Maritime Injury Law Blog : Maritime Injury Lawyer & Attorney : Vujasinovic & Beckcom : Jones Act : Serving Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi

A twenty nine year old cook on an offshore vessel has obtained a $5,000,000.00 settlement.

The cook was working on the vessel when a bulk coal carrier weighing almost 50,000 tons ran into the cook's vessel.  The cook was pulled underwater and drowned.

The cook had been making $42,000.00 annually and her estate claimed between $1.35 and $1.99 million dollars in damages.  Her parents brought the case against the shipping company that operated the coal carrier, the pilot, the pilot's association, and the owner and operator.  Apparently, the coal carrier had missing lights which made it difficult if not impossible to see the cook's vessel.

Her parents brought the case under the Jones Act and general maritime law.

Maritime cases are complicated and hiring the wrong attorney can destroy your case

Our maritime lawyers realize that maritime work can be dangerous when companies cut corners on safety.  That's why we've dedicated our time to putting out free information for workers.  

Read the book that the insurance companies and offshore companies don't want you to read 

So before you hire an attorney for your case, take a moment to read the information below.

To order "The Insider's Guide to Winning Your Maritime Injury Case," click on this link and request a copy.

I will send you a free copy of the book that reveals the truth about maritime injury cases.  The truth that the insurance companies don't want you to know.  The truth that even some lawyers don't want you to know. 

Answers to commonly asked questions 

Do you want to get helpful information that is written for injured workers and their families, and not the company or insurance carrier?  In addition to our websites, please take a moment to read the following articles:

1.  How to hire the best lawyer for your Jones Act or offshore injury case

2.  How much is my Jones Act, maritime injury, or offshore injury case worth?

3.  What is the Jones Act?

4.  How to wreck your Jones Act case

5.  Financial Insecurity and Wrongful Termination - Two Fears After a Maritime Injury

6.  The Truth About Offshore Injury Claims.

7.  What Should You Do If You Are Injured Offshore

8.  What you should know if you were hurt offshore and your employer is giving you a hard time

9.  Should I give my employer or the insurance company a "recorded statement?"

10.  Do I need to hire a lawyer for my Jones Act or offshore injury claim?

11.  What happens when you file a Jones Act lawsuit.

12.  6 Critical Things you must know if you are injured at sea

13. The Secrets Your Employer May Not Want You To Know If You Are Injured Offshore.

14. I was injured on a cruise ship - What are my legal rights?

About our law firm

 

Brian Beckcom handles Jones Act, maritime injury, and other offshore injury cases.  If you want to find out more about our law firm and the types of cases we handle, please visit our Maritime Injury Law practice area page on our main website.

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Everyone makes mistakes. But what if that mistake causes you to injure yourself? Even worse, what if that mistake causes you to injure yourself at work?

Will you be out of a job? Will you be entitled to medical benefits?

If you are injured offshore and qualify as a Jones Act seaman, you are entitled to medical benefits and maintenance (so-called "maintenance and cure") regardless of who was at fault.  Unless you were injured off the job, or you intentionally caused your own injuries, your Jones Act employer must pay maintenance and cure until you reach maximum medical improvement. 

If your Jones Act employer tells you the injury was "your fault," or wasn't the fault of the employer, and therefore they are not required to pay your medical benefits and maintenance while you recover, they are wrong on this as well, and you should seek independent legal advice immediately to ensure that you get appropriate medical treatment.

Learn your rights as a seaman by ordering free copy of The Insider’s Guide to Winning Your Maritime Injury Case written by Jones Act and maritime accident injury lawyer Brian Beckcom.

Maritime Work is Dangerous

Our maritime lawyers realize that maritime work can be dangerous when companies cut corners on safety.  That's why we've dedicated our time to putting out free information for workers

Read These Articles Before You Hire An Attorney, Give a Recorded Statement, or Sign Any Forms

Do you want to get helpful information that is written for injured workers and their families, and not the company or insurance carrier?  In addition to our websites, please take a moment to read the following articles:

