http://www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com/blog/ Houston, Texas attorneys focused on personal injury and wrongful death cases involving maritime and Jones Act claims. Vujasinovic & Beckcom, L.L.P brings results to the injured and their families. Contact our Houston law offices today for help with your personal injury case. en-us 2008 Vujasinovic & Beckcom P.L.L.C, All Rights Reserved, Reproduced with Permission http://www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com/blog/ Fri, 25 Jul 2008 11:29:40 EST http://www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com/images/logoprint.gif http://www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com/blog/ Exxon Valdez oil spill case.

Once again siding with big business over the rights of individuals and families, the Court sliced down the punitive damage award from $2.5 billion dollars to $500 million dollars.

Setting aside the fact that $500 million represents less than one day of profit for Exxon Mobil, and the fact that the Court basically just made up a number out of thin air, and the fact that the punitive damage award, while large, is a drop in the bucket for Exxon, the Court once again shows a disturbing lack of confidence in the ability of American citizens to serve on juries, listen to evidence, and reach decisions.

Essentially, 8 lawyers from Washington D.C., most of whom have never actually tried a lawsuit themselves, and none of whom has any real idea what the Valdez spill did to thousands of Alaskan families and citizens, have once again substituted their judgment for the jurors and judges who actually heard the evidence in the case and reached a decision. 

The silver lining

The silver lining in the case is that the justices, perhaps unwittingly, seem to have recognized that punitive damages are recoverable in maritime law. 

For decades, most lawyers who represent Jones Act seaman and injured maritime workers have been under the impression that punitive damages were most likely not available in these types of cases.

What this has meant, as a practical matter, is that maritime defendants could treat the injured workers as poorly as they wanted, be as unsafe as they wanted, and avoid any sort of responsibility or threat of punitive damages.

The Exxon Valdez case seems to take away that defense.  Which is very helpful for injured workers, and, suprisingly from this Court, not quite as helpful to big business and insurance companies.

What do you think about the Exxon Valdez case?  Did the Court get it right?  Or should the Court defer to the jurors who actually heard the evidence and rendered a verdict?

Want to know more about maritime injury cases? 

We strive to provide the best, most professional, and most effective representation to workers in the offshore industry.  We are based in Houston, Texas.  We represent offshore workers all over the world.

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.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.  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.]]> http://www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com/blog/index.cfm?id=3220 http://www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com/blog/index.cfm?id=3220 Brian@vbattorneys.com Thu, 26 Jun 2008 08:00:00 EST Jones Act claims against Waterman Steamship. 



According to its website,
Waterman is a "deep sea ocean carrier" operating U.S. flag vessels in
liner service and time charter between the USA and Middle East ports. 



Our client was injured severely while working for the company.   In his
lawsuit, he seeks damages for medical bills, lost past and future
wages, pain and suffering disfigurement, and mental anguish.



The case is pending in Madisonville, Texas, where our client lived when
he was hurt.  He was hurt on the Stephen Pless, a vessel docked in Saipan.



Want to know more about maritime injury cases? 




We strive to provide the best, most professional, and most effective
representation to workers in the offshore industry.  We are based in Houston, Texas.  We represent offshore workers all over the world.





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.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.  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.]]> http://www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com/blog/index.cfm?id=3080 http://www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com/blog/index.cfm?id=3080 Brian@vbattorneys.com Tue, 17 Jun 2008 08:00:00 EST released an opinion that helps to provide legal protection to Longshore
and Harbor Worker's who are injured on the job.

The
injured worker, Mark McLaurin, was working in Friede Goldman's shipyard
as a scaffold carpenter on the CLYDE BOUDREAUX, a vessel owned by Noble Drilling.

Mr. McLaurin was injured during this work.

Mr. McLaurin sued Noble Drilling, claiming that Noble was negligent. 

The
trial court threw out the case, claiming that the Longshore and Harbor
Worker's Compensation Act barred state law claims against Noble.

The
Fifth Circuit disagreed, holding the simply because the worker didn't
have a 905(b) case against the vessel did not mean the worker was
barred from bringing state law claims.

You can read the full opinion here.

Want to know more about maritime injury cases? 

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.

