Tubboat Accidents – Offshore Injury Lawyer – Maritime Attorneys – Houston Maritime LawyersOffshore Injury Attorneys

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.

Apr 16, 2014

A Houston maritime lawyer will fight for your rights

Did you know that accidents and injuries that happen offshore are subject to a completely different set of laws than accidents and injuries occurring on U.S. soil? Maritime law is a very complex form of law governing incidents that happen in open waters. Many injuries fall under maritime law, including offshore drilling accidents, tug and fishing boat accidents, and seaman injury cases. If you or a loved one have been injured in an offshore accident, contact a Houston maritime lawyer today who is willing to help you understand and fight for your rights.

Knowing your rights is always important, and it can be downright critical when negotiating with your employer or an insurance company to ensure that you receive the care and damages you deserve. As the victim of a maritime accident, you have the right to medical treatment, rehab, compensation for pain and suffering and also for lost past and future wages. For seamen who become injured or ill while serving on their vessel, there is also the right to free medical care, shelter, food, and much more. Unfortunately, many people are unaware of their rights under maritime law and end up entering into settlements that negate their entitlement. This is why a qualified Houston maritime lawyer is so important.

Here at Kirkendall Dwyer LLP, we can help you find the right Houston maritime lawyer for your case. We will provide you with a free case review, where we will go over the details of your accident or injury and work to answer any questions that you may have about us or about your case. You will find that we do not charge until you receive a settlement or award, so you don’t have to worry about making a payment up front. If you or a loved one have been injured offshore, make sure you hire an attorney who is willing to fight for your rights.

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.

Mar 2, 2014

How to work with your Maritime Injury Attorney

Do you have the name and contact details for a dependable maritime injury attorney on hand? If you work on a seagoing commercial vessel you really should have this information available to you. Why? Firstly, although your work puts you in harm’s way to a degree much greater than many other professionals, it should not be assumed that you injury is part of your job description.

For example, employers are obliged to take many steps to prevent injury or accident, and it is considered to be negligence if they have not taken all mandatory preventative measures.

Secondly, when an incident occurs and workers are harmed or injured, they may be offered specific compensation or coverage, but if it is not ensuring them the best quality of life or allowing them to continue in their careers, it could be outside of the legal requirements.

These things are hard to understand, and a qualified maritime injury attorney can easily interpret all of the information for you. However, you need to get in touch with them before accepting any settlements or signing and documents, and dubious employers may rush to get these things taken care of immediately after an incident.

So, keep the name and contact information for a good maritime injury attorney on hand at all times, and be sure that your family knows who to call as well. Kirkendall Dwyer LLP is definitely a good resource for you at such times. They offer an experienced legal team with full comprehension of maritime laws and cases. They can review the facts and let you (or your family) know if you have a case that you can legally pursue.

Kirkendall Dwyer LLP is happy to consult with you and to advise you about the right pathway to follow after an incident, and you should keep their contact information on hand.

Jan 13, 2014

Ship Sinking? Crew Members Should Call A Houston Jones Act Lawyer

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 18^th, 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.