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Working on Jack-Up Drilling Rig is a Risky Job A jack-up rig or jack-up platform is a self-elevating structure used to provide a firm base to oil rigs in drilling operations. Jack-up rigs are generally categorized into two different types: open truss platforms and columnar platforms. These rigs are mobile platforms that are generally towed to a drilling site on tugs or heavy lift ships. Working on a jack-up drilling rig is a risky job even in the best conditions. All types of accidents can occur on these movable platforms, including: Transfer accidents Falling equipment from derrick Tongs & Slips Injuries Falls from decks and platforms Stair and ladder accidents Drilling floor accidents Wireline operation accidents Crew boat and supply boat accidents Transportation helicopter accidents Severe weather conditions and rough seas Sanitation and food poisoning incidents Exposure to toxic chemicals Heavy lifting or pulling accidents Oil-based drilling mud spills Equipment failures and machinery collapses Fires and explosions A jack-up rig injury accident can change the course of your life in an instant. These kinds of accidents often lead to severe injuries which you may never be able to completely recover from. In addition to pain and suffering, when you are injured in a jack-up platform accident you are likely to sustain significant financial losses, including medical expenses and lost wages and income. With so much on the line, you need to be sure you have a trusted legal team on your side who can protect your rights and help you […]

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After an Accident, You Need a Caring and Skilled Texas Commercial Fishing Lawyer Crewmen working aboard commercial fishing boats run the risk of serious injuries and fatalities. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has identified industrial fishing as being one of the most dangerous occupations in the nation. According to NIOSH reports, from 2000-2010 alone 545 commercial fishermen died while fishing on U.S. waters, with some of the most hazardous fisheries being the Gulf of Mexico shrimp fishery, the Atlantic scallop fishery and the Alaska crab and salmon fisheries. Despite the inherently deadly nature of the occupation, a Texas commercial fishing lawyer can still pursue compensation for victims and their families. Maritime employers have a legal duty to provide a safe working environment for their employees. When a maritime employer fails to use reasonable care to prevent workplace accidents and injuries, the employer can be held liable when a worker is injured. An unseaworthy vessel, lack of appropriate equipment, or an inadequately trained crew can cause a fisherman to suffer a life changing injury. Though workers compensation and Jones Act insurance should provide you benefits, a Texas commercial fishing attorney will be sure to protect your right to adequate compensation. Why is Commercial Fishing So Dangerous? Commercial fishing typically entails the harvesting of fresh fish and other seafood from their natural habitats. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH),  commercial fishing is a highly dangerous profession. In fact, according to NIOSH, from 2000-2017, […]

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Serious Injuries Can Occur as a Result of Drillship Accidents Drilling ships are special purpose vessels that are used for exploratory drilling and the extraction of oil and gas at sea. These ships generally include a drilling derrick, mooring system and a moon pool (a hole in the center of the ship) and are often equipped with a helipad, dynamic positioning systems (DPS) and other equipment to help support offshore drilling operations. The machinery on these types of vessels is used in deep water operations, ranging from 2,000 feet to over 10,000 feet. Unlike semi-submersible and jack-up rigs, drill ships offer tremendous mobility and can sail quickly between different drilling site operations. While drilling operations may utilize highly advanced and sophisticated technologies, working on a drill ship is still a dangerous job. Serious injuries, including deaths, can occur from risky and hazardous conditions, including: Poorly maintained or faulty equipment Collisions with other ships and watercraft Inadequately trained crew Negligent third parties or contractors Ladder and stair falls Oil-based drilling mud spills Slip & falls on drilling floor Fires and explosions Hazardous weather conditions Machinery failures What You Need to Do After a Drill Ship Accident If you have been injured in a drill ship accident you need to talk with a Texas offshore injury lawyer as soon as possible. The laws and rules governing drill ship injuries are extremely complicated. If you fail to take the correct action within the deadline set forth under the law, you could ruin your […]

