Vujasinovic & Beckcom Blog

Cruise Ship Slams into Gangway in Galveston

The Carnival Cruise Line’s Ecstasy recently slammed into the gangway at the Texas Cruise Ship Terminal at Pier 25 causing damage to the structure. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported. If you or someone you know has been injured in a cruise ship accident, you should contact an experienced maritime attorney at the Law Offices of Vujasinovic & Beckcom P.L.L.C. at (713) 224-7800 or (877) 724-7800.

Cruise Ship Injury Claims

Read a short article about your rights under federal law after a cruise ship accident by maritime attorney Brian Beckcom.

Cruise Ship Injury Claims

Board Certified Maritime Law Attorney Brian Beckcom writes new article on cruise ship injury cases.

Norweigan Cruise Lines Settles Injury Case Brought By Injured Waitress

We are pleased to announce another settlement of a maritime injury case. Norweigan Cruise Lines has agreed to a confidential settlement with our client, a former employee of NCL who was injured on the job.

Jones Act Lawsuit Against Kirby Offshore

Board Certified Maritime Injury and Jones Act lawyer Brian Beckcom has filed a Jones Act legal claim against Kirby Corporation for failing to honor its legal obligations to an injured employee.

Differential Pressure Hazards Can Be Deadly for an Occupational Diver

Differential pressure hazards are a serious concern for divers. This danger has been a factor in many diving accidents.

A Diving Accident Can Change Your Life

Commercial diving can be dangerous and may lead to permanent brain damage. If you are a diver who has been injured in a dive accident, you may be entitled to compensation.

Do You Really Know Your Diving Crew?

Diving companies have been known to hire crewmembers who lack the appropriate experience and skills. Even worse, these companies don’t always provide adequate training, which could lead to a serious diving accident.

Three Ways You Can Prevent a Commercial Diving Accident

Many commercial diving accidents can be avoided. If you or a loved one has been injured in a diving accident, contact a diving injury lawyer at 713.224.7800 or 877.724.7800 today.

Find Out What May Have Caused Your Diving Accident

There are many factors that can lead to a commercial diving accident. If you or a loved one has been injured in an offshore accident, contact a Houston maritime attorney at the Law Offices of Vujasinovic & Beckcom, P.L.L.C. at 713.224.7800 or 877.724.7800 for legal advice.

Hawaiian diver suffers hearing loss; loses lawsuit

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals recently upheld a lower court verdict in favor of the owner of a Hawaii whale watching vessel after a diver suffered ear damage during a dive.

Christopher MacDonald brought the suit against Kahikolu, Ltd. MacDonald, while working as a lifeguard and deckhand aboard the Frogman II, was also an experienced diver and would sometimes conduct free dives as part of the job.

During a dive down to 46 feet while retrieving a mooring line, MacDonald damaged his left ear while equalizing pressure during the descent.

He also suffered dizziness and permanent hearing loss.

MacDonald sought damages under the so-called "Pennsylvania Rule," which is the standard of Admiralty Law. Under the Pennsylvania Rule, the vessel owner is held liable if a vessel fails to follow regulations aimed at preventing accident or injury.

These regulations generally apply to navigational accidents and collisions.

MacDonald claimed the vessel did not have a required diving operations manual on board.

However, The Court sided with Kahikolu, citing that this requirement only applied to commercial divers-i.e. those wearing scuba gear-and not free divers

Read the case here.

Learn your rights as a seaman by ordering free copy of The Insider's Guide to Winning Your Maritime Injury Case written by Jones Act and maritime accident injury lawyer Brian Beckcom.

Maritime Work is Dangerous

Our maritime lawyers realize that maritime work can be dangerous when companies cut corners on safety.  That's why we've dedicated our time to putting out free information for workers.

To learn more about our law firm and what we can do for you, please visit the following websites:

www.vbattorneys.com

www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com

www.texasinjuryaccidentlawyer.com

About our law firm

Brian Beckcom handles Jones Act, maritime injury, and other offshore injury cases.  If you want to find out more about our law firm and the types of cases we handle, please visit our Maritime Injury Law practice area page on our main website.

Or, you can send a message to Mr. Beckcom by clicking here.

Legal rules different for commercial and free divers

"Pennsylvania Rule" sets the precedent

A lack of gear is not the only way free diving differs from commercial diving. There are also different protections under the law.

