Houston maritime lawyers – 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 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.

Apr 14, 2014

A Houston maritime lawyer can navigate you through insurance claims

On March 10, 2012, a fishing vessel was attempting to return to its homeport at Newport, Oregon. Large waves broke over the stern of the ship, causing it to lose maneuverability. The vessel was run aground, and the crewmembers were airlifted by the Coast Guard. The fishing vessel broke apart and was lost a day later.

This accident illustrates just how quickly things can go wrong for maritime vessels. If you work on a ship, oil rig, or other vessel, you should keep the contact information available for a Houston maritime lawyer. Fortunately, in the case of the fishing vessel that was lost off the coast of Oregon, no one was injured. However, there was an estimated total of $625,000 in losses from the destroyed ship.

Whether you’re a crewmember, a ship owner, or you deal in fishing, shipping, or another maritime industry, a Houston maritime lawyer can help you understand your rights in a case like this, or any other type of accident. In this case, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined that the accident was caused by a series of large breaking waves. Nothing really could have been done to prevent it, so no one was considered at fault.

The vessel and its crewmembers should have been covered under the ship owner’s insurance. However, insurance companies will often attempt to pay out as little as possible. That’s why, if you’re a crewmember, owner, or employer based out of Texas, it’s important to know a Houston maritime lawyer to help you in case of an accident.

When you call for maritime law services, the attorneys at Kirkendall Dwyer LLP can consult with you about your case, courses of action in the event of accidents, and any other questions you might have about maritime law and your business.

Apr 12, 2014

A Houston maritime lawyer can help in times of tragedy

Anytime an offshore worker is injured or killed while doing his or her job, it is a tragedy. These injuries are not uncommon, and in cases like the Seattle-based ALASKA OCEAN, accidents onboard the ship can even result in death. In the case of the ALASKA OCEAN, a welding job ignited acetylene gas, resulting in an explosion that killed a fisherman onboard the ship. While this particular case did not happen in Texas cases like this can and do happen in our area- and when they do, a Houston maritime lawyer can help.

Insurance companies are quick to jump in when injuries or accidents occur on fishing boats, oil rigs, and other offshore vessels. While a quick settlement might sound like a dream come true for families struggling to pay medical expenses without the income of the job the injured person performed, the settlements offered by insurance companies to individuals without proper legal representation are rarely enough to cover long-term costs, lost wages, mental anguish, and in wrongful death cases, funeral expenses. An experienced Houston maritime lawyer can be one of the best investments that an injured person can make following a boating or work-related accident that happened offshore.

Maritime law can be very complex, and an attorney who specializes in this area of law is highly recommended for cases of injury or wrongful death that occurred while offshore. A Houston maritime lawyer from Kirkendall Dwyer LLP will be happy to talk with you about your case and to help you understand the options available to you. We don’t collect any money until you receive a settlement or award, so you don’t have to worry about coming up with attorney’s fees while struggling to make ends meet. You focus on your recovery, and let us focus on helping you with your case.