Maritime Information
What Our Clients Say
- Dear Mr. Beckcom:
I never got a chance to say thank you for the wonderful job you did on my daughter's case. She will be graduating in June from High School with cum laude status. She will be attending college at U.T. Austin and majoring in Communications. Thanks to your efforts her college education has been taken care of. Thank you again from both of us.
J. Perez
Houston, Texas
- Mr. Beckcom fought diligently on my behalf against my former employer, without a retainer from me.....I was truly grateful to have Mr. Beckcom on my side and would recommend him to anyone without reservation."
A. Worley, Injured Cruise ship employee
New Mexico - I hired Brian Beckcom in 2009 for the injury case I had after I was hurt as a deckhand and within 11 months Brian had settled my case. He did such a fabulous job and I recommend using his firm for your maritime injury case.
J. McKeone, Deckhand
Livingston, Texas - Brian and his staff are courteous and professional, and they work diligently to make sure the client transitions through the process as easily and comfortably as possible.
Your sincere and satisfied client,
Steve T.
Houston, Texas - I was hurt on a boat offshore. Brian and his law firm worked hard on my case. The settlement he got for me will take care of my financial needs for the rest of my life. If you are looking for someone to take your interests at heart Brian and his law firm can give you the attention your case deserves.
Tim M.
Austin, Texas - I hired Brian after I was hurt on an offshore oil platform. I would recommend Brian and his law firm to anyone who needed a good injury lawyer, and especially any offshore worker. . ..
Jackie R
Houston, Texas - There are only a small number of attorneys who could handle such a complex case as mine, and Brian was at the top of the list. His response time is unsurpassed, replying within minutes to my initial enquiry. He has an instinctive understanding of the legal issues, and consummate people skills, an essential attribute in the negotiation phase of any litigation. Thanks to Brian the case was settled favorably within a year.
Steven S.,
Wales, U.K. - Brian, your book was a real eye-opener. If I had read your book sooner, I would have avoided a lot of costly mistakes.
Captain Jim Vickers - I was hurt on an offshore oil rig. I was unable to work or get proper medical care from the company. I was referred to Brian by another law firm because that firm knew Brian specialized in Jones Act cases. Brian settled my case in less than 12 months. The settlement will enable me to take care of my family financially for a long time. I would highly recommend Brian and his firm to any injured worker.
Freddy N.,
Lufkin, Texas
Disclaimer
We designed this website to provide information to consumers, injured people, and their families. Our goal is to level the playing field between consumers and insurance companies and expose the tricks, traps, and techniques they use to cheat injured people out of their legal rights. We also let consumers know about legal news, including verdicts and settlements and other interesting legal information.
But please understand that nothing on this website is meant to provide legal information about your specific case, create an attorney-client relationship, or imply that the results of your legal case will be the same as some other case.
Find Answers to Your Question By Searching Here
Maritime Injury Blog
The Houston law offices of Vujasinovic & Beckcom, P.L.L.C. post blogs on maritime accidents and offshore injuries. If a maritime accident has left you injured or unable to work, contact a Jones Act lawyer from our law firm today. We represent people who have been injured at sea or offshore in the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean and throughout the Gulf Coast, Port of Houston and Galveston Bay.Jones Act
Jones Act May Provide Compensation for an Arm Injury
An arm injury can be serious and often leads to a long recovery. Find out more about arm injuries caused by offshore accidents.Cauda Equina Syndrome & the Jones Act
Cauda equina syndrome is a medical condition that can lead to serious problems. If you are a Jones Act seaman, you may be eligible to receive compensation for your injuries.Have You Suffered a Herniated Disc While Working Offshore?
Perhaps you are experiencing severe pain, numbness or weakness in the back area. This pain could be caused by a herniated disc, which many seamen and other maritime workers suffer as a result from working offshore.A major problem from a herniated disc, aside from the excruciating pain, is the effect it can have on almost every aspect of your daily life. It can affect your ability to do your job as well as impact everyday tasks, from holding your kids to taking out the trash to driving a car.
A herniated disc can be caused from just about any regular mundane activity on the job that causes wear and tear on the disc. Many offshore workers are injured by falling while onboard a ship or a platform. This type of maritime accident can severely injure the back.
