Oil Tanker Accidents – Offshore Injury Lawyer – Maritime Attorneys – Houston Maritime LawyersOffshore Injury Attorneys

May 26, 2014Nov 23, 2015

Who can a League City Maritime Lawyer help?

Have you been injured in an offshore accident? If so, you may require the services of a qualified League City maritime lawyer. There are many cases where maritime law governs injuries and illnesses, and if your injury or illness took place on a cruise ship, an oil rig, a tugboat, a barge, or another offshore vessel, then a maritime lawyer is the right choice for you. You need someone who understands maritime law and who understands the many nuances governing vessels in the open water. You need someone like the attorneys at Kirkendall Dwyer LLP.

Can a Maritime Lawyer Help Me?

If your injury resulted in the need to seek medical care and to miss work, then you can likely benefit from the services of a League City maritime lawyer. Injuries happen on offshore vessels every day, whether it be oil rigs, cruise ships, or other vessels. For workers, the Jones Act provides protection and affords additional rights beyond those that are provided by worker’s compensation. Knowing your rights under the Jones Act or under traditional maritime law is the job of a competent maritime attorney, and having someone on your side who knows your rights can help keep the insurance company honest.

Why Should I Choose Kirkendall Dwyer LLP?

We know that you have many options when it comes to a League City maritime lawyer. We will work hard to make sure that your rights are upheld and respected every step of the way and will work hard to get you the settlement you deserve. We do not collect any fees in advance of your receiving an award or settlement, ensuring that you can focus on your recovery without stressing or worrying about legal fees. To learn more, contact Kirkendall Dwyer LLP for a free case review today!

May 16, 2014Oct 8, 2015

Tips from a Jones Act attorney in Houston

If you have been injured in a way that makes you eligible for compensation under the Jones Act, there are many things that you need to know. At Kirkendall Dwyer LLP, you can connect with a Jones Act attorney in Houston who can provide a free case review to help answer all of your questions. If you are pursuing a Jones Act claim, here is just a bit of helpful advice.

First, it is important to note that there is a statute of limitations on Jones Act claims. Unless you have been pressured by your employer not to pursue legal action, in which case, you need to explain this pressure to the court, you have only three years following your accident in which to pursue a claim. If you need to explain to the court why you have waited more than three years, you certainly need a Jones Act attorney in Houston on your side.

Second, it is important to find an attorney who knows the various types of damages you can claim under the Jones Act. These damages include pain and suffering, past and future lost wages, including upward career movement, disfigurement, fringe benefits, and occupational and vocational retraining.

By finding a Jones Act attorney in Houston who understands these things and who is willing to fight for your rights, you make your case much easier on yourself. Taking on your employer or a big insurance company on your own is a risky move that can cost you a big portion of your potential settlement simply because you are unable to negotiate the same way a lawyer can. Hiring an attorney for Jones Act claims is certainly the best way to make them, and the experienced team here at Kirkendall Dwyer LLP would love to provide you with a free case review today!

May 14, 2014Oct 8, 2015

Receiving guidance from the right Maritime Injury Attorney is critical

Have you been injured or has a loved one been killed in an accident that falls under maritime law? If so, seeking the guidance of the right maritime injury attorney is critical. Here at Kirkendall Dwyer LLP, we offer a free case review so that we can go over the specifics of your injury or claim and let you know what we can do to help as well as to answer any and all questions that you may have about our services, the way we collect payment, or your case.

An experienced maritime injury attorney will be able to tell you if your case qualifies under the Jones Act law or other maritime laws. They will have the experience needed to help you even if you were injured in foreign waters or if you lost a loved one due to the negligence or recklessness of their employer or co-workers. Experience matters when it comes to maritime law and when it comes to negotiating with insurance companies to get injured workers and their families the compensation to which they are entitled under maritime law.

Trying to battle insurance companies without the guidance of an experienced maritime injury attorney is never recommended. Insurance companies will see you as underrepresented and an easy target and will likely offer you a settlement that neglects things like emotional and psychological trauma, lost future wages, career advancement losses, and other damages to which you are likely entitled. You don’t want to go to court on your own or to handle your own negotiations, and we don’t want you to. At Kirkendall Dwyer LLP, we can provide you a free consultation and we don’t collect any money until you do, so you don’t have to worry about paying up-front attorney’s fees while you are focused on healing and recovering.