]]> http://www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com/blog/index.cfm?id=2989 http://www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com/blog/index.cfm?id=2989 Brian@vbattorneys.com Tue, 10 Jun 2008 08:00:00 EST
We were recently retained by a young man working on the DANIEL C, a boat owned and operated by D&S Marine Services out of Louisiana.  Our client was badly injured while working for D&S.

Our investigation reveals that our client was hurt because of the negligence of D&S Marine Services as well as the unseaworthiness of the DANIEL C.

If you have any information about D&S Marine Services, the DANIEL C, or any of the other vessels in the fleet, or acts of negligence by the company, please call us toll free at 877.724.7800.

Or you can contact us by submitting contact information onto this website.

To learn more about maritime cases or the Jones Act, please visit our other websites,  www.themaritimelawyer.com or www.vbattorneys.com.



]]> http://www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com/blog/index.cfm?id=2891 http://www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com/blog/index.cfm?id=2891 Brian@vbattorneys.com Mon, 02 Jun 2008 08:00:00 EST
The working title of the book is "The Complete Guide to Jones Act and Maritime Injury Claims." 

We anticipate the book will be published and ready for shipment in late June or early July 2008.

This is a book that the offshore employers, cruise ship companies, and the insurance companies DO NOT want you to read. 

Why?

Because we expose their tricks and secrets and defenses and provide real, practical advice for winning your injury case.

Stand-by for more details.

Want to know more about offshore injury claims? 

Below are some links to some suggested articles offering helpful tips and advice regarding offshore injury claims.

Click here to read an article with helpful suggestions and tips on how to hire the best lawyer for your offshore injury case.

Curious about the Jones Act?  Click here for a general overview of the Jones Act.

Want to know more about the Longshore and Harbor Worker's Compensation Act?  Click here to read the article "What is a Longshoreman and What Are Their Legal Rights When Injured?

Want to know the difference between the Jones Act and the Longshore and Harbor Worker's Compensation Act?  Click here to read about the difference between the two.

What to know the truth about offshore injury cases?  Click here to read The Truth About Offshore Injury Claims.

Want to know what you should do after an offshore injury to preserve your legal rights?  Click here to read  What Should You Do If You Are Injured Offshore

If you are hurt and your employer is giving you a hard time, click here to read "I was injured on the job and my employer is giving me a hard time - What should I do"

Employer trying to get you to give a recorded statement?  Click here to learn the truth about recorded statements and the best way to handle this request.

Thinking about trying to settle your offshore injury case without talking to a lawyer first?  Click here to learn why you can settle some cases yourself but in other cases not having a lawyer may be a TERRIBLE MISTAKE.

Want to know what happens when you file an offshore injury or Jones Act case?  Click here to learn about Filing a Jones Act lawsuit.

Click here to learn about 6 Critical Things you must know if you are Injured At Sea

Your employer may be keeping secrets from you if you are hurt offshore.  Click here to read about The Secrets Your Employer May Not Want You To Know If You Are Injured Offshore.]]> http://www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com/blog/index.cfm?id=2832 http://www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com/blog/index.cfm?id=2832 Brian@vbattorneys.com Thu, 29 May 2008 08:00:00 EST 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.












]]> http://www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com/blog/index.cfm?id=2584 http://www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com/blog/index.cfm?id=2584 Brian@vbattorneys.com Sun, 04 May 2008 08:00:00 EST
You can read more about the case, the allegations, and find other useful tips and resources by clicking on the link below:

Injured Worker Sues Matteson Marine Service.
]]> http://www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com/blog/index.cfm?id=2453 http://www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com/blog/index.cfm?id=2453 Brian@vbattorneys.com Tue, 22 Apr 2008 08:00:00 EST vessels, be they barges, dredges, boats, cruise ships, oil rigs, crane
barges, or any other type of offshore vessel typically are asked to do
hard, heavy manual work. 



All too often, in our experience, those workers suffer back, neck,
shoulder, knee, or other serious orthopedic injuries as a result of
inadequate equipment, staffing, training, safety precautions, or by
being pushed to do their work too quickly or in unsafe conditions.



