There’s no getting around the fact that maritime work is dangerous. Even the most routine objectives can easily be complicated, thanks to the many variables no single individual can control. This is why having a Houston Jones Act attorney you can rely on is so important for every maritime worker. Your most basic day at work can easily change your life, but the right attorney can work to set things right.
Last year’s sinking of the Mary Kay provides a perfect example of how a simple goal can end with a maritime worker in need of representation.
The commercial fishing ship was in Dixon entrance, located near Cap Chacon on the Prince of Wales Island of Alaska. A smaller vessel, it was only being manned by four crewmembers.
At around eleven o’clock at night, the Mary Kay began taking on water due to flooding in the fish hold on the starboard side. The lazarette and engine room both took on more than their fair share of water, as well. Finally, the four crewmen had to abandon ship.
While it’s fortunate everyone aboard was able to escape with their lives, it doesn’t mean they weren’t due for compensation. The National Transportation Safety Board conducted an investigation, and their finding was that the ship’s captain failed to identify and fix the hull leaks that allowed the flooding to spiral out of control.
With a Houston Jones Act attorney like the ones working for Kirkendall Dwyer LLP, any one of those other crewmembers could receive compensation. If the captain was indeed to blame, the Jones Act mandates that this negligence should result in reimbursement for any medical bills, lost wages and even pain and suffering.
While fishing in a small vessel may not seem like the most dangerous work, the Mary Kay helps illustrate how you can never take risks for granted. A good Houston Jones Act attorney will be able to review the incident and fight for what’s rightfully yours as a maritime worker.
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