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

May 20, 2014Oct 8, 2015

What to seek in a Jones Act Attorney in Houston

Are you a maritime worker who was injured due to the negligence or recklessness of your employer or a co-worker? If so, the Jones Act law likely applies to you. This means that you need to solicit the services of a qualified Jones Act attorney in Houston. Here at Kirkendall Dwyer LLP, we want to be the choice that you make. We know the Jones Act inside and out, and we will provide you with a free case review that will help us better understand your injury and circumstances while giving you the chance to get your questions answered.

If you are looking for a Jones Act attorney in Houston, it can help to know what types of things to look for. One thing you should definitely seek in any law firm is a guarantee that you won’t have to pay until an award is given or a settlement is reached. Your medical bills and other expenses are high enough without adding in attorney’s fees. Second, you want experience. You want a team that knows what types of damages you should be entitled to and what types of defenses to use in court. You want someone very well-versed in the Jones Act.

When you contact a Jones Act attorney in Houston from Kirkendall Dwyer LLP, you get everything listed above and more. If you have been injured or a loved one has even been killed due to the negligence of another while serving as a maritime worker, give us a call for a free case review. We will work to let you know what your options are and to answer any questions that you may have about your case or about our law firm. We know that you want peace of mind and for your case to be over, and we will work hard to ensure that it is resolved in your favor.

May 16, 2014Oct 8, 2015

Tips from a Jones Act attorney in Houston

If you have been injured in a way that makes you eligible for compensation under the Jones Act, there are many things that you need to know. At Kirkendall Dwyer LLP, you can connect with a Jones Act attorney in Houston who can provide a free case review to help answer all of your questions. If you are pursuing a Jones Act claim, here is just a bit of helpful advice.

First, it is important to note that there is a statute of limitations on Jones Act claims. Unless you have been pressured by your employer not to pursue legal action, in which case, you need to explain this pressure to the court, you have only three years following your accident in which to pursue a claim. If you need to explain to the court why you have waited more than three years, you certainly need a Jones Act attorney in Houston on your side.

Second, it is important to find an attorney who knows the various types of damages you can claim under the Jones Act. These damages include pain and suffering, past and future lost wages, including upward career movement, disfigurement, fringe benefits, and occupational and vocational retraining.

By finding a Jones Act attorney in Houston who understands these things and who is willing to fight for your rights, you make your case much easier on yourself. Taking on your employer or a big insurance company on your own is a risky move that can cost you a big portion of your potential settlement simply because you are unable to negotiate the same way a lawyer can. Hiring an attorney for Jones Act claims is certainly the best way to make them, and the experienced team here at Kirkendall Dwyer LLP would love to provide you with a free case review today!

Feb 19, 2014

Consult with an offshore injury attorney today

If you were injured in an offshore accident or while working aboard a seagoing vessel, the Jones Act applies to you. This is a set of laws designed to provide workers with legal rights meant to ensure their livelihood and their health. The laws apply to the families of those injured or killed while doing their work as well. However, you will need the expertise of an offshore injury attorney to determine if you can make a claim or not.

Why is an offshore injury attorney needed? Can’t you just review the facts on your own? Not really. Laws are complicated things and when you read law books it is unlikely that you will be able to explain with great precision or accuracy just what they mean. However, a offshore injury attorney can do just that, and they can also recognize where these laws apply to your claims.

If you are wondering whether you, or your employer, should be paying for the rehabilitation that is the result of an accident, it is time to contact an expert. Unfortunately, few claims are so simple and many people will agree to settlements that are not adequate to their legal rights or to their needs. This is why it is important to speak with a legal expert as soon as possible after an accident has occurred.

The professionals at Kirkendall Dwyer LLP are available for consultations and will review all of the details of a case. They will then counsel their clients as to the best path to follow. Not all cases are going to be provable, and the team at Kirkendall Dwyer LLP will be up front with those who are unlikely to enjoy a positive outcome. However, if there is legal right to claim compensation, the team will dedicate themselves to getting their client what is due to them under the terms of the law.