Regardless of the cause, a herniated disc can be very painful and can impact you in profound ways. You should note that there are options available to treat a herniated disc, including surgery. If you are experiencing back pain as a result of your job, you should seek medical advice immediately. You should also be aware that you have rights.
If you or someone you know has been injured while working offshore, you should contact an experienced maritime accident attorney at the Law Offices of Vujasinovic & Beckcom P.L.L.C. at (713) 224-7800 or (877) 724-7800.
Misconduct by Crew Can Lead to Injuries
Within the maritime industry, there is something known as barratry. Barratry can be defined as a fraudulent act or misconduct by the ship’s master or crew and can lead to injuries. What does that mean for you? If you are a seaman and were injured by negligence on the part of the captain or crewmembers, you can pursue compensation for your injuries.Some examples of barratry in the context of maritime include deserting the ship, illegal scuttling, theft on the vessel and cargo theft.
The Jones Act is a federal law that provides legal protection for injured seamen. Under the Jones Act, you can pursue monetary damages for your injuries if negligence caused your maritime injury. Compensation can include medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, mental anguish, disfigurement and other damages.
There are deadlines as to when you can file a Jones Act claim for your maritime accident or injuries. It is imperative that you contact an experienced Houston maritime attorney right away. You should not sign anything or give a recorded statement regarding your injuries until you speak with a maritime lawyer.
Contact the maritime attorneys at the law offices of Vujasinovic & Beckcom at 713.224.7800 or 877.724.7800 for a free legal consultation.
Jones Act Protection for Back Injury Caused by a Maritime Accident
If you have sustained a back injury from a maritime accident, you need to be aware that you may be entitled to compensation under a federal law, known as the Jones Act. As a Jones Act seaman, you can pursue money for damages caused from your back injury, which can be substantial. However, you need to talk with a maritime attorney who can go over your legal options.
After a back injury that occurs offshore, you need to be aware of what might have caused it. Lifting heavy equipment or cargo can often lead to painful back injuries. A fall down a ladder or broken stairs can also cause a severe maritime injury. Even slippery decks can result in back injuries.
Sometimes a back injury is caused by an unseaworthy vessel or negligence on part of the vessel owner, captain, officers or crew members. In that case, you could be awarded financial compensation in a Jones Act lawsuit. Generally, you can recover damages for pain and suffering, past and future lost wages, past and future medical expenses, disfigurement, mental anguish and other costs incurred as a result of your injuries. The best thing to do following a serious maritime accident is to contact a maritime lawyer.
Contact the law office of Vujasinovic & Beckcom P.L.L.C. at 713-224-7800 or 877-724-7800 for a free legal consultation.
Read the latest article by Mr. Beckcom on whether to give a recorded statement after an offshore injury
Mr. Beckcom has published a short article on whether to give a recorded statement after you suffer an offshore on-the-job injury.Click on this link to read Mr. Beckcom's latest article.
Our firm hired by another Norwegian Cruise Lines employee to file cruise ship injury case against NCL
Our firm has been hired by another Norwegian Cruise Line (also known as "NCL") worker who injured her back and neck while working for the company on the Pride of America cruise ship.
We have represented a number of employees or former employees of NCL in their cruise ship accident claims. These claims are 
all brought under the Jones Act and General Maritime Law.
In fact, I recently travelled to Honolulu, Hawaii to take the deposition of the ship's doctor for the Pride of America cruise ship. The ship's doctor had given our client very cursory medical treatment and then sent her home.
We also represent cruise ship workers who have been injured while working for cruise ship operators other than NCL like Princess Cruise Lines, Holland America, Carnival Cruise Lines, and any other company that operates cruise ships around the world.
Cruise ship injures
Working for a cruise ship can be fun and exciting. However, unfortunately, all too often cruise ship workers are asked to work long hours under difficult conditions with little or no assistance. This can result injuries that can be career-threatening or even career-ending. Such injuries include:
Back injuries;
Neck injures;
Shoulder and knee injures;
Burns;
Crushing injuries;
Head injuries;
And many others.
Cruise Ship Injury Case?
The maritime accident and injury lawyers at our law firm are dedicated to providing seaman worldwide with the best possible representation. Our goal is go obtain the best possible settlement in the shortest amount of time.
