Longshore & Harbor Worker’s Compensation – Offshore Injury Lawyer – Maritime Attorneys – Houston Maritime LawyersOffshore Injury Attorneys

May 24, 2014Oct 8, 2015

When injuries and death occur on a dock a Maritime Injury Attorney can help

One day in April last year, due to high gusting winds, the cruise ship Carnival Triumph came loose from its moorings and collided with the moored dredge vessel Wheeler. Another vessel actually became pinned between the two larger ships, as well. All in all, the accident ended in the death of one shipyard employee and the injury of another.

In this case, the injured worker and the family of the deceased worker undoubtedly sought counsel from a personal injury lawyer. If they wanted to get the proper representation, though, they would need to call upon a maritime injury attorney.

Maritime law differs from normal worker’s compensation law, as there are additional risks involved in maritime shipping, fishing, and other businesses. This applies to dock workers, as well. The Jones Act was instituted to protect American maritime workers from international competition and from losses and injuries due to negligence or poor management.

One of the reasons for employing a maritime injury attorney, like the ones at Kirkendall Dwyer LLP, is to ensure that you get the most compensation allowable through maritime law. If an international vessel was involved in the accident, a maritime injury attorney would be better equipped to keep you informed of all of your rights and the best means to get compensation for injuries and pain and suffering.

Accidents happen, and sometimes no one is at fault, but your employer’s insurance company should cover injuries that occur on the job if an accident occurred through no fault of your own. They should also cover pain and suffering costs for families who lose a loved one in an accident, as in the case of the dockworker who died in the Carnival Triumph mooring failure. Call the right attorney for the job and learn about your rights and options.

May 22, 2014Oct 8, 2015

When a leak shuts down a Port a Houston Maritime Attorney may help

Over 160,000 gallons of fuel spilled from a disabled barge off the coast of Texas last week, and now all of the traffic in and out of the Port of Texas City has been halted. While crews are at work to contain the spill and clean up the area, local and national businesses are feeling the pain. For those businesses affected by the spill, a Houston maritime attorney may be the answer.

What happens when you have to shut down maritime traffic in or out of the Port of Texas City for a day? Well, two large oil tankers were trapped in port, unable to make their deliveries. Several cruise ships were stuck both in and out of port, delaying paying customers’ vacations and returns, and that’s not all.

It’s been estimated that the port sees between 25 and 30 ships entering and leaving each day. These ships make deliveries to and from local businesses, which feed the local economy. The pinch felt from being unable to send or receive these deliveries could spell doom for some companies.

So, is the accident the fault of the owners of the disabled barge that leaked the fuel out into the harbor area? Should that company and their insurance be responsible for all of the losses involved? A Houston maritime attorney, like one of the ones at Kirkendall Dwyer LLP, may be able to sort out who is at fault and who should pay for which damages.

This is not a cut-and-dried case. It’s too soon to tell if there will be much impact on the local economy or if the owner of the leaky vessel can be held responsible for losses to businesses not directly tied to the port. If you’ve been directly or indirectly affected by an accident like this, you should call a Houston maritime attorney today to find out your rights and what you can do for compensation.

Apr 2, 2014

A Galveston offshore attorney can help maritime workers and their families

In the Gulf of Mexico, on September 8, 2011, the lift boat Trinity II capsized, due to sustained damage from weathering Hurricane Nate. The crew donned life vests and evacuated the vessel. Of the 10-person crew – all of whom made it off of the ship, clinging to a single 12-person emergency life float – 3 died by the time emergency services found them. Unfortunately, a fourth later died in the hospital, as well. All 6 of the survivors sustained serious injuries.

This case goes to show how not only crewmembers, but also their families should seek consultation with a Galveston offshore attorney. If you or one of your loved ones is a maritime worker based in Texas, you should call a Galveston offshore attorney, like the ones at Kirkendall Dwyer LLP, to learn your rights in the case of an accident like this.

Under the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, crewmembers of maritime vessels built, owned, and operated in the United States have special rights to compensation if they are injured on the job. That’s why it’s so important to employ a Galveston offshore attorney. They can help you navigate through the laws that apply to your case.

In the case of the Trinity II, the accident was caused by the effects of a hurricane. Hurricanes, unfortunately, can’t always be avoided. However, maritime vessels need to be maintained for the safety of their crews. A well-maintained vessel will have a greater chance of surviving a bad storm than one that has been neglected. Negligence can lead to loss of life.