Under admiralty law, commercial divers are defined as those donning self contained breathing apparatus, also known as scuba gear. Free divers do not fall into this category.

Under the so-called "Pennsylvania Rule," the ship owner is presumed to be responsible if a vessel fails to follow regulations aimed at preventing accident or injury.

These regulations generally apply to navigational accidents and collisions.

In a case recently decided in Federal Court, the owner of a whale watching boat in Hawaii was found not liable for the hearing damage suffered by a deck hand during a 46 foot free dive. The diver sued his employer under the Pennsylvania Law, citing the lack of a diving operations manual on the vessel.

However, the Court ruled that the requirement for an operations manual only applied to commercial-and not free-divers.

Read full case here.

Learn your rights as a seaman by ordering free copy of The Insider's Guide to Winning Your Maritime Injury Case written by Jones Act and maritime accident injury lawyer Brian Beckcom.

Maritime Work is Dangerous

Our maritime lawyers realize that maritime work can be dangerous when companies cut corners on safety.  That's why we've dedicated our time to putting out free information for workers.

To learn more about our law firm and what we can do for you, please visit the following websites:

www.vbattorneys.com

www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com

www.texasinjuryaccidentlawyer.com

About our law firm

Brian Beckcom handles Jones Act, maritime injury, and other offshore injury cases.  If you want to find out more about our law firm and the types of cases we handle, please visit our Maritime Injury Law practice area page on our main website.

Or, you can send a message to Mr. Beckcom by clicking here.

Commercial Divers Be Aware of Risks of Hypothermia

Hypothermia is a serious condition that can be avoided with the proper training and dive equipment.  If you are a commercial diver, you need to know how to protect yourself from suffering from hypothermia, which can be fatal.

Hypothermia happens when the temperature of your body falls below 35 degrees Celsius – a level that is below what is needed for normal metabolism and bodily functions.  It is possible to survive hypothermia, but it depends on what stage of hypothermia you have reached.  Basically, there are three stages of hypothermia, with the first stage being less serious and showing signs of shivering, numb hands and goose bumps.  However the third stage of hypothermia can lead amnesia, inability to use your hands and blue and puffy skin.  The third stage can be deadly.

This life threatening condition can be avoided by divers, as long as the right precautions are taken.  If you are diving in cold water, always use the appropriate diving suit and avoid diving more than once the same day.  You can also benefit from using warming ointments before the dive and be aware of cold currants in the area.

If you or someone you love has suffered hypothermia from a commercial dive, you may be entitled to compensation.  Contact a Houston diving accident attorney at Vujasinovic & Beckcom P.L.L.C. at 713-224-7800 for legal advice.

Diving Companies Can Be Held Responsible for a Diver’s Injuries

Diving injuries can be serious and sometimes result in substantial pain and suffering, even death.  After a diving accident it is important to contact a diving injury attorney who can review the details of your case to determine what caused the unfortunate event.  In some situations, the diving company can be held responsible.

Negligence is often a contributing factor in occupational diving accidents.  A diving company can be considered negligent if improper decompression tables or experimental tables were used.  If Coast Guard procedures were violated or if the wrong equipment was used, a diving company can be liable for your injuries.  Sometimes there isn’t enough manpower on a vessel, which ultimately results in injuries from a dive.  In that type of situation, the diving company would also be negligent.

When reviewing a diving accident case, one of the questions that will be asked is – did the diving company act in a manner that would be considered reasonably prudent when compared to other diving companies?  If the answer is no, then you may have a legitimate case against the diving company.

Most injured divers are considered seamen, which makes them eligible to receive compensation under the Jones Act.  The Jones Act allows injured seamen to recover compensation for pain and suffering, past and future medical expenses, past and future lost income, mental anguish and loss of household services.  Contact Vujasinovic & Beckcom P.L.L.C. today at (713) 224-7800 or (877) 724-7800 for a free legal consultation.

The article, “Who is Responsible for Diver Accident Injuries?” has more information on this topic.

Gas Embolism Symptoms, Treatment & Compensation

If you are a commercial diver, you need to be aware of potentially fatal condition known as gas embolism or air embolism.  It is a condition that occurs when gas bubbles enter the bloodstream and obstruct circulation.  Gas embolism is the second leading cause of death among divers.

Gas embolism is not caused by the depth of the water and can occur in just a few feet of water.  If the diver’s airway is obstructed, he or she may not be able to fully exhale during the dive.  As a result, the lungs become over-inflated, forcing bubbles of gas into the bloodstream.  The diver may become unconscious if the gas bubbles reach the arteries in the brain.

