For maritime workers, there is no simple task. Every objective they have is connected to the lives of everyone else onboard. Of course, this works both ways. More often than not, a maritime worker is put in jeopardy because of the actions of their fellow crewmembers or even their employer. These events serve to highlight the value of a Jones Act lawyer in Houston.
One such case happened recently off the coast of the Solomon Islands. On December 18th, a ferry left port to transport 390 people over the water. The problem? The Francis Gerena was only licensed to carry 80. It didn’t take long for the added weight to take effect. When the ferry’s pump failed, the ship began sinking.
At this time, all we know is the ferry was carrying far too many people and hadn’t been cleared to leave the harbor. But someone made a decision and as a result nearly 400 people were put at risk. Thankfully, everyone survived.
A qualified Jones Act lawyer in Houston would look at a situation like this and know their client was due for compensation if they had been injured. If the captain of the ferry made the decision to leave port, the Jones Act demands that crewmembers not be held responsible for others’ negligence. Had the pump failed for some other reason, a Jones Act lawyer in Houston would look to see if the owner of the ship was responsible for operating the vessel without proper equipment onboard.
In any case, maritime workers must have proper representation if they hope to get what they’re due under the Jones Act. A law firm like Kirkendall Dwyer LLP is a great option for maritime workers in Houston. While every incident is different, they can provide the kind of representation a crew member needs.
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