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Let a Texas Cargo Ship Accident Attorney from the Willis Law Firm Help Rough weather, dangerous equipment and other hazardous conditions make working on the water a difficult occupation. Every day serious accidents and injuries occur on cargo ships and other vessels in the United States and around the world. These injuries are often severe and can be life changing for the both the injured worker and his or her family members. Recovery can take a long time causing the worker to lose significant income while incurring huge bills for medical care and treatment. The Willis Law Firm has decades of experience representing seamen and other maritime workers who have been injured on or near the water. We are an aggressive team of skilled Texas cargo ship accident legal professionals committed to helping injured workers obtain full and fair financial compensation. Our offshore accident firm handles all types of cargo ship accident cases, including cases involving: Slip and fall injuries Ladder and stair injuries Falls due to lack of non-skid surfacing materials Loading/unloading accidents Back and spinal injuries from lifting accidents Accidents resulting from inadequate lighting Ergonomics/repetitive trauma injuries Death of the High Seas (DOHSA) Legal Claims for Cargo Ship Accident Injuries Many of the cases involving cargo ship accidents are covered under the Jones Act. The Jones Act is a federal statute that provides injured seamen with important legal rights and benefits. Under the Jones Act, when a seaman on a cargo ship is injured an accident, the seaman […]

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Injured Maritime Worker? Talk to a Mississippi Maritime Injury Attorney Today Mississippi is named after the Mississippi River, which flows from Minnesota to Louisiana and eventually empties into the Gulf of Mexico. With many ships, barges, and other vessels traveling up and down the Mississippi River and other river systems, the maritime industry is a significant force in the state’s economy. Unfortunately, maritime accidents are common in Mississippi, considering the heavy commercial activity on the Mississippi River and other bodies of water flowing through the state, such as the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, Pascagoula River, and Pearl River. When maritime accidents occur, especially barge accidents, an experienced Mississippi Maritime injury attorney is well-positioned to provide professional legal assistance to injured workers in Biloxi, Gulf Port, Pascagoula, and all other parts of the state. Our Jones Act law firm has more than 40 years of experience advocating for the rights of seaman, maritime workers, and oil rig workers who have been injured across the nation. We are a top-notch legal team dedicated to helping victims and their families collect the compensation they need to recover from severe maritime and offshore accidents. Mississippi Maritime Workers Have Important Legal Rights and Remedies If you are a maritime worker, who has been injured on the job in Mississippi, it is important for you to understand your legal rights and the remedies that may be available to you. Maritime laws are complicated, and depending upon the facts of your case, you may be able to assert multiple […]

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Let a Shipyard Accident Attorney Help You File a Claim Unfortunately, when a worker is hurt in a shipyard accident companies often try to avoid responsibility for the incident. Your employer may try to compel you to see a company doctor so that you can return to work even if you need more time and additional medical care to recover from your injuries. It is important to understand that injured workers have many legal rights under the LHWCA and other General Maritime Laws. For instance, under the LHWCA you are entitled to choose your own doctor and you are not required to see a company physician. Don’t try to understand the law yourself; let a shipyard accident attorney you help you pursue a claim. Hazardous Conditions for Shipyard Workers Shipyards are dangerous places. Individuals who work in ship repair yards are exposed to hazardous conditions every day due to the fast-pace nature of the operations and the dangerous and heavy machinery needed to complete the job. This environment is risky and serious accidents and deaths can occur when proper care and safety is not taken. Shipyard incidents can involve: Exposure to benzene and other toxic chemicals Inhalation of asbestos dust and fibers from asbestos insulation products Slip and falls Electrical accidents Fires and explosions Forklift accidents Heavy machinery injuries Equipment collapses Ladder accidents Winch accidents Crane accidents Rigging accidents These injuries are often so severe as to prevent the employee from ever returning to work. Even if the injured worker […]

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Marine Terminal Injuries and Accidents Marine terminals are busy and chaotic places. Maritime workers must follow strict schedules when loading and unloading goods and cargo and passengers from ships and other vessels. When proper care is not taken or the right equipment is unavailable, serious accidents can occur in the loading and offloading process. Heavy cargo can fall and equipment can turn over when cranes, yard hustlers, forklifts and other pieces of machinery are loaded incorrectly or errors in operation occur. Slips and falls are also regular occurrences due to spills, debris, and improperly maintained loading areas and platforms. The injuries associated with marine terminal accidents can be painful and severe. Often an injured marine employee must be off from work for an extended period of time and in many cases the injuries are critical enough to prevent the employee from ever returning to his or her job. Longshore & Harbor Workers Compensation Act When a maritime worker is injured in a marine terminal incident, a number of different laws may provide legal rights and remedies to the worker. Most often, the injured worker will be covered under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA). The LHWCA or Longshore Act was enacted in 1927 in order to extend medical benefits and compensation to certain maritime workers who do not fall under the Jones Act. The LHWCA program is a federal worker’s compensation program covering longshoremen, terminal workers, harbor workers, forklift operators, ship builders, ship repairers and other individuals who […]