These types of injuries can be career-threatening or even, in some
cases, career-ending.  Workers who must have strong backs, legs, and
arms often find themselves unable to do the work when they suffer one
of these types of injuries.



Often, what will happen after an injury is the company will send the
worker to company-sponsored or company-affiliated doctors.  After a
cursory or quick medical examination, the doctor will simply send the
worker back to work on "light duty" or will even give a full release,
without doing a complete or thorough medical examination and before the
worker is ready to return to work. 



When the worker tells the company that he is not ready to return, the
company will give two stark choices--return to work or lose your job.



Not much of a choice.



Fortunately, the Jones Act and maritime law provides some legal
protection to workers in this situation.  For example, under the Jones
Act  and maritime law, you are allowed to go to a doctor of your own
choosing.  If you are not physically ready to go back to worker, the
companies should be paying part of your salary in the form of
maintenance payments and should be faciiliating your medical treatment
and paying the doctors promptly.



If the company (or its insurance companies) don't cooperate and do
everything reasonably in their power to assist you during your
recovery, they may very well be running afoul of the law.



You can make a legal claim if the companies and their insurance company
do not help facilitate your medical care and act reasonably when you
are injured.  In these situations, it is important that you talk with
an experienced Jones Act or maritime injury lawyer, a lawyer you are
comfortable with who has the experience and resources to help you get a
full and fair recovery.



This is particularly important when your injury is career-threatening or possibly career-ending.



Don't fall into the "trap" that you must listen only to the company-referred doctor. ]]> http://www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com/blog/index.cfm?id=2362 http://www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com/blog/index.cfm?id=2362 Brian@vbattorneys.com Sat, 12 Apr 2008 08:00:00 EST Inland Marine and Kirby Inland Marine, two Texas-based towing and barge
companies.

You can find website links for Kirby by clicking on www.kirbycorp.com.  Capital Inland Marine does not appear to have a website.

The injured party was working as a tankerman / deckhand for Capital
Inland Marine.  The lawsuit alleges that he was severely injured when
he fell in a dangerous area of the vessel he was working on.

We are looking for any information, documents, etc. regarding either
Kirby Inland Marine or Capital Inland Marine relating to any dangerous
conditions or injury-causing events on their vessels.

If you have such information and would like to share it, please contact Cathy at 713.224.7800.
]]> http://www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com/blog/index.cfm?id=2308 http://www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com/blog/index.cfm?id=2308 Brian@vbattorneys.com Sun, 06 Apr 2008 08:00:00 EST
Maritime work can be some of the most rewarding types of employment you can find, both personally and financially.  Maritime work can involve working on a jack-up oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico, a transport vessel plying the open oceans,  working barges in the intercoastal waterways or Mississippi River, or anything else involving working on the rivers or open seas. But maritime work can be hazardous if the ship or barge owners do not take proper precautions to protect employee safety.

One of the more common causes of injuries on boats, barges, offshore oil rigs, and other floating vessels involves slips and falls. 

Since maritime work necessarily involves working over, near, in, or around water, the walking and working surfaces get wet.  And that means slippery conditions.  Plus, the stairways and ladders on boats and rigs are often in tight quarters and very steep, making them even more potentially dangerous.

Slips and falls can result in extremely serious injuries.  Broken bones, back and neck injuries, knee, shoulder or elbow injuries, and even serious head injuries can result from slips and falls.

How do you protect yourself?

First, always try to be aware of where you are working and walking.  Keep floors and other walking and working surfaces free of debris, water, grease and other slippery substances.  Clean up spills as soon as they occur.

More important, perhaps, the captain or vessel owner should ensure that all walking and working surfaces are coated with some sort of non-slip or non-skid materials.  Anyone who works offshore knows that it is impossible to keep the surfaces clean of debris or slippery substances 100% of the time.  That's why it's so important for the shipowners to coat the walking surfaces with non-slip materials.

Any ship or vessel owner who doesn't maintain properly non-slip walking or working surfaces is not keeping the vessel properly maintained and could be liable under the Jones Act to any worker who is injured as a result.

]]> http://www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com/blog/index.cfm?id=2187 http://www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com/blog/index.cfm?id=2187 Brian@vbattorneys.com Sun, 23 Mar 2008 08:00:00 EST involves a serious injury, significant time away from work, or
otherwise involves more than just a minor injury or a few days away
from work.



