Compensation – Offshore Injury Lawyer – Maritime Attorneys – Houston Maritime LawyersOffshore Injury Attorneys

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.

May 6, 2014

Injured? Contact a Texas City oil rig injury attorney today

Have you been injured in the line of duty while working on an oil rig? Has someone else’s recklessness or negligence caused you to be hurt? Perhaps there was inadequate training or equipment or there were an inadequate number of crew members for the task at hand. Whatever the case, if you have been injured on an oil rig and it was the fault of someone else, you are protected under a part of maritime law known as the Jones Act. A Texas City oil rig injury attorney can help you better understand.

The Jones Act is an important part of maritime law that protects seamen against injuries and wrongful death. Jones Act claims are very valuable, because they provide rights beyond worker’s compensation, including past and future pain and suffering as well as past and future lost wages (including career advancement). Other damages afforded by the Jones Act include mental suffering and anguish, occupational and vocational retraining, disfigurement, and fringe benefits. With a qualified Texas City oil rig injury attorney, you can help combat any defenses used by your employer to avoid paying on your Jones Act claim.

If you have been injured or if a loved one has lost their life due to an oil rig injury, contact a Texas City oil rig injury attorney with Kirkendall Dwyer LLP today. We provide free case reviews before we agree to take on your case so that we can learn how we can help you and so we can answer any questions you might have. You will also find that we do not collect our fees in advance. Instead, we don’t get paid until you do. We collect our fees when you receive an award or settlement. If you have been injured on an oil rig, contact us right away and let us fight for you!

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 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 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.