Grounded Boat: Pirate Queen Grounding

If you are injured during a boating accident or while in the water, it is important for you to utilize the assistance of a lawyer who is knowledgeable and capable of helping you out with this very specific kind of injury. While there are injury lawyers who say they can help you out, no matter your injury, you are in better hands if you opt into the services of a maritime accident injury lawyer. A maritime accident injury is anything that happens at sea, and this usually takes place while at sea and something happens on a boat, such as a cruise line, and you are injured during the process. There are different laws and rules when it comes to water based injuries, especially if you are in international waters. Due to this, you need someone who is able to assist you and has all of the knowledge available to them. The maritime accident injury lawyer is there to assist you every step of the way.

One of the most recent maritime accidents took place with the Pirate Queen Grounding. Sometimes, the accident is more than just an incident on a cruise line. With this, the Pirate Queen ended up coming in contact with the pier due to the leading lights not functioning properly on the Roonagh Pier. This ended up costing millions of dollars worth of damage, not to mention injuries to the crew. It is up to the Pier owners to keep everything up and running on it, and because they did not keep the lighting functioning properly, and this ended up leading to the incident. They need to be held accountable for the actions, as they did not maintain their necessary duties. It is not the captain or other individuals on the boat who are at fault, but instead the owners of the Roonagh Pier.

There are many different issues that occur with maritime law. All of this needs to be dealt with by someone who has experienced and knowledge regarding the kind of law, and this is why utilizing a maritime accident lawyer is the best bet.

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How the Jones Act Affects Workers at Sea

Maritime attorneys handle cases where people are injured at sea on their job including rig job injuries and shore side situations. They provide legal representation for injured merchant mariners, officers, deckhands, factory trawlers, crabbers, longshoremen, cruise ship workers, oilrig workers, ferry workers and even injuries from recreational boaters.

A competent skilled offshore injury lawyer has the contacts for dealing directly with naval experts, marine safety investigators, board-certified healthcare and medical personnel providers, injury experts, along with physical capacity experts. They can represent nearly anyone that has suffered injuries at sea or involved in any maritime injury situation. They can provide the legal expert required to receive compensation for both current and future losses.

In 1920, the Merchant Marine Act [i] was passed. It is more recognized as the Jones Act of 1920. It provides a whole list of remedies specifically designed for individuals that are injured at sea. Even though the laws do not specifically define coverage for seamen, the law on coverage has been clarified by the US Supreme Court.

Any ill or injured seaman is to be guaranteed all of their wages from the time of their injury or illness until the end of the entire voyage. During all of their recovery time, the individual while at sea is to receive care and maintenance until they reach access to care that provides maximum medical improvement. Maintenance includes mortgage or rent payments, food costs, and utility expenses. Cure involves medical supplies and equipment, necessary medical treatments, and any medication that is both in an original or secondary condition.

If an individual is injured or ill at sea, and is not properly compensated they need to hire the skills of a maritime attorney to receive just restitution. They should seek one that has a solid success track record in handling cases directly involved with the National Jones Act and other maritime laws.

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Two Fall Overboard on Cruise Ship–Still Missing

Two Australians fell overboard on the last night of a cruise off the coast of Forster, a large coastal town in Australia.  The couple was discovered to be missing Thursday morning, and then surveillance tape was discovered showing the two falling overboard on Wednesday night.

The man and woman, Paul Rossington and Kristen Schroder, have not been found even after a long and thorough search of 4,670 square kilometers of the sea.  Rossington is a paramedic himself, and with calm and warm waters, the families are still holding out hope that the couple survived.  They were on-board the ship with seven family members and friends.

The safety railing that the couple fell over not only complied with industry regulations, but was 2 inches taller than required.

However, despite having 600 surveillance cameras on the cruise ship that were constantly monitored by employees, the fall went unnoticed.  Cruise officials say it was because on the last night of the cruise, there were too many public areas for the crew to monitor every single camera.

The cruise was operated by Costa, which is a division of Carnival Corporation.  Carnival cruises have been plagued with problems.  Earlier this year, the Carnival cruise ship Triumph lost power after an engine-room fire and was left bobbing in the Gulf of Mexico for 5 days without power, proper sanitation, or enough food.

Last year, 32 people were killed when the Costa Concordia ran aground in Italy.  Also last year, the Costa Allegra lost power in the Indian Ocean and left its passengers stranded for 3 days without air conditioning, running water, or toilets.

These are examples of how cruise ship vacations can go from being a dream to a nightmare in a flash, which seems to be happening more and more often.  Have you been injured in a cruise ship mishap?  We invite you to read the cruise ship information we have here on our website, and then to call the maritime attorneys at Kirkendall Dwyer LLP to discuss your particular case.

 

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Dockworker Killed after Windstorm Knocks him into Water

On Wednesday April 3, a violent windstorm in Mobile, Alabama knocked two
dockworkers out of their guardhouse at the BAE Shipyard and into the water. One
of the workers was rescued, but one could not be found. For a week and two days,

officials and volunteers searched the water for John “Buster” Johnson, and finally found
his remains in the water near where he was knocked off.

It was a tragic end to an unfortunate chain of events in the waters of Mobile, Alabama.
This is where the cruise ship the Carnival Triumph is docked and being repaired after
electrical problems left it and all its crew and passengers stranded in the middle of
the ocean for five days. The Carnival Triumph was also damaged further during this
windstorm.

This tragic incident shows just how vulnerable maritime workers are. They are not only
vulnerable to human error and its results such as fires and explosions, but they are also
vulnerable to fast-changing and unpredictable weather. The combination of inclement
weather plus their position on the water creates the perfect circumstance for serious
and often fatal accidents.

Employers of maritime workers must provide a safe working environment, proper
training, and proper equipment. If you are injured in your maritime workplace, you
may be entitled to a recovery. The maritime attorneys at Kirkendall Dwyer LLP can
help make sure that you receive the help you need. You take risks for your job every
single day. If you are injured, you should not be left to suffer alone. Contact one of our
maritime attorneys to find out if you are entitled to compensation today.

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Barge Explosion Seriously Injures Three

On Wednesday April 4, 2013 at 8:30 pm, there was an explosion on two barges on
the Mobile River in Alabama. Six explosions followed the initial explosion, leading to a
massive fire that was finally extinguished by firefighters and Coast Guard on Thursday
morning.

Three people were left in critical condition after severe burns as a result of the fire. The
crew of the nearby docked Carnival Triump was evacuated to prevent further injuries.

The barges are owned by Kirby Inland Marine, a Houston-based company. The barges
were empty and in the process of being cleaned at the Oil Recovery Company facility
after having carried natural gasoline. It is thought that a spark that was generated
during the cleaning process ignited the initial explosion and fire.

This incident is one of the latest examples of how dangerous offshore work is. Maritime
workers risk their lives everyday. From barges to tugboats to fishing boats, every task
carries serious risk. At Kirkendall Dwyer LLP, we want to help make sure that maritime
workers that risk their lives and safety every day have the best legal representation
available when they need it. Whether you were injured on the docks or aboard a vessel
or somewhere in between, we are available to assist you seven days a week. When
you call our offices, you will speak directly to an experienced attorney that can begin
helping you immediately. Your case review is free, and you will get immediate answers
to your pressing questions.

Get on the road to recovery today. Fill out a form to have one of our attorneys contact
you, or call our office today.

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