Jones Act Lawyers – Offshore Injury Lawyer – Maritime Attorneys – Houston Maritime LawyersOffshore Injury Attorneys

May 10, 2014

A Baytown oil rig attorney can help when there’s an oil rig accident

Four years ago, the world watched 200 million gallons of oil leak out of a BP oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico. For a time, no one wanted to drill. Being linked to the potential to do that much harm to the environment would be catastrophic. Local BP filling stations put up signs reminding shoppers that the stores were owned by local businessmen and women, asking them not to boycott the corporation.

Now, though, the industry is booming. There are more active oil rigs in the Gulf than there were before that terrible accident occurred. With so many new rigs, business is up, and new employment opportunities are presenting themselves to maritime workers in Texas, Louisiana, Georgia, and Florida. For Maritime workers in Texas, it might be a good idea to talk with a Baytown oil rig injury attorney.

Whether you’ve worked on a drilling rig before or not, you’re probably familiar with some of the accidents and injuries that can occur while on the job. This is a potentially hazardous field of employment. Common injuries include burns from exposure to flaming oil or gas, amputations from malfunctioning equipment, and injuries from exposure to toxic fumes, among others.

If you’ve been in an accident on the job, or you just want to know more about your rights as a maritime worker, a Baytown oil rig injury attorney – like the ones at Kirkendall Dwyer LLP – may be able to answer some questions for you. If an accident is caused by negligence on the part of your employer, then you’ll be due a fair amount of worker’s compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If you work on a drilling rig and have been in an accident, a Baytown oil rig injury attorney can help you.

May 8, 2014

Is your Freeport oil rig injury attorney experienced with the Jones Act?

If you have been injured while working on an oil rig, your injuries are likely covered under the Jones Act. Were you hurt due to the negligence or recklessness of your employer or a co-worker? Was a safety statute violated that led to your being injured? Were you injured due to inadequate training, inadequate instruction, too few crew members, or unsafe or inadequate equipment? If any of this is true for you, and your injury occurred while working offshore on an oil rig, contact a Freeport oil rig injury attorney from Kirkendall Dwyer LLP today to learn how you are protected under the Jones Act.

The Jones Act was put into place to protect seamen from injuries and to ensure their rights in the event of an injury. While there are a number of legal nuances to the Jones Act, it states that you have the right to adequate medical care from a competent physician. It also affords you many other rights as an injured seaman. An experienced Freeport oil rig injury attorney will be well-versed in Jones Act law and will be able to help ensure that you do not accept a settlement for less than you are entitled to.

When you choose a Freeport oil rig injury attorney from Kirkendall Dwyer LLP, you will find that there are many types of damage that the Jones Act can entitle an injured seaman to, including past and future lost wages including promotions and upward career movement, past and future pain and suffering, mental and psychological suffering, fringe benefits such as insurance, retirement, and meals, vocational and occupational retraining, and disfigurement. Your attorney will help you determine which types of damages are applicable to your case. To learn more, or for a free case review, contact Kirkendall Dwyer LLP and speak with one of our attorneys today!

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!

Apr 8, 2014

A Galveston oil rig injury attorney works to help rig workers

In February of 2013, Cordell St. Julien was injured while removing rigging from a structure on the BP-owned oil rig where he was employed. St. Julien claims that he was injured due to inclement conditions. According to St. Julien, the water was too choppy that day, and waves were breaking over the rig, sloshing onto the floor where he was working, and creating a slippery surface.

St. Julien has filed a suit in the US Court in Texas against Hornbeck Offshore Services and BP, claiming that work should have been postponed until conditions were not hazardous to the safety of crewmembers. Unfortunately, this kind of situation is not that uncommon in almost any field. Employers are under pressure to make money. They often lose sight of anything but the bottom line, and that’s when injuries can happen. Consulting with a Galveston oil rig injury attorney can help you to know your rights.

St. Julien feels that he would have lost his job had he refused to perform this task on the day that he was told to. He also feels that the task should have been put off until it was safe to perform. Since the rig is owned and operated by US-based companies, and St. Julien is a US citizen, he’ll be covered under the Jones Act of 1920. A Galveston oil rig injury attorney will be able to walk him through all of his rights.

Workers should never have to choose between their jobs and their reasonable safety. While maritime work comes with its risks, a Galveston oil rig injury attorney, like the ones at Kirkendall Dwyer LLP, can help you familiarize yourself with the risks that are expected of you and when you have recourse against unreasonable requests. They can also help you to know your rights in the case of an accident on the job.

Apr 2, 2014

A Galveston offshore attorney can help maritime workers and their families

In the Gulf of Mexico, on September 8, 2011, the lift boat Trinity II capsized, due to sustained damage from weathering Hurricane Nate. The crew donned life vests and evacuated the vessel. Of the 10-person crew – all of whom made it off of the ship, clinging to a single 12-person emergency life float – 3 died by the time emergency services found them. Unfortunately, a fourth later died in the hospital, as well. All 6 of the survivors sustained serious injuries.

This case goes to show how not only crewmembers, but also their families should seek consultation with a Galveston offshore attorney. If you or one of your loved ones is a maritime worker based in Texas, you should call a Galveston offshore attorney, like the ones at Kirkendall Dwyer LLP, to learn your rights in the case of an accident like this.

Under the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, crewmembers of maritime vessels built, owned, and operated in the United States have special rights to compensation if they are injured on the job. That’s why it’s so important to employ a Galveston offshore attorney. They can help you navigate through the laws that apply to your case.

In the case of the Trinity II, the accident was caused by the effects of a hurricane. Hurricanes, unfortunately, can’t always be avoided. However, maritime vessels need to be maintained for the safety of their crews. A well-maintained vessel will have a greater chance of surviving a bad storm than one that has been neglected. Negligence can lead to loss of life.

If you are a maritime worker, you should know your rights. After speaking with a maritime attorney, you may be able to point out maintenance needs and areas of negligence to your employer before something happens. In the case of a bad accident, an offshore attorney can help you and your family find the right course of action.

Mar 31, 2014

A Baytown oil rig injury attorney can help you negotiate a settlement

Have you been injured while working on an offshore oil rig, only to find that the insurance company wants to offer you a settlement? Before you agree to anything or sign any paperwork that may give away your rights to take the matter to court or to receive added compensation, contact a Baytown oil rig injury attorney at Kirkendall Dwyer LLP. An experienced maritime attorney will be familiar with the Jones Act and will know all of your rights as well as to what damages you may be entitled.

The thing with insurance companies is this- they want to pay as little as possible. It’s simple math. The less they pay you, the more money they make. This means that even though the numbers in that initial offer might sound good, they are probably far less than you are entitled to. Without a Baytown oil rig injury attorney on your side, the insurance company is likely to see you as underrepresented and unable to fight for your full entitlement. With Jones Act claims, this can include past and future pain, suffering, lost wages, mental anguish, disfigurement, fringe benefits, and more.

By choosing to work with an experienced Baytown oil rig injury attorney, you gain the support of someone who understands maritime law and the Jones Act who is willing to fight on your side. Negotiating with an insurance company can be notoriously difficult, especially when dealing with an area of law that has so many nuances. Don’t try to go it alone, not when we can help. We don’t charge our clients up front, so you don’t have to worry about trying to come up with legal fees. We don’t collect money until you do. Contact the team at Kirkendall Dwyer LLP today for a free case review.