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Injured on a Port, Dock or Terminal? You Need to Speak with a Texas Admiralty Lawyer Ports, docks and terminals can be dangerous places. Every day employees, passengers and other individuals across the nation suffer traumatic injuries in these kinds of environments. When serious accidents occur, victims have the right to seek financial recovery from all parties responsible for their injuries. Accidents involving maritime accidents often require the assistance of lawyer who specializes in admiralty law. The Texas admiralty lawyers at The Willis Law Firm are committed to protecting the rights of individuals who have been injured in all types of maritime accidents. Accident Claims We Handle We represent clients coast-to-coast who are suffering painful and often life-altering injuries. Our admiralty law firm has decades of experience helping workers and other individuals who have been harmed in all types of maritime accidents, including: Ship Salvage Accidents Salvaging a stranded ship and its cargo can be a risky and challenging operation for seamen. Whether a wrecked or broken down ship is being repaired, refloated or towed back to shore, salvaging operations are hazardous and serious accidents can take place. Heavy equipment and systems, including versabars, cranes, and salvage tugs and barges are often used in the recovery process. When the vessel or piece of machinery used to salvage the vessel cannot be properly controlled, the “salvors” can be severely injured or killed in the salvaging operation. When you are injured in a ship salvaging accident it is critical to obtain the […]

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Shrimp Boat Injuries – Drum and Cathead Winch Entanglements According to a 2011 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) prepared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), commercial fishermen have the highest occupational fatality rate in the nation. In 2011, the fatality rate for these workers was nearly 35 times higher than the fatality rate of all workers in the United States. From the period 2000-2009 there were 504 deaths in the U.S. fishing industry – 51 percent of these deaths were drownings from vessels sinking, 30 percent were due to falls overboard and 10 percent were a result of onboard injuries, such as workers becoming entangled in equipment and machinery. In its report, the CDC notes that the majority of fatalities resulting from onboard injuries and entanglements take place in the Gulf of Mexico. In an effort to further examine entanglement injuries and deaths in the commercial fishing industry in this report, the CDC gathered data from its Commercial Fishing Incident Database and the U.S. Coast Guard. From 2000-2011 there were eight winch entanglement fatalities and 27 winch entanglement injuries in the Southern shrimp fleet which operates in eight states in the Gulf of Mexico and the South Atlantic. These fatalities and injuries involved winch drums, capstan winch, and winch catheads, with winch drum entanglements having a higher risk of fatality than winch catheads. According to the CDC report, fatalities due to winch entanglements could be connected to the following factors: Lack of guards on winches or […]

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Our Texas Lawyers Help Workers Injured in Commercial Diving Accidents If you are a commercial diver who has been injured in a diving accident you may have legal rights and protections under various laws and statutes. It is important to discuss the specifics of your case with an attorney who has extensive experience handling maritime injury claims. The laws are complex and it can be difficult to determine which laws apply to your case. For example, commercial divers may or may not be covered under the Jones Act. Jones Act coverage depends on many factors, including the location of your accident, your relationship with your employer (contractual or independent contractor), the type of vessel or platform your dive originated from and whether other companies or entities may have acted negligently. Employers often try to convince injured divers that they are not classified as a “seaman” under the Jones Act. They may claim that commercial diving accidents are only covered by a state worker’s compensation program or the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) so that the company can avoid paying the compensation and benefits required under the Jones Act and avoid a potential negligence lawsuit. Always consult with your lawyer before you make any statements to your employer or an investigator about the accident or your employment status or designation. These statements can be used against you later on. The Dangers of Commercial Diving Deep sea diving or diving with a self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (scuba) can cause serious […]

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