Besides unconsciousness, some of the other symptoms of gas embolism caused by a diving accident include coughing up blood and a bloody foam around the diver’s mouth.  Either of these symptoms indicates a lung injury that must be treated immediately.

If hyperbaric oxygen treatment is administered right away, it is possible to survive gas embolism.  This type of treatment deflates the gas bubbles in the bloodstream and other areas of the body.  Until recompression treatment is available, the diver should be kept lying down and oxygen should be given.

Sometimes the diver causes gas embolism when he or she does not fully exhale when ascending into the water, but other times, negligent actions by the diving company are to blame for the accident.  If you or a family member has experienced gas embolism due to negligence by the diving company, you may be entitled to compensation.  You should contact an experienced diving accident lawyer at Vujasinovic & Beckcom P.L.L.C. today at (713) 224-7800 or (877) 724-7800 for legal consultation regarding your diving injury case. 

The article, “Commercial Divers at Risk of Gas Embolism,” has more information about this topic. 

Symptoms of Decompression Sickness Caused by Diving Accident

There is a serious condition, known as decompression sickness, which can affect commercial divers.  Decompression sickness, also known as bends or Caisson’s Disease, can be fatal.

Decompression sickness occurs when the body is not able to release nitrogen.  When a diver goes deep into the water, the atmospheric pressure rises, which causes the body to absorb a higher amount of nitrogen.  Since this inert gas cannot be metabolized, it must be released.  The longer the dive, the higher the amount of nitrogen that will be absorbed.  If proper measures are not taken, nitrogen can form bubbles in the blood and body tissues, which will impact normal physiological function.

Almost half of all decompression sickness cases will occur within 90 minutes after a dive is complete and 95 percent will happen within 48 hours.  Since it can potentially take a couple of days for this illness to surface, it is crucial to recognize the symptoms.  The warning signs of decompression sickness depend on where the bubbles are located in the body.  When the bubbles are in the large joints of the body, the diver may feel localized pain, which can be dull or sharp.

Bubbles that form in the brain, spinal cord or peripheral nerves can lead to symptoms of confusion, memory loss, headache, vision problems, fatigue, seizures, dizziness, vomiting or vertigo.  As bubbles form in the lungs, the diver may experience burning chest pain, breathing pain, shortness of breath or dry constant cough.  Bubbles in the skin can cause itching, mottled or marbled skin, swelling or a sensation of tiny insects crawling on the skin.

Since decompression sickness can be fatal, it is important to seek medical attention after experiencing symptoms.  If you have been injured on a commercial dive, you may be entitled to compensation.  Many times, diving companies can be held liable for injuries.  Contact the experienced diving injury attorneys at Vujasinovic & Beckcom P.L.L.C.  at (713) 224-7800 or (877) 724-7800 for advice regarding your case.

The article, Decompression Sickness Resulting from Commercial Diving, has more information on this topic.

Commercial diver settles injury case against employer and lift boat company

We are pleased to announce that one of our clients, a commercial diver who works offshore, has obtained a settlement against his employer and a lift boat company following serious injuries he sustained while diving offshore.

Our client was employed by Seamar Divers and worked on a Montco Offshore lift boat.  According to their websites, Seamar Divers provides offshore commercial divers, subsea construction, and subsea fabrication services to the oil and gas industry.  Montco Offshore provides lift boats to the offshore industry.

Our client was hurt when the Seamar supervisor failed to monitor the dive properly, resulting in our client getting "the bends."  The Montco crane operator brought him up too quickly and dropped him too hard on the deck of the lift boat, resulting in severe orthopedic injuries.

After working on the case for less than a year, we were able to negotiate a settlement that takes care of all medical bills, expenses, attorney fees, and still leaves a substantial monetary recovery for our client to invest or spends how he wants.

Did you know commercial divers may be covered by the Jones Act or maritime law?

Many commercial divers (and probably even a lot of lawyers) do not realize that commercial divers may be covered by the Jones Act and general maritime law if they are injured offshore.

To learn more about commercial divers and their rights under the Jones Act, read the following article:

Are Diving Accidents Covered by the Jones Act?

Want to know more about offshore injury claims? 

We strive to provide the best, most professional, and most effective representation to workers in the offshore industry. 