If you have a maritime accident or injury case, before you talk to the company or any insurance adjusters, before you give a recorded statement, and before you choose the wrong attorney for your case, request a copy of Mr. Beckcom's book and read the list of articles below.
If you are really and truly interested in learning about what goes on "behind the scenes" in a Jones Act or maritime injury case, read Mr. Beckcom's book "Insider's Guide to Winning your Maritime Injury Case"
List of helpful articles
Do you want to get helpful information that is written for injured workers and their families, and not the company or insurance carrier? In addition to our websites, 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. How much is my Jones Act, maritime injury, or offshore injury case worth?
3. What is the Jones Act?
4. How to wreck your Jones Act case
5. Financial Insecurity and Wrongful Termination - Two Fears After a Maritime Injury
6. What is a Longshoreman and What Are Their Legal Rights When Injured?
7. The difference between the Jones Act and the Longshore & Harbor Worker's Compensation Act
8. The Truth About Offshore Injury Claims.
9. What Should You Do If You Are Injured Offshore
10. What you should know if you were hurt offshore and your employer is giving you a hard time
11. Should I give my employer or the insurance company a "recorded statement?"
12. Do I need to hire a lawyer for my Jones Act or offshore injury claim?
13. What happens when you file a Jones Act lawsuit.
14. 6 Critical Things you must know if you are injured at sea
15. The Secrets Your Employer May Not Want You To Know If You Are Injured Offshore.
16. I was injured on a cruise ship - What are my legal rights?
To learn more about our law firm and what we can do for you, please visit the following websites:
http://www.vbattorneys.com/
www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com
http://www.houstoninjuryaccidentlaw.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 using the Contact form on this website.
The Jones Act and Maritime Injuries explained
A common scenario in my office is for a client to walk to our first meeting, having been injured in some sort of offshore accident, and ask me to explain the "Jones Act". Or they ask me whether they have a "Jones Act" case.Or the client asks me about the Longshore & Harbor Worker's Compensation Act.
All of these questions are answered in my book, Insider's Guide to Winning Your Maritime Injury Case." The book sells for $29.99 but I give it free to my firm's clients and prospective clients because I want them to have the information the book contains.
Here's a very brief discussion about the Jones Act and the Longshore Act:
The Jones Act
The Jones Act applies only to "seaman." To qualify as a "seaman," you must contribute the function of the vessel and be a member of her crew. You can read a short article about seaman status by clicking here.
The definition of "seaman" and "vessel" is a lot broader than most people probably realize. I've represented welders on jack-up drilling rigs, cooks on offshore platforms, roughnecks and roustabouts on semi-submersibles, drillers on oil rigs in the North Sea, boat captains, deckhands, and countless other workers.
In order to determine (in most cases) if you are a Jones Act seaman, you need an attorney with a lot of experience in Jones Act cases. Most lawyers will never handle a Jones Act case during their entire career.
The Longshore & Harbor Worker's Compensation Act
The Longshore Act covers "Longshoreman" and "Harbor Workers." In other words, workers who aren't seaman but may be worker near the water.
The classic example of the Longshoreman is a dockworker who loads and unloads ships. While they may work on the ship at times, and over the water, dockworkers aren't Jones Act seaman and can't bring Jones Act cases.
Conclusion
In most situations, you are better off from a purely legal standpoint if you can qualify as a Jones Act seaman. However, most attorneys know absolutely nothing about how to ensure that you qualify as such, so make sure you find an attorney who knows how to handle these cases or you may literally be giving up a claim worth tens, hundreds, or even millions of dollars,
Injured Offshore? Helpful resources and articles
Do you have a Jones Act or maritime injury case? The Jones Act and Maritime Attorneys at Vujasinovic & Beckcom, P.L.L.C. have successfully handled all types of maritime injury and Jones Act cases.
Before you talk to the company or any insurance adjusters, before you give a recorded statement, and before you choose the wrong attorney for your case, request a copy of Mr. Beckcom's book and read this list of helpful articles.
Interested in learning more about really happens in a maritime injury case?