Feb 17, 2014

A League City maritime lawyer is essential after an accident

Do you understand the laws around maritime accidents? The Jones Act is a set of laws in place to offer legal rights to those who work in the maritime industry, but they don’t read all that clearly. This is why it is essential that anyone who was injured while working on seagoing vessels (or their surviving family members) contact a League City maritime lawyer immediately after an accident.

Why? Well, if you are the injured party you might reasonably say something like “Isn’t risk of injury just part of my job?” The answer can be both “yes” and “no”. There are inherent risks when working on seagoing vessels and in the industries that use them; however, there is a limited amount of risk you are expected to assume. Then there is the risk that you must never take on, and that is often due to negligence.

A League City maritime lawyer can review all of the facts of the case and let you know if you have a viable claim under maritime laws. They can then help you to pursue compensation if due, or to help families of those grievously injured or killed.

A League City maritime lawyer often relies on a team of qualified experts to gather the evidence needed to prove negligence and get the best outcome for their client. Kirkendall Dwyer LLP is a firm with the kind of team you need, and the kind of expertise and experience necessary to recognize valid cases right away.

If you are someone (or the family of someone) harmed in a maritime incident, don’t assume you must accept responsibility for what has happened. Consult with Kirkendall Dwyer LLP today and find out if you are able to claim compensation.

Feb 12, 2014

A Houston Maritime Attorney has the answers

It can be very confusing for someone who works on a commercial vessel to know if they have the right to claim compensation after an injury. After all, almost all workers in the maritime industries know that their jobs tend to be somewhat “high risk”. Even the less risky sounding careers, such as ferry boat workers or cruise ship crews can face serious threats to their safety, and when they are injured on the job, they can pursue compensation.

There are official laws, known as the Jones Act, that guarantee such workers legal recourse after an incident that results in injury brought about by negligence.

Unfortunately, it can be very challenging to prove an employer or co-worker’s negligence, and this is why a Houston maritime attorney is a very valuable resource. Not only can they ensure that you will get any financial compensation due to you, they can also pursue a host of other claims that you may be legally entitled to.

For example, your Houston maritime attorney can review your case with you and determine if you are entitled to rehabilitation therapies, lost wages (both past and future), monetary benefits due to pain and suffering or disfigurement, and benefits that some might refer to as “fringe” such as your medical insurance or retirement income.

However, for a Houston maritime attorney to be of assistance, you have to contact one and discuss your case. Kirkendall Dwyer LLP is the firm to call, and they can offer the kinds of services you need when wondering if you have a valid maritime injury case. They will treat you with compassion, reviewing the facts, and helping you to understand all of your options.

Jan 4, 2014

The Downside of the Jones Act

Established back in 1920, the goal of the Jones Act was to defend the American shipping industry from foreign competition and secure the workplace for mariners. Among other things, it allows only American ships to deliver cargo from one US port to another. While a foreign ship can visit more than one port at a time and pick up US goods while it does so, it can’t redistribute them to other American ports.

For the most part, the Jones Act is associated with the protections it provides mariners. However, more and more, industry professionals are seeing the negatives associated with the act. The term “American ships” is a literal one, after all. This means the ships have to actually be produced in America, not simply utilized by an American company or sporting the American flag.

This is especially an issue for transporting oil. Under the Jones Act there are only 32 tankers eligible for the job and just 42 barges. Until the oil boom there wasn’t a need for much more. But with the skyrocketing demand, and foreign ships unable to pitch in, oil prices will continue to rise. Industry analysts estimate the cost for operating a tanker has already risen 87% in the past 18 months alone. This equates to around $85,000 a day just to transport oil from one American port to another.

Another way of looking at the expenditure is that it costs between $5 and $6 to transport a barrel of oil from the Gulf Coast to an East Coast refinery. However, it would only cost $2 to move that same barrel to Canada, as it counts as an international port.

While they specialize in maritime accidents, Kirkendall Dwyer LLP keeps abreast of all news related to their industry. Stories like the above help support their knowledge of maritime laws to better understand the clients they represent.