Why?  Because you will be entering a war zone.  The
company will have experienced insurance adjusters, insurance
investigators, and lawyers working "behind the scenes" to try to make
your case worth as little money as possible.  They know the "tricks"
that can hurt your case and they will use them on you with a smile on
their face so you won't even see it coming until it's too late.



The insurance adjusters, investigators, and lawyers for the company
make their living negotiating cases like yours.  This will not be their
first time to negotiate a case or the last. 



If your case is serious, you should strongly consider consulting
with a Jones Act or maritime law attorney.  At the very least, you
should try to talk to such an attorney (or, better yet, talk to a few
of them) before deciding whether to try to negotiate your case
yourself.  Most of the time, such attorneys will give you a free
initial consultation.



If your case is a smaller one, involving minor injuries or just a few
days away from work, then negotiating yourself may be more efficient
and effective.  Here are some "tips" for negotiating these small cases
yourself:



1.  Get a copy of the accident report;

2.  Gather together all of your medical records and bills;

3.  Ask to take statements from all witnesses;

4.  Type up a letter to the insurance company, include the accident
report, medical records and bills, and witness statements.  In the
letter, set forth your opening "demand" (your first settlement number)
by multiplying your medical bills and lost wages by some factor you
think is fair;

5.  Give the company a deadline by which to respond.  If they do not
respond by the deadline, you know they are not serious about your case.



Good luck.]]> http://www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com/blog/index.cfm?id=2128 http://www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com/blog/index.cfm?id=2128 Brian@vbattorneys.com Mon, 17 Mar 2008 08:00:00 EST and a contracting company after her husband was killed. 



In the lawsuit, the widow claims that her deceased husband died when he
slipped and fell on an icy barge.  The barge was empty.  The lawsuit
claims that the barge company failed to provide the worker with a safe
place to work.



About this case and maritime wrongful death claims



Under maritime law, the direct descendents of deceased workers may be
able to bring claims for wrongful death.  Under most claims, the
survivors must prove that the company did something "negligent" to
cause the death or that the vessel was "unseaworthy" and that caused
the subject accident or death.  The damages available differ depending
on a lot of factors, but if the survivors were financially dependent on
the deceased worker, they generally can collect damages for the loss of
financial support.



The negligence standards differ depending on whether the case is a
Jones Act case, a Longshore and Harbor Worker's Compensation Act case,
a General Maritime Law case, or some other case.



Most of the time, only an experienced maritime and Jones Act lawyer
will be able to tell you what law you can file under and what claims
you can bring. 



Most important, don't trust the insurance company to tell you your rights.  Hire your own independent lawyer to advise you.]]> http://www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com/blog/index.cfm?id=2098 http://www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com/blog/index.cfm?id=2098 Brian@vbattorneys.com Tue, 11 Mar 2008 08:00:00 EST suit against the company, claiming that the captain of one of the
companies' boats ran the boat into a jetty, causing the men serious and
permanent injuries.



The two men are claiming lost wages, pain and suffering, mental
anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, and other damages and injuries.



The Jones Act provides some of the strongest legal protections for
personal injury and damage.  For example, in this case, it appears as
if an "allision" has occurred.  (An "allision" is a maritime term for
striking a fixed object).



Under the Jones Act and general maritime law, when an allision occurs,
and someone is hurt, the courts presume that the company was
negligent.  This is different from land-based claims, in which the
injured person almost always has to prove the company was at fault.



Protect Your Legal Rights



Injured offshore?  Interested in protecting your legal rights?  If so,
feel free to call us for a free, no-obligation consulation about the
Jones Act, general maritime law, and your case. 



Or, visit our websites to learn more about your legal rights and what we can do for you:



www.vbattorneys.com

www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com

www.themaritimelawyer.com]]> http://www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com/blog/index.cfm?id=1769 http://www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com/blog/index.cfm?id=1769 Brian@vbattorneys.com Wed, 30 Jan 2008 08:00:00 EST http://www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com/blog/index.cfm?id=1638 http://www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com/blog/index.cfm?id=1638 Brian@vbattorneys.com Thu, 10 Jan 2008 08:00:00 EST
You can read about story by clicking here.

