Causes of Maritime Accidents Houston

 

Causes of Maritime Accidents Houston

Maritime Accidents

If you are a maritime worker injured on the job or a tourist injured on a cruise, it can have a profound impact on every facet of your life.

An attorney can provide trusted advice and help you recover compensation so you and your family can comfortably adjust to your new life.

Our work is done on a contingency basis, which means you owe no attorney fees unless we win your case. If we obtain a monetary settlement or award, our payment is a percentage of the total amount that you are awarded. We will cover all costs of filing the maritime injury lawsuit on our end and do our best to achieve the best possible outcome.

You may avoid seeking legal advice because you are worried about the cost of hiring an attorney and filing a claim. Our Houston maritime lawyers offer free consultations, and we will come to meet you at a place that is most convenient, whether that be a hospital, your home, or our office. During this appointment, we will discuss your legal options.

Who Do We Represent?

Maritime Workers Under the Jones Act

Federal laws, such as the Jones Act, allow maritime workers to sue their employers when they have been injured at sea due to their employer's negligence. The Jones Act applies to workers on all types of maritime vessels, including:

• Boats
• Ships
• Barges
• Cargo ships
• Oil carrier
• Tugboats
• Cruise ships
• Tour boats
• Fishing vessels
• Drilling vessels
• Ferries
• Commercial diving boats
• Offshore drilling rigs

Causes of Maritime Accidents

Maritime accidents may be caused by human error or other dangerous situations.

Human errors that contribute to maritime accidents include:

• Long hours
• Fatigue
• Inexperience
• Lack of training
• Extended time at sea
• Reckless behavior, including drug and alcohol abuse
• Poor decision making
• Lack of proper safety equipment
• Negligence

There are many dangerous events that can occur, including:

• Collisions
• Equipment failure
• Falls
• Injury due to unsecured cargo
• Commercial diving accidents
• Injury due to dangerous weather conditions
• Grounding of a ship
• Fires
• Explosions

If you or a loved one has suffered injury or death while working on these types of vessels, you may be able to pursue compensation from the employer under the Jones Act.

Tourists on Cruise Ships

While cruises are intended to be enjoyable vacations, we have all read news reports about injuries and other problems that tourists experience on cruise ships. If you have suffered serious injuries due to an accident or other traumatic event on a cruise ship, you may have a maritime case.

• Slip and fall accidents
• Falls or drowning in swimming pools
• Recreation activity accidents
• Falls overboard
• Food poisoning
• Illness
• Assault
• Sexual assault
• Elevator or escalator accidents
• Fires

When passengers are injured on cruise ships, their case is subject to general maritime laws. When a crew member is injured, the case is subject to laws set by the Jones Act.

Evidence Indicating a Vessel Is Unseaworthy

Under federal law, all ships in operation must be seaworthy, meaning they must be safe to be used for their intended purpose. This standard allows an injured maritime worker to sue his or her employer under a strict liability theory. The worker does not need to show that his or her employer knew the ship was unsafe. The worker only needs to show that the ship was, in fact, unsafe and he or she was injured as a result.

A ship may be considered unseaworthy if any of the following conditions exist:

• Inadequate or missing safety equipment, including lifesaving equipment
• Failure to comply with safety regulations
• Understaffed boat or insufficient supervision
• Defective boat design
• Dangerous, defective, or insufficient tools or equipment
• Insufficient or improperly trained crew members
• Unreasonably slippery or obstructed decks

Damages for Maritime Injuries

If an attorney can establish that an employer or cruise ship operator was negligent, maritime workers and tourists can recover compensation for:

Medical Expenses

When Mr. Shelton handles your case, he wants to ensure that you are fully compensated for all past and future medical expenses so that you have the financial freedom to receive the ongoing care you need.

Lost Income

If you or a loved one has lost wages temporarily, lost future earning capacity, or has to undergo retraining to change careers, all of these costs will be considered when we seek a fair settlement or award in your case.

Pain and Suffering

Damages for pain and suffering compensate victims for the loss of enjoyment and quality of life. These damages are more difficult to calculate, but we will seek a fair amount to help you move forward with your life.