in navigable rivers and waterways can be dangerous. Every year, there are stories of offshore workers killed while performing their job duties.

Drowning at sea is a serious risk to seamen, which is why the law provides legal rights to the surviving family members of drowning victims. Numerous injuries and deaths occur when seamen are trying to go to-and-fro the vessel to the dock or crossing over vessel to vessel. Maritime law requires that crewmembers, officers and the Captain have safe access to and from the vessel and when this law is violated, the vessel owner can be held liable.

A vessel owner can also be held liable for a drowning death if the ship did not have a survival suit, life raft or other survival craft or if these life saving devices failed. Any of these situations could constitute a claim of unseaworthiness and the family may be able to recover compensation. Even though monetary compensation does not replace a loved one, it can help contribute to the costs of taking care of the family and household.

If you have lost a family member due to a drowning at sea, you should contact a maritime attorney who can help you determine who was liable and the compensation available. Contact our law firm today for legal advice.

Offshore workers who drill in deepwater participate in one of the most dangerous jobs in the country. Drilling in the ocean with depths of over 5 miles poses challenges and dangers for offshore workers that are unique to other industries. Heavy machinery, explosions, fires, slippery surfaces and chemical exposure are not uncommon on offshore oil rigs.

The Gulf of Mexico is the only area in the United States where oil companies are allowed to drill. The deepwater oil fields in the Gulf of Mexico are believed to hold up to 2.8 billion barrels of hydrocarbons, which is why nearly one-third of the world’s deepwater rigs are active in this area. Oil drillers have to work hard to extricate the oil from sandstone formations that are found 5 miles down into the ocean and then ship the oil 150 miles to land. The work can be strenuous and often results in serious offshore injuries.

Workers on offshore oil rigs have to combat hurricanes, toxic chemicals and strong currents that tug at the drill pipe. They also use heavy equipment that can be difficult to work with and often leads to serious injuries or death.

Injured offshore workers are protected under the law and have the right to collect compensation for their injuries caused by drilling offshore. Contact an offshore injury attorney at our law firm for a free legal consultation.