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Boating Accident Injury Attorney
in Houston, Texas
When an employee is injured offshore, a federal law known as the "Jones Act" may apply to any potential claim. The Jones Act provides the injured seaman a right to bring an action against his employer for damages according to the Act. Injured persons working on platforms or as Longshoremen may have claims under other sets of laws.
A "seaman" is not defined under the Act, but according to cases interpreting the Act, the definition has two-part meaning: a) the employee's duties must contribute to the function of a vessel or to the accomplishment of its mission b) the seaman must have a connection to a vessel in navigation or to an identifiable group of such vessels that is substantial in terms of both its duration and its nature. There are many cases interpreting whether a person is a "seaman" and whether the injury occurred on a "vessel."
For a seaman to recover under the Jones Act, he must have been acting within the course and scope of his employment at the time of his alleged injury. An employer has a duty to exercise care by providing a reasonably safe work environment, supervising seamen about safety in the workplace and by providing adequate equipment.
Many personal injuries are the result of offshore and maritime, or boating accidents or collisions. Some examples of injuries that result from offshore accidents are cervical and lumbar sprains, herniated and ruptured discs, fractures, knee injuries, brain damage, and paralysis. Victims of offshore accidents may recover for pain and suffering, medical expenses, property damage, lost wages and loss of earning capacity. The claims may fall under the Jones Act, the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act or state workers' compensation law. It is critical that an injured person retain counsel to give advice regarding some of the legal roadblocks set up by the various systems.
The boating accident injury attorneys at Kennedy Hodges, L.L.P. handle almost the entire gamut of offshore accident injury law. We have insider knowledge of the litigation tactics used by insurance companies and their lawyers, and we use this knowledge to our advantage in obtaining recoveries for our clients. We handle all offshore accident injury cases on a contingency fee basis. In other words, if there is no recovery, there is no fee.
If you have any further questions regarding offshore accidents, or would like a free office consultation in Houston, Texas to discuss a potential claim, please call us at (713) 523-0001.
Remember, if there is no recovery, there is no fee. Fill out the form below for a risk free case evaluation.
Kennedy Hodges, L.L.P.
3701 Kirby Drive, Suite 400
Houston, TX 77098
713-523-0001 (phone)
713-523-1116 (fax)
877-342-2020 (toll free)
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