Click here to request a copy of the "Insider's Guide to Winning Your Maritime Injury Case"
To learn more about our law firm and what we can do for you, please visit the following websites:
http://www.vbattorneys.com/
www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com
http://www.houstoninjuryaccidentlaw.com/
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. How much is my Jones Act, maritime injury, or offshore injury case worth?
3. What is the Jones Act?
4. How to wreck your Jones Act case
5. Financial Insecurity and Wrongful Termination - Two Fears After a Maritime Injury
6. What is a Longshoreman and What Are Their Legal Rights When Injured?
7. The difference between the Jones Act and the Longshore & Harbor Worker's Compensation Act
8. The Truth About Offshore Injury Claims.
9. What Should You Do If You Are Injured Offshore
10. What you should know if you were hurt offshore and your employer is giving you a hard time
11. Should I give my employer or the insurance company a "recorded statement?"
12. Do I need to hire a lawyer for my Jones Act or offshore injury claim?
13. What happens when you file a Jones Act lawsuit.
14. 6 Critical Things you must know if you are injured at sea
15. The Secrets Your Employer May Not Want You To Know If You Are Injured Offshore.
16. I was injured on a cruise ship - What are my legal rights?
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 using the Contact form on this website.
Offshore injury case against Nabors Offshore and Aramark leads to substantial settlement
Press Release - For immediate releaseHouston, Texas - December 2008
We are pleased to announce yet another settlement for one of our offshore clients.
Our client worked as a cook on a Nabors Offshore rig. He was employed by Aramark in their offshore division. Nabors had set up a temporary galley on the rig. The air conditioning units were broken. The galley got so hot that our client literally passed out, fell to the ground, and seriously injured his head, neck, back, and shoulder.
Our client hired us to prove his negligence case against Nabors Offshore and Aramark Offshore. We learned during our investigation that both companies knew well before that the galley was dangerously hot and workers should not have been forced to work in the defective galley, but were forced to do so anyway.
We filed his case under the Jones Act and general maritime law. Nabors Offshore and Aramark Offshore fought us for over a year. But shortly before we were scheduled to go to trial, Nabors and Aramark agreed to pay our client a substantial settlement.
We hope that the settlement will take care of our client's and his families' financial needs for a long time to come.
Congratulations to another client of ours for obtaining a great settlement in his case!
Injured Offshore? Helpful resources and articles
Do you have a Jones Act or maritime injury case? The Jones Act and Maritime Attorneys at Vujasinovic & Beckcom, P.L.L.C. have successfully handled all types of maritime injury and Jones Act cases.
Before you talk to the company or any insurance adjusters, before you give a recorded statement, and before you choose the wrong attorney for your case, request a copy of Mr. Beckcom's book and read this list of helpful articles.
Interested in learning more about really happens in a maritime injury case?
Click here to request a copy of the "Insider's Guide to Winning Your Maritime Injury Case"
To learn more about our law firm and what we can do for you, please visit the following websites:
http://www.vbattorneys.com/
www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com
http://www.houstoninjuryaccidentlaw.com/
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. How much is my Jones Act, maritime injury, or offshore injury case worth?
3. What is the Jones Act?
4. How to wreck your Jones Act case
5. Financial Insecurity and Wrongful Termination - Two Fears After a Maritime Injury
6. What is a Longshoreman and What Are Their Legal Rights When Injured?
7. The difference between the Jones Act and the Longshore & Harbor Worker's Compensation Act
8. The Truth About Offshore Injury Claims.
9. What Should You Do If You Are Injured Offshore
10. What you should know if you were hurt offshore and your employer is giving you a hard time
11. Should I give my employer or the insurance company a "recorded statement?"
12. Do I need to hire a lawyer for my Jones Act or offshore injury claim?
13. What happens when you file a Jones Act lawsuit.
14. 6 Critical Things you must know if you are injured at sea
15. The Secrets Your Employer May Not Want You To Know If You Are Injured Offshore.
16. I was injured on a cruise ship - What are my legal rights?
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 using the Contact form on this website.
Deckhand who suffered back injury settles case against tug boat company
We are pleased to announce another substantial settlement for one of our firm's maritime clients. Our client was an injured deckhand who hurt his back. We got him a substantial confidential settlement in less than one year.Click the link above to read more.
