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Working on a barge, drilling vessel, or other marine vessel can be extremely dangerous when supervisors or coworkers fail to take appropriate safety measures. Improperly secured objects, inadequate ship maintenance, defective industrial machinery, lack of lifejackets, lack of safety nets, and unsafe work conditions can all present serious hazards for disabling or even fatal injuries, such as lacerations, head injuries, bone fractures, hypothermia, and the amputation of fingers, toes, or limbs.
If you or your spouse was injured in a commercial boating or maritime accident off the coast of Texas in the Houston area, such as Trinity Bay, Galveston Bay, or the Gulf of Mexico, your family may be entitled to compensation. Call the experienced Houston boating and maritime injury attorneys of Queenan Law to help you explore your legal options as an injury victim.
Suing for Boating Accident Injuries or Death in Arlington, TX
Backed by decades of experience handling a wide array of personal injury claims, our marine accident attorneys in Houston are highly knowledgeable about the causes, complications, and financial effects of numerous injuries and the procedures necessary to treat them. Some common examples of severe injuries that can occur on commercial vessels include:
- Bone Fractures – Broken ribs, broken arms, broken legs, broken wrists, broken collarbones, pelvic fractures, and skull fractures are all common examples of bone fractures which can result from accidents on commercial vessels.
- Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI) – Spinal cord injuries can occur when the victim’s neck is struck by an object, or when the victim has an accidental fall and lands on their head, neck, or upper back area. The spinal cord, a crucial cable of nerves that runs along the vertebrae of the spinal column, transmits information between brain and body. When the spinal cord is injured, this ability is lost, and the victim may become paralyzed and lose physical sensation as a result.
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) – Traumatic brain injuries are frequently caused by accidental falls – more than 40% of all TBI cases reported from 2006 to 2010. A traumatic brain injury is physically and emotionally devastating, not only for the victim, but also his- or her family members. Depending on factors like the size and location of the injury, effects and complications of TBI could include chronic pain, severe cognitive impairment, incontinence, loss of physical sensation (e.g. touch, smell), and reduced mobility. A concussion is a form of “mild” TBI.
- Wrongful Death – According to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, there were almost 90 maritime worker fatalities in 2000 – nearly six times the number of fatalities that occurred on passenger vessels. If you lost a loved one to a maritime injury, let our wrongful death attorneys fight to bring closure and justice to you and your children.
The Jones Act: Getting Compensated for a Maritime Accident
If you were injured at sea off the coast of Texas, you should know about your legal rights under the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, commonly referred to as the Jones Act. Put simply, the Jones Act is a federal act which gives injured maritime workers the right to sue their employers for injuries which occurred while at sea.
Injured seamen – defined as male and female employees who spend at least 30% of their time at sea – may be able to recover compensation for physical, emotional, and financial harm under the provisions of the Jones Act. Our Arlington maritime injury lawyers have extensive experience interpreting the nuances of the Jones Act, and will carefully scrutinize every last detail of the events leading up to your accident in order to craft a compelling legal strategy with the goal of recovering the greatest amount of compensation possible for your injuries.
Hurt by Unsafe Conditions on a Barge, Tugboat, or Offshore Rig?
There are many opportunities for catastrophic injuries to occur onboard a tugboat, barge, offshore rig, or any other type of commercial maritime vessel. Preventable boating accidents in Texas can be caused by safety problems such as:
- Chemical Exposure – Boats and ships are often used for transporting toxic, abrasive chemical cargo. If dangerous chemicals spill or leak onto a worker, internal injuries and debilitating illnesses can result from inhalation of fumes or direct skin contact.
- Defective Machinery – Maritime workers frequently rely on heavy, complex machinery to keep operations running smoothly. A tiny defect in an industrial machine’s design, or an error that was made during the manufacturing process, can cause catastrophic malfunctions during operation, leading to injuries like the loss of a thumb or finger.
- Slip and Fall Hazards – Slippery, wet decks and leaking oil or other fluids can create slick patches that can easily lead to slip and fall accidents. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), accidental falls are one of the leading causes of traumatic brain injuries in the U.S.
Arlington, Texas Boat + Maritime Accident Attorney Offering Free Consultations
If you or one of your family members was injured in a maritime accident or boating accident in Arlington, Texas, you should consult with an experienced Arlington boating accident injury lawyer right away. Maritime workers in Texas have certain legal rights, and if you were injured through no fault of your own, it may be possible to recover compensation for various medical bills, lost earnings, and pain and suffering, including losses you are expected to incur in the future.
To learn more about the possible options for getting compensated for your injuries in Arlington, Texas, call the Queenan Law Firm, P.C. at (817) 476-1797 to arrange a free consultation. Our highly skilled Arlington maritime accident attorneys have more than 20 years of experience representing injured victims.