1.  How to hire the best lawyer for your Jones Act or offshore injury case

2.  How much is my Jones Act, maritime injury, or offshore injury case worth?

3.  What is the Jones Act?

4.  How to wreck your Jones Act case

5.  Financial Insecurity and Wrongful Termination - Two Fears After a Maritime Injury

6.  What is a Longshoreman and What Are Their Legal Rights When Injured?

7.  The difference between the Jones Act and the Longshore & Harbor Worker's Compensation Act

8.  The Truth About Offshore Injury Claims.

9.  What Should You Do If You Are Injured Offshore

10.  What you should know if you were hurt offshore and your employer is giving you a hard time

11.  Should I give my employer or the insurance company a "recorded statement?"

12.  Do I need to hire a lawyer for my Jones Act or offshore injury claim?

13.  What happens when you file a Jones Act lawsuit.

14.  6 Critical Things you must know if you are injured at sea

15. The Secrets Your Employer May Not Want You To Know If You Are Injured Offshore.

16. I was injured on a cruise ship - What are my legal rights?

To learn more about our law firm and what we can do for you, please visit the following websites:

www.vbattorneys.com

www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com

www.texasinjuryaccidentlawyer.com

About our law firm

Brian Beckcom handles Jones Act, maritime injury, and other offshore injury cases.  If you want to find out more about our law firm and the types of cases we handle, please visit our Maritime Injury Law practice area page on our main website.

Or, you can send a message to Mr. Beckcom by using the Contact form on this website.

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Everyone makes mistakes. But what if that mistake causes you to injure yourself? Even worse, what if that mistake causes you to injure yourself at work?

Will you be out of a job? Will you be entitled to medical benefits?

If you are injured offshore and qualify as a Jones Act seaman, you are entitled to medical benefits and maintenance (so-called "maintenance and cure") regardless of who was at fault.  Unless you were injured off the job, or you intentionally caused your own injuries, your Jones Act employer must pay maintenance and cure until you reach maximum medical improvement. 

If your Jones Act employer tells you the injury was "your fault," or wasn't the fault of the employer, and therefore they are not required to pay your medical benefits and maintenance while you recover, they are wrong on this as well, and you should seek independent legal advice immediately to ensure that you get appropriate medical treatment.

Learn your rights as a seaman by ordering free copy of The Insider’s Guide to Winning Your Maritime Injury Case written by Jones Act and maritime accident injury lawyer Brian Beckcom.

Maritime Work is Dangerous

Our maritime lawyers realize that maritime work can be dangerous when companies cut corners on safety.  That's why we've dedicated our time to putting out free information for workers

Read These Articles Before You Hire An Attorney, Give a Recorded Statement, or Sign Any Forms

Do you want to get helpful information that is written for injured workers and their families, and not the company or insurance carrier?  In addition to our websites, please take a moment to read the following articles:

1.  How to hire the best lawyer for your Jones Act or offshore injury case

2.  How much is my Jones Act, maritime injury, or offshore injury case worth?

3.  What is the Jones Act?

4.  How to wreck your Jones Act case

5.  Financial Insecurity and Wrongful Termination - Two Fears After a Maritime Injury

6.  What is a Longshoreman and What Are Their Legal Rights When Injured?

7.  The difference between the Jones Act and the Longshore & Harbor Worker's Compensation Act

8.  The Truth About Offshore Injury Claims.

9.  What Should You Do If You Are Injured Offshore

10.  What you should know if you were hurt offshore and your employer is giving you a hard time

11.  Should I give my employer or the insurance company a "recorded statement?"

12.  Do I need to hire a lawyer for my Jones Act or offshore injury claim?

13.  What happens when you file a Jones Act lawsuit.

14.  6 Critical Things you must know if you are injured at sea

15. The Secrets Your Employer May Not Want You To Know If You Are Injured Offshore.

16. I was injured on a cruise ship - What are my legal rights?

To learn more about our law firm and what we can do for you, please visit the following websites:

www.vbattorneys.com

www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com

www.texasinjuryaccidentlawyer.com

About our law firm

Brian Beckcom handles Jones Act, maritime injury, and other offshore injury cases.  If you want to find out more about our law firm and the types of cases we handle, please visit our Maritime Injury Law practice area page on our main website.

Or, you can send a message to Mr. Beckcom by using the Contact form on this website.

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Suffering an injury on the job in a maritime accident is tough enough. Trying to figure out how to handle all of the specifics of the claim can be even worse.

Then you are told that you can’t see your own family doctor – you are required to see the company doctors.

Regardless of who tells you that company doctors must treat you, it is not true.

Contrary to popular opinion, if you are injured offshore, you are not required to see only company-selected doctors.  You should pick a doctor who you like, with whom you are comfortable, and who treats you fairly and appropriately. Unfortunately, some company-affiliated medical providers will try to force you back to work before you are ready, and will avoid performing tests that reveal the true extent of any possible injury. Bottom line here is that you are allowed to select your own doctors.  If your Jones Act employer says you are required to go to company-selected doctors only, they are wrong.