If you are a maritime worker, you should know your rights. After speaking with a maritime attorney, you may be able to point out maintenance needs and areas of negligence to your employer before something happens. In the case of a bad accident, an offshore attorney can help you and your family find the right course of action.

Mar 10, 2014

Your Houston Maritime Attorney is the key to success

If you pick up a law book and begin reading the many pages it is not likely that you will get very far. “Legalese” as so many people call it, is tough to understand without proper training and expertise. This is why anyone interested in pursuing a claim under maritime law must hire a Houston maritime attorney. There is no working around this necessity if you want to get the best outcome.

Fortunately, Kirkendall Dwyer LLP can provide you with a Houston maritime attorney and a dependable legal team that can ensure your case gets the attention it deserves. The reason that a team of legal experts is required is simple – any case takes a lot of work.

While it might seem a simple matter to you – i.e. you were working onboard a commercial vessel, an accident occurred, and you were injured – there is more to a legal case. There has to be negligence involved and there has to be documented evidence. These are things that a Houston maritime attorney can help you to prove and this is the key to a legal success.

Your Kirkendall Dwyer LLP legal team will work with you to help you claim what you are entitled to under maritime law. For example, if you are due past or future wages, payments for rehabilitation, compensation for physical disfigurement, lost benefits, and more – the team is going to help you get these things. The laws also apply to your survivors if you are killed in an accident, and so the team can help your family make a case too.

Of course, the primary issue is getting things started, and so it is up to you to contact your legal counsel as soon as possible following an incident.

Mar 8, 2014

Understand what an Offshore Injury Attorney can provide

You might assume that because you work on a seagoing vessel or a dangerous offshore rig that injury is just part of the job. That is not the case, and there are many laws in place to reduce the amount of risk you face, and even to ensure that you can seek compensation if negligence has caused you harm – or even led to your death.

However, as with most laws, the language can be confusing and complex. This is why an offshore injury attorney is an absolute essential if you have been injured while working on a seagoing vessel or offshore rig. This is someone who understands the laws and who can review all of the facts associated with your case. They can then let you know if you do have a legal claim for compensation (or if your family can make a claim should you be killed), and then your offshore injury attorney can represent you throughout the proceedings that follow.

Of course, even an experienced offshore injury attorney may face challenges in getting you what you are due. This is because it is up to you to prove that it was indeed negligence that led to the injuries or to the incident. This is something that takes time, patience, and hard work. Fortunately, Kirkendall Dwyer LLP is a legal team that can provide this kind of dedication and experience in maritime law cases.

You can meet with an attorney from Kirkendall Dwyer LLP and discuss the case. They can help you understand your legal options, and if you decide to move forward with the claim they can represent you the whole way. Their team of legal professionals will strive for the best outcome possible.

Mar 7, 2014

The time to seek a Maritime Injury Attorney is right now

According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), there were dozens upon dozens of maritime incidents and accidents in 2013. This is proof that a lot of people have likely suffered injuries while working on commercial vessels and for each of them a maritime injury attorney is a major resource.

Unfortunately, a lot of the people who could be entitled to monetary compensation under maritime laws remain unaware of the fact or are simply unsure of how to pursue a rightful claim. That is why a maritime injury attorney from Kirkendall Dwyer LLP could prove an effective solution to this common problem.

Before you say that you don’t think you qualify, ask yourself this: Is my injury something that happened on a vessel in open sea? This is the foundational issue for any offshore accident claims and it won’t matter if it happened on a commercial fishing boat, a cruise ship, a cargo vessel, or a ferry…if you were injured at work on a commercial vessel at sea you need a maritime injury attorney.

Only a professional with the knowledge necessary for pursuing your case can ensure the best outcome possible. If you are hoping to get past or future wages lost due to the incident, you have to get rehabilitation to overcome the injury, you have been disfigured by this accident, or you have concerns about what you are legally entitled to, Kirkendall Dwyer LLP will have the answers. This is true even if you feel that you have suffered the “unseen” symptoms such as psychological suffering or mental anguish – if the maritime accident was the cause, you have a claim!

Don’t waste another minute wondering if you have a right to compensation. Contact Kirkendall Dwyer LLP today to discuss your maritime injury case.