May 12, 2014Oct 8, 2015

Maritime collisions still happen and a Houston maritime attorney can help

These days, you hardly ever hear of maritime vessels colliding. Much like the way the FAA and air traffic control systems work to keep airplanes from colliding midair, there are multiple measures in place with maritime vessels to keep them from colliding, such as radio and radar. When a collision does occur, crewmembers based out of Texas should be prepared with the contact information for a Houston Maritime Attorney.

On May 2, 2012, one of these rare collisions took place between an oil tanker and a mobile offshore drilling unit (MODU). The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined that the collision was most likely caused by a failure in the tanker’s main propulsion engine. No crewmembers were injured on either vessel, but the combined damage was estimated at $16-17 million.

If you’re a crewmember on a maritime vessel, it’s important that you know your rights. If you’re involved in an accident, you could be seriously injured, preventing you from working for some time, or your employer could attempt to fire you for misconduct. If you know that the accident occurred through no fault of your own, you need to call a Houston Maritime Attorney immediately.

If the insurance companies involved in handling the case of the tanker and MODU collision had determined that the engine failure was due to poor maintenance, no fault could be found with the crewmembers on board. If someone had been injured, he or she would have had the right to worker’s compensation.

Unfortunately, employers and insurance companies don’t always have the best intentions. That’s why calling a Houston Maritime Attorney, like the ones at Kirkendall Dwyer LLP, is usually the best course of action. Even if you haven’t been in an accident, you should get the contact information for a qualified attorney. When you work in a dangerous field, you need to take precautions for yourself and your family.

May 2, 2014

Do I need an Offshore Injury Attorney?

If you have been injured while working on a freighter, an oil rig, or a barge, you may be wondering if you need an offshore injury attorney. The simple answer is yes. If your injury was enough to cause you to incur medical expenses and/or lost wages that your employer or their insurance company should be liable for, then it is time for you to consult with a maritime lawyer. Choosing a lawyer can be a very difficult and time consuming process and here at Kirkendall Dwyer LLP, we offer a free case review so you can ask any questions and determine if we are the right fit for you.

Why Can’t I Use a Regular Attorney?

We hear this question a lot, especially from people who have a lawyer they have worked with in the past. The problem with using a traditional lawyer is this- accidents that happen offshore or on the open waters are subject to a different set of laws than those that happen on land. Because the governing laws are different, you need a qualified offshore injury attorney who understands the complex legalities that surround maritime accidents.

Why Kirkendall Dwyer LLP?

Why should you choose us? Because our experienced maritime lawyers know and understand your rights and are willing to help you fight to ensure that they are respected. We know what types of defenses to use and what types of damages you may be entitled to. You will find that we never charge an up-front fee for our services, and that money is only collected when you collect your settlement or award. If you are looking for a qualified offshore injury attorney to help you fight for your rights and for your compensation, choose Kirkendall Dwyer LLP. Contact us for a free case review today!

Apr 18, 2014

A Jones Act attorney in Houston can help you

More oil drilling is going on in the Gulf of Mexico today than there was before the BP oil spill in 2010. This huge resurgence in domestic oil means a lot for American maritime employment. Not only do the oil rigs need more workers, but this means that more ships are going to be built in the US, which will also need more crewmembers. It looks like we’re about to see a huge boom in the maritime shipping business. That’s good news for you if you’re a maritime worker.

At the same time, with new employment opportunities and new ships being built in the US, as a maritime worker, you should probably go ahead and talk to a Jones Act attorney in Houston about what to do in case of an accident and how you’ll be covered.

The Jones Act protects American companies and maritime workers against international competition, and it has stipulations for recourse in the case of an accident while on the job, as well. That means that, if you get a job on a US-built and owned vessel, you could be covered in ways that you haven’t been before. No one wants an accident to happen, but it’s best to plan for the worst-case scenario.

You and your family should talk to a Jones Act attorney in Houston to understand what should be done in the case of your injury or death. You want to make sure that your family is taken care of, should the worst happen. A Jones Act attorney in Houston, like the ones at Kirkendall Dwyer LLP, can help you understand the coverage you have by law and what kind of actions you might have to take in the future, if something happens while you’re on the job.