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.

Head Injuries that Occur Offshore

There are certain dangers that are associated with working offshore on a drilling rig, barge, tugboat or other vessel. As a maritime worker, you are at a higher risk of sustaining a head injury than many other occupations. If you have suffered a head injury that occurred while performing maritime duties, you may be entitled to compensation.

A head injury, also referred to as a brain injury, head trauma, contusion or concussion, is defined as any trauma that leads to injury of the scalp, skull or brain. Head injuries can range from a minor bump on the skull to a traumatic brain injury.

When a head injury occurs offshore, it can lead to a skull fracture, intracranial hemorrhage or closed head injury. A skull fracture sustained when working on a vessel consists of a break in the bone surrounding the brain and other structures within the skull. Intracranial hemorrhage refers to bleeding inside the skull, which includes contusions (bruising of the brain). A closed head injury is a term used to describe any injury to the head that is not penetrating.

Some of common causes of head injuries on barges, platforms, rigs, tows and other vessels include:

• Falls from slippery decks
• Defective machinery
• Equipment that malfunctions
• Negligence by other crew members or vessel owner

It is important to recognize the signs of serious head injuries, so that you know when to seek medical attention. Some of the most common symptoms of head injuries sustained from offshore work include the following:

• Loss of consciousness
• Drop in blood pressure
• Seizures
• Fracture in the skull or face
• Swelling at the injury site
• Severe headache that won’t go away or gets worse
• Vomiting
• Slurred speech
• Inability to move limbs
• Pupil changes
• Loss of sensation, hearing, vision, taste or smell
• Blurred vision

Minor head injuries are typically treated at home with mild pain relievers and bed rest. Serious head injuries may require more extensive treatment, such as an intracranial pressure monitor probe, medication to prevent seizures and in some cases, surgery.

If your head injury was caused from working on a boat or other vessel, you may be able to pursue compensation under the Jones Act, known as maintenance and cure. In a situation where negligence was involved or if the vessel was unseaworthy, you may be able to recover additional monetary damages beyond maintenance and cure.

Contact the experienced maritime attorneys at Vujasinovic & Beckcom P.L.L.C. at (713) 224-7800 or (877) 724-7800 for advice regarding your head injury case. We have extensive experience and will help you receive the compensation you deserve for your injuries.