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WILLIS
LAW FIRM
1221 McKinney
Suite #3333
Houston, Texas
TOLL FREE
1(800)883-9858
1(800)468-4878

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| TOXIC EXPOSURES TO MARITIME WORKERS
Seaman
with asbestosis, mesothelioma, leukemia & silicosis
may have a Jones Act claim. Many ships and vessels contain hazardous
substances such as asbestos,
benzene, solvents, paints containing lead, other heavy metals like cadmium and
arsenic, biocides, as well as electrical and other materials containing polychlorinated
biphenyl's (PCBs).Many other seaman are exposed by the cargo itself on chemical
ships and barges. The maritime industry and ship builders have improved the environment
on the newer ships built since the early 1980's. Most of these usually do not
have any asbestos or lead paint and reduced amounts of other dangerous heavy
metals and have better ventilation of the toxic fumes that exists especially
on the barges and chemical ships. Due to the nature of this industry, most seaman
do not have a choice of which ships they must sail on and must depend on their
employers to keep them safe.
As a result of years of working on many of these older ships, a seaman's health
condition starts to fail from years of toxic exposures. A seaman that has been
exposed to asbestos may not start having problems for 25-40 years after their
exposure. Asbestos exposure may result in asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma.
Also general ship repair, sandblasting, rust chipping and painting operations
add to the likelihood of increased exposure to lead paint, solvents and dangerous
silica dust. Sandblasting operations aboard ships, either at sea or in the shipyards
has caused thousands to contract silicosis from the free silica dust.
If you or a loved one worked on ships built prior to 1980 and you have been recently
been diagnosed with silicosis, leukemia, asbestosis, asbestos lung cancer, or
mesothelioma while onboard a ship, then you may have a legal action for your
injuries and damages under the Jones Act, general maritime laws or other applicable
laws or remedies. Due to the rapid nature of these disease processes, an immediate
investigation is necessary to identify the names of the different ships, vessels
or other places, types of asbestos or other toxic dust or chemical that the seaman
was exposed and file a Jones Act law suit or other maritime action to preserve
the seaman's rights.
If
you have been injured on a ship, rig or vessel that you believe was unseaworthy
or that your injuries were caused in part by the negligent conduct of your Jones
Act employer or fellow seaman or due the negligence of a third party company
or it's employee or due to a defective or dangerous product, then call a Maritime
Personal Injury Lawyer for a FREE CONFIDENTIAL
CONSULTATION at 1-800-883-9858 or 1-800-468-4878.

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If you have been seriously injured while as a member
of the crew of a boat, jack-up rig, tug boat, barge or other marine
ship or vessel, then call us for a Free Confidential Consultation.
Talk to Board Certified Personal Injury Trial Lawyer with over
20 years of experience. (Click Here)

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If I am injured on a ship, should I give a statement
to my employer ? When should I file a notice of injury report ? Under
the Jones Act, do I have the right to choose my own medical doctor ?
(Click Here)

What does maintenance and cure mean
under the Jones Act ? Under what circumstances can I recover pain & suffering
and loss wages under the Jones Act ? (Click
Here)

What
does it mean for a ship to be unseaworthy ? Under the Jones Act can part
of the ship or vessel be seaworthy and another part unseaworthy? (More)

Under the Jones Act and maritime law, what is the
deadline or Statute of Limitation to file a claim or lawsuit if I was
injured on a ship or vessel ? (More)

What if I am not a Jones Act seaman, but I was injured on a ship, vessel or an offshore oil rig or platform ? Does maritime law still apply ? Can I file a maritime claim or lawsuit to recover for my injuries? (More)

Can I file a Jones Act claim if my loved on has been diagnosed
with asbestos lung cancer or mesothelioma from asbestos exposure while
working on a ship or at the shipyard ? (More)
Does maritime law protect me if I was exposed to benzene and later I am
diagnosed with leukemia ? (More)

What if my spouse is killed while at sea? Does the Death
on the High Sea Act (DOHSA) apply to all deaths on ships vessels, helicopters,
and
ships on the high seas?
(More DOHSA info)

What are my legal rights if I have had a previous or old injury but now I have suffered a new injury to my back and neck and may need surgery but the Maritime Insurance company's adjuster says I am not covered and he will not approve it ? Yes, you are covered whether it is aggravation of a old injury or new one, if you were a Jones Act seaman injured on the vessel and the employer was at fault or negligent then you can file a Jones Act lawsuit for any type of injury such as heart attacks, strokes, head injury, brain damage, paralysis, burns, broken bones, paraplegia, quadriplegia, loss of an arm or leg, blindness and for emotional trauma or mental anguish, disfigurement, medical expenses and for loss wages or lost earnings in the past and future.
(Jones Act Lawsuit Damages) |
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NOTE: The statements and information provided on this web site are for the informational purposes only. This site is not intended to provide legal advice to the reader and NO attorney-client relationship shall be deemed to arise from the receipt this page and/or its associated pages or any oral or e-mail communication to or from with David Willis or The Willis Law Firm. There will be NO lawsuits filed, claims made, letters or phone calls made for a prospective client, until that person is represented by the firm. An attorney client relationship only arises after the attorney and client have signed a written attorney client agreement, after the attorney has evaluated the background facts provided and has accepted the representation of the client's legal action.
Mr. Willis is a licensed attorney in New York and Texas. Principle office is Houston, Texas.
He is a Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Lawyer, certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
Mr. Willis has represented clients in maritime personal injury, barge accidents, boating accidents, transports, crew boats, diving accidents, rig workers, injuries in river, lakes, canals, ICC, wrongful death lawsuits, oilfield accidents, oilrig accidents, tankers, shrimp boats, fishing vessels, tug boats, push boats, auto accident, explosions, crane accidents, rollover, asbestos, mesothelioma, sandblasters disease - silicosis, benzene solvents-aml leukemia, MDS, toxic chemical, lung cancer, 3rd party actions, electrical shock, fires, burns, explosions, helicopter crashes, tugboats, trucking accidents, third party lawsuits, and other product liability and negligence cases from across the United States, including clients from Alabama, Arkansas, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Virginia, Mexico, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia & Wyoming.
Further, any statement or reference to past personal injury, products liability lawsuits, settlements or verdicts should NOT be relied upon in one's own case or in your decision on which law firm to hire. All cases, facts, injuries, damages, venues and lawsuits are different and there is NO way to predict the outcome of a particular case, verdict of a jury or judge or the strength of a case before a judge, jury or the appellate court system. The client is responsible for all of their own medical expenses. All cases are handled on a contingent fee basis. No attorney’s fees or case costs charged to client, unless a recovery is made for the client. Often in very serious and catastrophic maritime injury and offshore seaman injury cases Mr. Willis may associate with another attorney as co-counsel and in other matters, the case may be referred. In cases where a legal matter is referred, Mr. Willis will continue to maintain joint responsibility with the handling attorney or lead counsel and actively monitor the progress and development of the case |
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