Houston is one of the most dangerous cities in the U.S. for car and truck accidents. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the officer and his family.]]> http://www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com/blog/index.cfm?id=1637 http://www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com/blog/index.cfm?id=1637 Brian@vbattorneys.com Thu, 10 Jan 2008 08:00:00 EST


Houston, Texas - December 22, 2007



If you are injured offshore, you SHOULD NOT sign any paperwork given to you by your employer UNTIL YOU HAVE HAD THE PAPERS REVIEWED BY YOUR OWN, INDEPENDENT ATTORNEY!.  Unless, of course, you want to eliminate or severely limit your legal rights.



Recently, many employers (including K-Sea Transportation Co., Weeks
Marine, and Great Lakes Dredging) have coerced their injured workers
into signing papers after they are hurt which severely limit the
injured workers' rights in court.  In some cases, signing these papers
may result in the injured worker loosing thousands, tens of thousands,
or even hundreds of thousands of dollars.



So unless you want to lose your legal rights, or severely limit, do not
sign any papers given to you by your employer after you are hurt unless
you have those papers reviewed by an independent lawyer you select. 
(In other words, don't rely on legal advise from a company-selected
lawyer).



If you want to read a case where an injured worker basically signed
away many of his legal rights, look at Barbieri v. K-Sea Transportation
Corp., 2006 WL 3751215 (E.D.N.Y. Dec. 19, 2006).



Mr. Beckcom is a Board-Certified
Personal Injury Lawyer who represents individuals and families.  Mr.
Beckcom represents injured offshore workers and railroad workers in
Texas and across the nation and the world. 



If you would like to speak with Mr. Beckcom about your potential legal
case, you can call his law firm and schedule a telephone conference. 
The toll free number is 877.724.7800



You can visit one of the firm's website to learn more about what we do:





www.vbattorneys.com


www.themaritimelawyer.com


www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com





***************





About the firm





Vujasinovic & Beckcom, P.L.L.C. is a firm of board certified personal injury trial lawyers
who handle serious injury and death cases, as well as business and
insurance cases, on a contingency fee basis. 





***************]]> http://www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com/blog/index.cfm?id=1553 http://www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com/blog/index.cfm?id=1553 Brian@vbattorneys.com Sat, 22 Dec 2007 08:00:00 EST On October 22, 2007, Carlos Guzman filed a Jones Act lawsuit  against CBH Services Inc. and Horizon Offshore Contractors Inc. in Jefferson County District Court.

Mr. Guzman claims that he hurt his back while moving a heavy ladder.  Mr. Guzman worked as a welder aboard "The Atlantic," a Horizon owned vessel.

Mr. Guzman's lawsuit claims more than $50,000 in damages.  Mr. Guzman sought out medical treatment shortly after the incident and continues to receive medical treatment from doctors and medical service providers.  According to Mr. Guzman, the defendants failed to provide a safe place to work, failed to provide safe tools and equipment, and failed to provide adequate supervision, among other things.

Back injuries are a common occurrence in the offshore industry.  Far too often, maritime workers are required to manually lift pieces of equipment that should not be lifted manually.  Faced with a choice of complying with the orders of the boss or losing a well-paying jobs, maritime workers often have no realistic choice.

Have you suffered a back injury or other serious injury offshore?

For more information about the Jones Act or General Maritime Law, please contact Brian Beckcom 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

***************

About the firm

Vujasinovic & Beckcom, P.L.L.C. is a firm of board certified personal injury trial lawyers who handle serious injury and death cases, as well as business and insurance cases, on a contingency fee basis.  The firm has a substantial docket of Jones Act and maritime injury cases.

***************]]> http://www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com/blog/index.cfm?id=1479 http://www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com/blog/index.cfm?id=1479 Brian@vbattorneys.com Sun, 09 Dec 2007 08:00:00 EST Houston, Texas

A tankerman employed by Kirby Inland Marine has filed a lawsuit against the company for personal injury damages.  The lawsuit is brought under the Jones Act and General Maritime Law.