If you want to know more about offshore injury claims, please take a moment to read the following articles:

1.  How to hire the best lawyer for your Jones Act or offshore injury case

2.  What is the Jones Act?

3.  What is a Longshoreman and What Are Their Legal Rights When Injured?

4.  The difference between the Jones Act and the Longshore & Harbor Worker's Compensation Act

5.  The Truth About Offshore Injury Claims.

6.  What Should You Do If You Are Injured Offshore

7.  What you should know if you were hurt offshore and your employer is giving you a hard time

8.  Should I give my employer or the insurance company a "recorded statement?"

9.  Do I need to hire a lawyer for my Jones Act or offshore injury claim?

10.  What happens when you file a Jones Act lawsuit.

11.  6 Critical Things you must know if you are injured at sea

12. The Secrets Your Employer May Not Want You To Know If You Are Injured Offshore.

UK investigation determines safety violations caused employee death

Safety violations result in death of U.K. offshore worker.

Maritime Lawsuit Against Weatherford International Settled

We recently negotiated a maritime injury settlement on behalf of one of our international clients against Weatherford International. Congratulations to our client for the successful settlement.

Tug worker files Jones Act claim for on the job injuries

Joseph R. Dean filed the case in Jefferson County, Texas February 19 against Coral Marine Services. He claims to have suffered permanent physical impairment, pain and suffering and loss of wages because of undisclosed injuries aboard the Bailey Ann.

Learn your rights as a seaman by ordering free copy of The Insider's Guide to Winning Your Maritime Injury Case written by Jones Act and maritime accident injury lawyer Brian Beckcom.

Maritime Work is Dangerous

Our maritime lawyers realize that maritime work can be dangerous when companies cut corners on safety.  That's why we've dedicated our time to putting out free information for workers.

To learn more about our law firm and what we can do for you, please visit the following websites:

www.vbattorneys.com

www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com

www.texasinjuryaccidentlawyer.com

About our law firm

Brian Beckcom handles Jones Act, maritime injury, and other offshore injury cases.  If you want to find out more about our law firm and the types of cases we handle, please visit our Maritime Injury Law practice area page on our main website.

Or, you can send a message to Mr. Beckcom by clicking here.

Far East seaman loses leg then loses Jones Act claim

While casting off tug lines from the stern of the Singapore flagged M/V Ikan Sepat, a messenger line caught hold of a leg of Pan Quan Ru, resulting in its amputation.

Learn your rights as a seaman by ordering free copy of The Insider's Guide to Winning Your Maritime Injury Case written by Jones Act and maritime accident injury lawyer Brian Beckcom.

Maritime Work is Dangerous

Our maritime lawyers realize that maritime work can be dangerous when companies cut corners on safety.  That's why we've dedicated our time to putting out free information for workers.

To learn more about our law firm and what we can do for you, please visit the following websites:

www.vbattorneys.com

www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com

www.texasinjuryaccidentlawyer.com

About our law firm

Brian Beckcom handles Jones Act, maritime injury, and other offshore injury cases.  If you want to find out more about our law firm and the types of cases we handle, please visit our Maritime Injury Law practice area page on our main website.

Or, you can send a message to Mr. Beckcom by clicking here.

Improper venue, expired statute of limitations sink winch injury Jones claim

While working aboard a towing vessel in the Ohio River, Reichart suffered undisclosed injuries from a faulty locking mechanism on a winch.

Washington State Ferries not liable for selling a violent drunk a ticket

A Washington appeals court has upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit from a man injured by an obnoxious drunk passenger aboard a Washington State Ferry (WSF) vessel.

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Port worker files claim after wet paint slip and fall

A federal court recently made a ruling on a suit filed by a shipyard employee who was injured on a vessel after slipping on wet paint.

Feel free to call our firm's toll free number, 877.724.7800 , or send us an email through this website, and we would be glad to schedule an appointment with the firm's maritime lawyer, Brian Beckcom.

Or you can download Brian's free Insider's Guide to Winning Your Maritime Injury Case





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Louisiana man files Jones Act claim for unseaworthiness

Timothy J. Rogers alleges unseaworthiness and negligence in connection with serious injuries to his body and back while working aboard the vessel Mary Kay.

Feel free to call our firm's toll free number, 877.724.7800 , or send us an email through this website, and we would be glad to schedule an appointment with the firm's maritime lawyer, Brian Beckcom.

Or you can download Brian's free Insider's Guide to Winning Your Maritime Injury Case





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