Blake Offshore pays substantial settlement to injured offshore worker weeks before trial
We are pleased to announce yet another terrific settlement for one of our Jones Act clients.
Our client was a long-time employee of Blake Offshore. He was hurt when he fell in an open hole that was not properly marked off wit
h caution tape (or any other kind of warning device). He was severely injured.
In fact, our client was knocked unconscious for almost 5 minutes. He ended up having the following injuries:
1. Injuries to his head;
2. Ringing in his ears, memory loss, blackouts;
3. A neck injury;
4. Herniated discs in his cervical spine;
5. A shoulder injury (he tore his rotator cuff);
The company fired our client when the company doctor (who was completely and totally in the tank for Blake Offshore) literally said our client could return to work the same day he was injured!
Our client tried to do light duty work for Blake Offshore but Blake Offshore cancelled the light duty program after our client asked if he could try light duty!
We filed a lawsuit under the Jones Act and maritime law. Blake denied liability (they denied they were at fault). They also denied our client was injured in the accident.
And they hired spies (private investigators) to spy on our client, his wife, his 2 year old boy, and his mother!
A few weeks before trial, after we spent many thousands of dollars on the case, Blake Offshore agreed to pay our client a substantial settlement that will provide for him and his family for a long time to come.
Congratulations to our client and his family for his great settlement and for hanging in there during the case despite Blake Offshore's attempts to intimidate and scare him.
Injured Offshore? Helpful resources and articles
Do you have a Jones Act or maritime injury case? The Jones Act and Maritime Attorneys at Vujasinovic & Beckcom, P.L.L.C. have successfully handled all types of maritime injury and Jones Act cases.
Before you talk to the company or any insurance adjusters, before you give a recorded statement, and before you choose the wrong attorney for your case, request a copy of Mr. Beckcom's book and read this list of helpful articles.
Interested in learning more about really happens in a maritime injury case?
Click here to request a copy of the "Insider's Guide to Winning Your Maritime Injury Case"
To learn more about our law firm and what we can do for you, please visit the following websites:
http://www.vbattorneys.com/
www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com
http://www.houstoninjuryaccidentlaw.com/
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. How much is my Jones Act, maritime injury, or offshore injury case worth?
3. What is the Jones Act?
4. How to wreck your Jones Act case
5. Financial Insecurity and Wrongful Termination - Two Fears After a Maritime Injury
6. What is a Longshoreman and What Are Their Legal Rights When Injured?
7. The difference between the Jones Act and the Longshore & Harbor Worker's Compensation Act
8. The Truth About Offshore Injury Claims.
9. What Should You Do If You Are Injured Offshore
10. What you should know if you were hurt offshore and your employer is giving you a hard time
11. Should I give my employer or the insurance company a "recorded statement?"
12. Do I need to hire a lawyer for my Jones Act or offshore injury claim?
13. What happens when you file a Jones Act lawsuit.
14. 6 Critical Things you must know if you are injured at sea
15. The Secrets Your Employer May Not Want You To Know If You Are Injured Offshore.
16. I was injured on a cruise ship - What are my legal rights?
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 using the Contact form on this website.
Maritime Injuries
Legislative Committees Discuss Maritime Workplace Safety
Maritime workplace safety is the subject of two recent legislative committee hearings. Read this blog to learn more and order a free copy of our book, The Insider's Guide to Winning Your Maritime Injury Case.Death of offshore worker on diving support vessel blamed on safety violations
The death of a Northumberland man who was killed while working in a diving support vessel has been blamed on flagrant safety violations. The man, 44 year old rigger David Stephenson, was killed three miles south of Aberdeen in April of last year.
Stephenson was working underneath four tons of suspended equipment that lowered unexpectedly on him, crushing him to death. He was airlifted to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary where he was pronounced dead. An investigation into the cause of his death was launched by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB).
MAIB’s findings were released recently, and the results are shocking. According to investigators, a faulty pilot valve in a switching system failed, causing a winch to release the load onto Stephenson. MAIB added that the most basic safety principles had not been followed. For example, the load should have been supported by other means before workers were allowed underneath it.
Despite having a number of management procedures and safety tools in place, the operators Technip UK either did not apply them or they were applied ineffectively. In addition, MAIB cited confused lines of responsibility between staff on the ship and on the shore. All of this contributed to an accident that took the life of a maritime worker.