Learn your rights as a seaman by ordering free copy of The Insider’s Guide to Winning Your Maritime Injury Case written by Jones Act and maritime accident injury lawyer Brian Beckcom.

Maritime Work is Dangerous

Our maritime lawyers realize that maritime work can be dangerous when companies cut corners on safety.  That's why we've dedicated our time to putting out free information for workers

Read These Articles Before You Hire An Attorney, Give a Recorded Statement, or Sign Any Forms

Do you want to get helpful information that is written for injured workers and their families, and not the company or insurance carrier?  In addition to our websites, please take a moment to read the following articles:

1.  How to hire the best lawyer for your Jones Act or offshore injury case

2.  How much is my Jones Act, maritime injury, or offshore injury case worth?

3.  What is the Jones Act?

4.  How to wreck your Jones Act case

5.  Financial Insecurity and Wrongful Termination - Two Fears After a Maritime Injury

6.  What is a Longshoreman and What Are Their Legal Rights When Injured?

7.  The difference between the Jones Act and the Longshore & Harbor Worker's Compensation Act

8.  The Truth About Offshore Injury Claims.

9.  What Should You Do If You Are Injured Offshore

10.  What you should know if you were hurt offshore and your employer is giving you a hard time

11.  Should I give my employer or the insurance company a "recorded statement?"

12.  Do I need to hire a lawyer for my Jones Act or offshore injury claim?

13.  What happens when you file a Jones Act lawsuit.

14.  6 Critical Things you must know if you are injured at sea

15. The Secrets Your Employer May Not Want You To Know If You Are Injured Offshore.

16. I was injured on a cruise ship - What are my legal rights?

To learn more about our law firm and what we can do for you, please visit the following websites:

www.vbattorneys.com

www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com

www.texasinjuryaccidentlawyer.com

About our law firm

Brian Beckcom handles Jones Act, maritime injury, and other offshore injury cases.  If you want to find out more about our law firm and the types of cases we handle, please visit our Maritime Injury Law practice area page on our main website.

Or, you can send a message to Mr. Beckcom by using the Contact form on this website.

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If you are injured on the job while offshore, you need to know your rights.

Recently, some Jones Act employers have started requiring, or strongly suggesting, that injured seamen sign papers before they get medical benefits, maintenance, or "advances" on their personal injury settlements.  This is NOT required under the Jones Act.  And it is almost always a big mistake to sign such paperwork before consulting with independent, non-company affiliated lawyers. 

 Why is this a big mistake?  Because Jones Act employers often bury arbitration clauses or other language in this paperwork, and some courts have actually been enforcing these arbitrations clauses or waivers.  What does it mean to sign and be bound by an arbitration clause?  It means you may be forever giving up your right to a trial in Court, and instead, you may be agreeing to have your case heard by an arbitrator in a venue that is handpicked by your employer. Almost always a bad idea.

If your employer requires you to sign paperwork after you're injured, you should STRONGLY consider having the paperwork reviewed by an independent, non-company affiliated lawyer to make absolutely sure you are not giving up important legal rights.

Learn your rights as a seaman by ordering free copy of The Insider’s Guide to Winning Your Maritime Injury Case written by Jones Act and maritime accident injury lawyer Brian Beckcom.

Maritime Work is Dangerous

Our maritime lawyers realize that maritime work can be dangerous when companies cut corners on safety.  That's why we've dedicated our time to putting out free information for workers

Read These Articles Before You Hire An Attorney, Give a Recorded Statement, or Sign Any Forms

Do you want to get helpful information that is written for injured workers and their families, and not the company or insurance carrier?  In addition to our websites, please take a moment to read the following articles:

1.  How to hire the best lawyer for your Jones Act or offshore injury case

2.  How much is my Jones Act, maritime injury, or offshore injury case worth?

3.  What is the Jones Act?

4.  How to wreck your Jones Act case

5.  Financial Insecurity and Wrongful Termination - Two Fears After a Maritime Injury

6.  What is a Longshoreman and What Are Their Legal Rights When Injured?

7.  The difference between the Jones Act and the Longshore & Harbor Worker's Compensation Act

8.  The Truth About Offshore Injury Claims.

9.  What Should You Do If You Are Injured Offshore

10.  What you should know if you were hurt offshore and your employer is giving you a hard time

11.  Should I give my employer or the insurance company a "recorded statement?"

12.  Do I need to hire a lawyer for my Jones Act or offshore injury claim?

13.  What happens when you file a Jones Act lawsuit.

14.  6 Critical Things you must know if you are injured at sea

15. The Secrets Your Employer May Not Want You To Know If You Are Injured Offshore.

16. I was injured on a cruise ship - What are my legal rights?

To learn more about our law firm and what we can do for you, please visit the following websites:

www.vbattorneys.com

www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com

www.texasinjuryaccidentlawyer.com

About our law firm

Brian Beckcom handles Jones Act, maritime injury, and other offshore injury cases.  If you want to find out more about our law firm and the types of cases we handle, please visit our Maritime Injury Law practice area page on our main website.