According to the lawsuit, the injured employed was badly hurt as a result of unsafe equipment on a Kirby barge, including unsafe stairs and poor lighting.

The worker claims he qualifies as a Jones Act seaman and is entitled to maintenance and cure, negligence damages, and damages for the unseaworthiness of the vessel.

The worker has hired Brian Beckcom and his law firm, Vujasinovic & Beckcom, P.L.L.C. to represent him in his case.

For more information about the Jones Act or General Maritime Law, please contact Brian Beckcom 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

***************

About the firm

Vujasinovic & Beckcom, P.L.L.C. is a firm of board certified personal injury trial lawyers who handle serious injury and death cases, as well as business and insurance cases, on a contingency fee basis.  The firm has a substantial docket of Jones Act and maritime injury cases.

***************
]]> http://www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com/blog/index.cfm?id=1432 http://www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com/blog/index.cfm?id=1432 Brian@vbattorneys.com Wed, 05 Dec 2007 08:00:00 EST
Injury at Sea?

For more information about the Jones Act or General Maritime Law, please contact Brian Beckcom 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

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About the firm

Vujasinovic & Beckcom, P.L.L.C. is a firm of board certified personal injury trial lawyers who handle serious injury and death cases, as well as business and insurance cases, on a contingency fee basis.  The firm has a substantial docket of Jones Act and maritime injury cases.

***************]]> http://www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com/blog/index.cfm?id=1422 http://www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com/blog/index.cfm?id=1422 Brian@vbattorneys.com Tue, 04 Dec 2007 08:00:00 EST
The rigger hired Brian Beckcom of Vujasinovic & Beckcom, a Houston-based maritime and Jones Act law firm, to handle his case. After one year of work, the case was settled for a significant confidential amount.

According to the injured seaman's attorney, Brian Beckcom, the case was complicated by the fact that Global Offshore claimed that the rigger was not a Jones Act seaman, destroyed or lost the defective chain binder after the accident, and blamed at least three other companies for the rigger's injuries.

"This case demonstrates that Jones Act cases need experienced Jones Act attorneys. The case was complicated from a legal and factual standpoint. We are glad that our client was able to secure a substantial settlement despite all the obstacles Global Offshore's lawyers threw up to try to avoid responsibility to him."

For more information, please contact Brian Beckcom 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

***************

About the firm

Vujasinovic & Beckcom, P.L.L.C. is a firm of board certified personal injury trial lawyers who handle serious injury and death cases, as well as business and insurance cases, on a contingency fee basis. The firm has a substantial docket of Jones Act and maritime injury cases.

***************]]> http://www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com/blog/index.cfm?id=1173 http://www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com/blog/index.cfm?id=1173 Brian@vbattorneys.com Sun, 14 Oct 2007 08:00:00 EST
Robichaux was employed by Helix Energy Solutions as a crewmember on the Midnight Rider.  While working, he injured his head, back, and neck.  He claimed the vessel was unseaworthy and that the defendants were negligent.  He brought his claims under the Jones Act.

Robichaux sought $5 million dollars in his lawsuit.  His damages included lost wages, medical expenses, pain, suffering, impairment and other related expenses.

Read more about the case by clicking here.

Injured Offshore?

Have you been injured offshore?  If you are looking for an attorney to represent you, call the lawyers at Vujasinovic & Beckcom, P.L.L.C.   All the lawyers are board certified injury specialists with extensive knowledge regarding offshore injuries, the Jones Act, and maritime law.

To read more about the firm, visit its main website at www.vbattorneys.com or its dedicated maritime website at www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com.
]]> http://www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com/blog/index.cfm?id=1101 http://www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com/blog/index.cfm?id=1101 Brian@vbattorneys.com Wed, 26 Sep 2007 08:00:00 EST
The seaman is suing Omega Protein under the Jones Act for failing to properly maintain its vessel and train is employees.

Omega Protein is the nation's largest producer of Omega-3 fish oil, fish meal and fish solubles. 

The seaman is suing in Jefferson County, Beaumont, Texas.


]]> http://www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com/blog/index.cfm?id=1059 http://www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com/blog/index.cfm?id=1059 Brian@vbattorneys.com Sun, 16 Sep 2007 08:00:00 EST