Read more about maritime law and commercial diving accidents:
- Houston, Texas attorney: How to hire the best lawyer for your international offshore accident Jones Act case
- Need medical care, maybe even surgery, after an offshore injury? An experienced Jones Act maritime lawyer can help you
- Commercial Diving Injuries due to Equipment Failure
Get help after an offshore accident. Contact the Houston based maritime accident attorneys at Vujasinovic & Beckcom today.
Was ship captain partially to blame for offshore pirate attack?
The Associated Press has published information claiming that the captain of the Maersk Alabama may have been partially to blame for the pirate attack last spring 600 miles off the African coast.
According to the AP, seven warnings were issued by maritime safety groups about the dangers of traveling in pirate infested waters along Somalia. Four of the twenty crew members who were aboard the Maersk when it was attack believe that the captain, Richard Phillips, was negligent when he refused to change course after being made aware of the pirate’s activity in the area.
Had Phillips made the decision to avoid the area, it would have added more than a day to the trip and would have required the use of additional fuel. Not only did Phillips fail to avoid the dangerous area, the crew members allege, but the ship was also sent into dangerous waters without adequate protection.
Phillips calls the accusations by his former crew members “spurious” and refused to comment further. A compliant has also been filed against him with the U.S. Coast Guard.
Phillips has years of experienced sailing in dangerous waters off the coast of Africa, and his decision to stick to the route that led him into the allegedly dangerous waters off the coast of Somalia was supported by his second in command, Captain Shane Murphy.
In view of the pending legal challenges, Maersk Line officials also refrained from commenting on the AP report.
Corrected - Two ships collide in Gulf of Mexico
The Houston Chronicle is reporting that two ships collided in the Gulf of Mexico today.The ships were the 820-foot tank ship Krymsk and the 166-foot offshore supply vessel AET Endeavor. The Krymsk began leaking oil into the Gulf of Mexico.
The Coast Guard is investigating.
Our comment: Not really any excuse for running two ships together. Hopefully these companies will be responsible for paying for any environmental damage or injuries that occured as a result of this maritime accident.
Maritime workers and offshore accidents = physical and mental injuries
There are so many ways that maritime workers can be injured after an offshore accident: falls, trips, collisions, explosions, faulty equipment, and much more. There are also a number of different types of injuries that workers can suffer – but not all are physical.
After a serious accident, some maritime workers can have difficulty recovering mentally from the trauma. They can experience what many accident victims know as “post-traumatic stress disorder”. PTSD can be debilitating for some injured workers, preventing them from leading normal, healthy lives even long after an accident has passed.
We have information about a wide variety of other injuries that maritime workers can face in our law library. Please check out these articles for more information:
- Broken bones
- Back injury
- Burn injuries
- Neck injury
- Slip and fall accidents
- Spinal cord injury
- Traumatic brain injury
- Head injury
Don’t suffer alone after a serious maritime accident. You deserve fair compensation and justice for your injuries, and you to be able to take care of yourself as well. Help is available from the experienced lawyers at the Houston based law firm Vujasinovic & Beckcom.
Steps in winning a maritime injury case
Mr. Beckcom has written a new article on steps in winning a maritime injury or Jones Act case.You have legal rights if you are fired for reporting a safety violation at work
Maritime work can be dangerous. That's one of the reasons the U.S. Congress decided to protect offshore workers who report safety violations.You can read more about your legal issues in maritime cases by visiting www.TheMaritimeLawyer.com.
Fired for reporting a safety violation? You have legal rights
Maritime work can be dangerous. That's one of the reasons the U.S. Congress decided to protect offshore workers who report safety violations.You can read more about your legal issues in maritime cases by visiting www.TheMaritimeLawyer.com.
Injured offshore? Insurance companies will try to cheat you out of a fair settlement
Companies try to settle cheap before you get your own legal advice
Coping with a Spinal Cord Injury from a Maritime Accident
When a maritime accident causes damage to the spinal cord, it is known as a spinal cord injury. The spinal cord consists of a soft bundle of nerves that run from the base of the brain to the lower back. The bony spine protects the delicate spinal cord, which carries messages back and forth between the brain and the rest of the body. It is through these messages, that people are able to move and feel touch, as well as other functions.
