Wrongful Death – Page 2 – Offshore Injury Lawyer – Maritime Attorneys – Houston Maritime LawyersOffshore Injury Attorneys

May 4, 2014

If a storm is brewing a Jones Act Attorney in Houston can help

Tragedy befell the crew of the tall ship Bounty on October 29, 2012. While attempting to maneuver through an area forecasted to be hit by Hurricane Sandy, off Cape Hatteras, the vessel was hit by the storm and sank. Of the sixteen crewmembers, three were seriously hurt. One crewmember was killed, and the captain’s body was never found.

If you or one of your loved ones is an active crewmember on any kind of boat or ship, you know how dangerous this line of work can be. Your life depends not only on your skills and the proper maintenance of the vessel on which you work, but also on fair weather. When a storm like this arises, a lot of questions come up. A Jones Act attorney in Houston can help you navigate the rough legal waters of fault and compensation.

The Jones Act, or Merchant Marine Act of 1920, was put into place to protect US trade against foreign competition. However, that’s not all it does. It also protects US seamen in cases of accidents caused by negligence, poor maintenance practices, and other forms of malpractice on their employers’ parts.

In a case like the sinking of the Bounty, under this act, every essential crewmember would be considered a “seaman” and would be protected. If you live in Texas, and you work as a crewmember on any maritime vessel, you could benefit from talking with a Jones Act attorney in Houston. You should know your rights before an accident happens.

The attorneys at Kirkendall Dwyer LLP are well versed in maritime law and the extent to which the Jones Act can help you in an accident. Call them today, and you’ll be prepared if you’re ever in an accident while you’re on the job.

Apr 28, 2014

BP is back in the Gulf and a Texas City oil rig injury attorney can help workers

In 2010, following the catastrophic Deep Horizon oil spill, BP was temporarily banned from drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. Now, 4 years later, the ban has been lifted, and BP has won its first contract, allowing the company to begin drilling off the coast of Louisiana. New oil rigs in the Gulf mean more employment for maritime workers in Texas. They also mean more workers may need to consult with a Texas City oil rig injury attorney.

BP has struck a deal with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to drop a pending lawsuit in exchange for the EPA allowing BP to begin bidding on new federal contracts again. BP has made moves to ensure that we won’t see a repeat of the 200-million-gallon spill from 4 years ago. However, this still means that workers considering taking on employment with BP should consider all of the potential consequences of working on any oil rig but especially one owned by a company with an accident-prone past.

If you’re concerned about what might happen in the event of an accident, you shouldn’t hesitate to talk to a Texas City oil rig injury attorney, like one of the attorneys at Kirkendall Dwyer LLP, as soon as possible, as they are well-versed in maritime law and worker’s compensation.

If you’ve been in an accident on an oil rig, or you’re just curious about what that kind of scenario will look like if you’re ever unfortunate enough to be in one, you can talk to a Texas City oil rig attorney about equipment maintenance, safety procedures, proper training implementation, and other factors that your employer is responsible for. You can also talk to them about the right course of action for you and your family, should you be injured or killed in an accident.

Apr 26, 2014

An offshore injury attorney can help families get compensation

Whether you’re a passenger or a crewmember, it’s important for you to understand your rights in the event of an accident. If your employer or the owner of the company taking you offshore decides to break safety regulations and put you at risk, then you’re due some compensation. Safety procedures are in place for a reason, and if you are injured or killed through no fault of your own, you’ll want to talk with an offshore injury attorney to get the compensation that you deserve.

Back in 2003, a tragic accident occurred off the coast of Oregon. A passenger fishing vessel capsized, and 11 people – 10 passengers and the master – were killed. The National Travel Safety Board (NTSB) found three major safety issues to be the cause of the accident.

At the time of the accident, there was a small vessel warning out for the area. The master decided to take the trip anyway, ignoring the warning. The major cause of the accident – though it was threefold – was the master’s decision to cross the bay, despite the conditions.

Now, you may wonder, as the master was one of the victims of the accident, who could the families of the other victims go to for compensation? This is when the expertise of an offshore injury attorney, like one of the ones at Kirkendall Dwyer LLP, is needed. The fault should actually lie with the owners of the boat and the fishing company. Their insurance should cover the compensation for loss, pain and suffering.

Unfortunately, insurance companies have to watch out for their bottom line. They will try to pay out as little as possible. That’s why it’s important to consult with an offshore injury attorney. You need to know your rights if you or someone you love has been hurt or killed in a boating accident.

