Maritime injury lawyers – 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 18, 2014Oct 8, 2015

What causes oil rig accidents?

If you live in Texas, and you or someone – or someone you love — work on an offshore oil rig, you already know what a high-risk job crewmembers on rigs have. You may not know, though, that a Freeport oil rig injury attorney may be able to help you in the event of an accident.

Accidents on oil rigs are often not the fault of the workers involved. This means that those workers are often owed worker’s compensation for their lost wages, medical bills, and pain and suffering. Your employer and their insurance company will most likely work to pay out as little as possible. They may not actively want to short you on what you’re owed, but they’ll often think of their bottom line before they think of your suffering and needs.

The most common causes of oil rig accidents include lack of safety procedure implementations, poor or inadequate training, lack of supervision, lack of maintenance to heavy equipment, and operator errors. A lot of these are not the faults of those doing the work, and a Freeport oil rig attorney can help you determine if you’re owed compensation for an accident that wasn’t your fault.

If you were not trained properly for the job you were doing, or if one of your coworkers lacked the proper experience to assist you, then the accident could be the fault of your employer for failing to properly train all of their workers. If equipment fails due to lack of maintenance, then the responsibility definitely lands on the heads of your employers.

A Freeport oil rig injury attorney, like those employed with Kirkendall Dwyer LLP, can consult with you about your rights in an accident. Even if an accident hasn’t happened, it’s a good idea to keep the right attorney’s phone number on hand, just in case.

Apr 30, 2014Sep 8, 2015

Choosing the right Maritime Injury Attorney matters

The oil industry is big business here on the Texas Gulf Coast, and while that means lots of great jobs, it can also spell out lots of injuries. Maritime injuries are not uncommon, and offshore accidents happen all the time. If you or someone you love has been hurt or even killed in one of these types of accidents, contact a maritime injury attorney with Kirkendall Dwyer LLP today.

Our experienced attorneys know the ins and outs of maritime law. We have studied Admiralty Law, the Jones Act, and more, and we know your rights as a maritime worker. This includes your legal and medical rights. If you were injured offshore, finding an attorney who knows the Jones Act law very well will prove essential to your case.

Insurance companies can be quick to offer settlements that do not take into account the full extent of your injuries, the long term costs, or things like lost wages, pain and suffering, and the like. Don’t let the insurance companies take advantage of you when you can hire a maritime injury attorney who can help keep you and your rights protected.

When you hire a qualified maritime injury attorney from Kirkendall Dwyer LLP, you will find that you don’t have to pay a dime until you get paid your settlement. We also provide free case reviews to help answer any questions you may have and to learn the specifics of your case so that we can better assist you.

Finding the right lawyer for your needs is crucial, and we want to be your first choice. We know maritime law inside and out and we are willing to do what it takes to fight for you. Let our experienced lawyers go to bat for you so that you don’t have to negotiate with insurance companies without proper legal representation.

Apr 10, 2014

A Houston maritime attorney can help you with your injury claim

On March 22, 2014, an oil barge and a ship collided in the Houston Ship Channel, one of the busiest shipping channels in the country. The crash took place near the famed Texas City Y, the spot where the Houston Ship Channel, the Intracoastal Waterway, and the Texas City and Galveston Ship Channels meet. Thankfully, only minor damage was done to the oil barge, although it did leak some of its contents into the surrounding water. While no injuries were reported, collisions like this can result in all manner of injuries and even in death.

If you are injured or if you lose a loved one in a barge or tanker collision, you will require the services of an experienced Houston maritime attorney. Maritime law can be very complex, and hiring a traditional personal injury or wrongful death lawyer is not the way to go. You need someone who is very well-versed in maritime law and who knows what your rights and entitlements are according to that set of laws. By making the right choice when hiring an attorney, you give yourself the best chance at a positive outcome.

When looking for an experienced Houston maritime attorney, contact the team here at Kirkendall Dwyer LLP. We will provide you with a free case review and will work to answer your questions and to learn as much as we can about your case. We don’t collect a penny until you do, so there are no up-front fees to worry about. We know that you have enough on your plate worrying about dealing with your injury or loss and trying to figure everything out. Put your case in our hands and let us handle the courts and the insurance company so that you can put your focus where it needs to be – on your recovery.

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.