A spinal cord injury prohibits the flow of messages to the brain and body and often results in paralysis.
If you have suffered a spinal cord injury, you have most likely already realized that your life will be changing. However, it is possible to have a full life. Many people with spinal cord injuries are able to drive and participate in sports. They are also able to continue to build relationships with family and friends.
It is common to experience feelings of frustration, anger and sadness following a maritime injury, such as spinal cord damage. There are support groups that can help and family members are typically more than willing to offer the necessary emotional support following a spinal cord injury.
If your spinal cord injury was the result of negligence or an unseaworthy vessel, you may be able to recover compensation. Contact a maritime lawyer at Vujasinovic & Beckcom P.L.L.C. at 713.224.7800 or 877.724.7800 today for legal advice.
Deckhand obtains settlement of back injury case
One of our firm's clients recently received a settlement of his Jones Act case.Our client hurt his back while working for Capital Inland Marine on a pushboat doing work for Kirby Inland Marine . He needed back surgery.
Injured offshore worker obtains settlement for back injury case
One of our firm's client recently obtained a confidential settlement in his Jones Act case after he was hurt offshore.Click here to read the press release on this case.
Jones Act Lawsuit Against Megafleet Towing Company
An injured worker has filed a lawsuit in a Harris County District Court against Megafleet Towing Company. The injured worker was working aboard one of the company's tugboats when he was injured earlier this year. After the serious injury, the injured worker was told a short time later that Megafleet does not have a position for him anymore and let him go.The lawsuit is brought under the Jones Act and General Maritime Law . The injured worker claims in the lawsuit that he qualifies as a Jones Act seaman and is entitled to maintenance and cure and negligence damages.
The injured worker has hired Brian Beckcom and Curtis Bickers and our firm to represent him in his case.
Have a Jones Act case? Contact our firm to discuss your legal options.
For more information about the Jones Act or General Maritime Law, please contact Brian Beckcom or Curtis Bickers at 713.224.7800, or toll free at 877.724.7800, or visit one of the firm's websites:
www.vbattorneys.com
www.themaritimelawyer.com
www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com
Who Is Responsible For Fatal Boating Accident?
A day out on the lake in a boat is suppose to be an enjoyable and relaxing experience. I enjoy getting out on the water and try to as much as possible. However, most people aren't aware of the potential for disaster.Back in April of 2007, four men headed out on Smith Mountain Lake aboard a 33-foot Hacker Craft boat . The boat's owner, Walter Curt, was captaining the vessel. During their voyage, the Hacker Craft boat flipped over killing two of the men aboard the boat.
The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries conducted an investigation into the accident and found that a combination of high winds and a malfunctioning cooling system caused the boat to fill with water and eventually causing the boat to capsize and sink. Two men, Richard Smith and David Reynolds, drowned in the cold waters while Mr. Curt and Dennis Zimmerman were rescued by a passing boat.
Lawsuits have been filed by the estates of the two deceased men. They both have sued the owner of the boat and allege that Mr. Curt steered the boat in an unsafe manner and captained the boat in unsafe conditions. The boat manufacturer, Hacker Craft , has been sued as well, presumably for a product defect claim. Buck Algonquin Co. Inc. , the manufacturer of the cooling system part that allegedly malfunctioned on the Hacker Craft boat , has also been sued. Finally, both estates have sued Shoreline Marina in Bedford County. Shoreline Marina allegedly "winterized" the boat, which involves putting antifreeze in a boat's cooling system. Further, Shoreline Marina "de-winterized" the boat approximately one month before this accident happened.
Most people don't think that this type of boating accident could happen to them, but unfortunately, bad things sometimes happen to good people. And when a company hasn't done what they were suppose to do properly, and it causes someone to get hurt or die, they should be held responsible for their actions.
These type of boating accidents are preventable and should not happen. But if you or someone you know has been involved in a similar accident, the attorneys at Vujasinovic & Beckcom can help make things right.
To learn more about the firm , or to request an appointment with one of the firm's attorneys , please visit our main website at www.vbattorneys.com or call us toll free at 877.724.7800.
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