Apr 24, 2014

An Offshore Injury Attorney can get you the compensation you deserve

If you work on an oil drilling rig, a fishing vessel, or a maritime shipping vessel, you already know that your job can be one of the most hazardous in the world. If an accident occurs while you’re offshore, you could be in real danger. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has open investigations of a large number of maritime accidents.

From vessels sinking due to engine fires to vessels colliding and sustaining minimal damage, these things happen every day. An offshore injury attorney can help workers hurt in an accident on their vessel.

Your employer is responsible for keeping the vessel you work on maintained and in good running order. Accidents do happen. Storms come up out of the blue. Well-maintained engines do sometimes catch fire and cause problems. However, if an accident occurs, and your employer is to blame for negligence, you should know your rights, especially if you’re injured during the accident.

An offshore injury attorney, like the ones at Kirkendall Dwyer LLP, can help walk you through your rights and the best course of action if you’ve been involved in an accident at work. Not only are you entitled to worker’s compensation, but you may be covered by the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, otherwise known as the Jones Act.

That’s why it’s important to trust your accident case to an offshore injury attorney instead of a general personal injury attorney. In this kind of case, you’ll need to hire an attorney with experience in maritime law. You may be entitled to more compensation than you might think, especially if you’ve only spoken with your employer and/or their insurance company.

Insurance companies will always try to pay out as little as possible. They will attempt to convince you that you don’t need an attorney and that they’re giving you the best deal possible. Don’t ever hesitate to call a qualified attorney if you’ve been injured on the job.

Apr 22, 2014

A Maritime injury attorney could help after an on-the-job accident

Crewmembers on barges and other maritime vessels may not think that they’ll ever have to hire a maritime injury attorney. Unfortunately, when an accident happens, your employer and the insurance companies involved may not have your best interest in mind. Take, for example, an accident on the Mississippi River a couple of years ago.

At about 5:00 PM on June 9^,2012, the Marguerite L. Terral was towing 12 empty barges down the Mississippi River in the vicinity of Hickman, Kentucky. Just a few minutes later, a fire broke out in the port engine. The 6 crewmembers on board weren’t able to extinguish the fire before they had to evacuate the Marguerite L. Terral and the barges it was pushing.

Fortunately, no one was injured in the fire, and the accident did not cause any pollution to the river or the surrounding area. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigated the accident, but could not determine the cause of the accident, which had caused about $2.6 million of damage to the towing vessel.

According to NTSB – though the exact cause of the accident couldn’t be determined – the crewmembers’ inability to contain the fire, shut off ventilation, and effectively put the flames out with onboard fire suppression equipment contributed to the damage. This statement, alone, is reason to hire a maritime injury attorney.

The NTSB’s conclusions (as inconclusive as they may be) point to the crew being at fault for the extent of damage done by the accident. Their employer could very well terminate their employment, based on this accident.

Hiring a maritime injury attorney, like those employed at Kirkendall Dwyer LLP, could be the crewmembers’ only hope of recompense if they are wrongfully fired or suspended. If this fire was caused by a lack of maintenance, they may even be owed worker’s compensation for the trauma and danger involved in dealing with this emergency, trying to put out the flames, and evacuating the other barges.

Apr 20, 2014

A League City maritime lawyer can explain the changing Cruise Ship Regulations

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) may be changing the way that the luxury cruise industry works for good. The NTSB will be holding a two-day conference to discuss and propose changes to regulations and legislation on cruise ship safety. This is good news for both passengers and crewmembers of these ships, as any League City maritime lawyer can tell you.

The past few years have been pretty bad for cruise liners’ reputations. Accidents have been piling up, with and without injuries and even fatalities. This industry is one that spans the world and is therefore a bit difficult to regulate. However, the NTSB is determined to bring more regulation into place to ensure passenger and crew safety onboard all cruise ships operating out of the United States.

The Jones Act of 1920 added special legislation to protect American seamen (both male and female) in case of an employer’s poor conduct or an accident. The NTSB may be in the process of passing regulations that will extend these protections to crews and passengers of cruise ships.

The law is not altogether fluid, but legislation and regulation do change. That’s why it’s important, if you’re involved in a maritime accident, to call a League City maritime lawyer for advice and counsel. Whether you’re a worker or a passenger, you should know your rights under the current laws, and that’s where a League City maritime lawyer can help you.

If you’ve been involved in a maritime accident, it’s important to determine who was at fault and what your course of action should be. You can’t always just listen to your employer or the insurance company covering the accident. Qualified attorneys, like those at Kirkendall Dwyer LLP, can help you navigate through this difficult time.