Or, you can send a message to Mr. Beckcom by using the Contact form on this website.

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In this tough economy, every one wants to keep their job. So if you are hurt while working, your greatest fear may not be the injury itself, but the risk that you could be unemployed after your work accident.

Jones Act and maritime accident injury lawyer Brian Beckcom wants to warn seaman of the secrets that employers may not want you to know if you are injured offshore.

One of the secrets is that injured Jones Act workers are NOT required to give a recorded statement.

The Jones Act does not require injured seamen to give a recorded statement to the employer or its insurance representatives. While you should certainly report the maritime accident immediately and in compliance with company procedures, you are simply not required to give a recorded statement.  If your employer or its insurance representatives tell you that you are required to give a recorded statement, you should be very suspicious.  In fact, the employer may try to get you to say things that may hurt your case later on. And once it's recorded, you will have a lot of trouble later on if you were tricked into saying things you didn't mean. 

Learn your rights as a seaman by ordering free copy of The Insider’s Guide to Winning Your Maritime Injury Case written by Jones Act and maritime accident injury lawyer Brian Beckcom.

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Jones Act and maritime accident injury lawyer Brain Beckcom has handled numerous cases that involve injuries at sea. He has compiled a list of six critical things that you should do if you are even involved in a maritime accident.

Here is Tip #6:

Keep a complete file on what happened. Keep all paperwork. Consider keeping a diary or notebook with details about your medical condition., the events that led to your incident, and anything else you think is significant.

If you are injured at sea, as long as you handle things carefully, you should be able to avoid any issues later on if you need to get lawyers involved or go to court to enforce you and your families’ rights.

Did you miss Tips #1-5? Order your free copy of The Insider’s Guide to Winning Your Maritime Injury Case written by Jones Act and maritime accident injury lawyer Brian Beckcom today to learn what to do if you are ever injured at sea.

 How to hire the best lawyer for your Jones Act or offshore injury caseHow much is my Jones Act, maritime injury, or offshore injury case worth?

3.  What is the Jones Act?How to wreck your Jones Act caseFinancial Insecurity and Wrongful Termination - Two Fears After a Maritime Injury

6.  What is a Longshoreman and What Are Their Legal Rights When Injured?

7.  The difference between the Jones Act and the Longshore & Harbor Worker's Compensation Act

8.  The Truth About Offshore Injury Claims.

9.  What Should You Do If You Are Injured Offshore

10.  What you should know if you were hurt offshore and your employer is giving you a hard time

11.  Should I give my employer or the insurance company a "recorded statement?"Do I need to hire a lawyer for my Jones Act or offshore injury claim?

13.  What happens when you file a Jones Act lawsuit.

14.  6 Critical Things you must know if you are injured at sea

15. The Secrets Your Employer May Not Want You To Know If You Are Injured Offshore.I was injured on a cruise ship - What are my legal rights?www.vbattorneys.com

www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com

www.texasinjuryaccidentlawyer.comBrian Beckcom handles Jones Act, maritime injury, and other offshore injury cases.  If you want to find out more about our law firm and the types of cases we handle, please visit our Maritime Injury Law practice area page on our main website.

Maritime Work is Dangerous

Our maritime lawyers realize that maritime work can be dangerous when companies cut corners on safety.  That's why we've dedicated our time to putting out free information for workers

Read These Articles Before You Hire An Attorney, Give a Recorded Statement, or Sign Any Forms

Do you want to get helpful information that is written for injured workers and their families, and not the company or insurance carrier?  In addition to our websites, please take a moment to read the following articles:

1. 

2. 

4. 

5. 

12. 

16.

To learn more about our law firm and what we can do for you, please visit the following websites:

 

About our law firm

Or, you can send a message to Mr. Beckcom by using the Contact form on this website.

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A maritime injury took the life of three Houston-area residents early yesterday morning after their fishing boat collided with a barge southwest of New Orleans, according to the Houston Chronicle. The fatal boating accident also caused two Lousiana residents to lose their lives.

Apparently the 24-foot fishing boat became pinned under a part of the barge after impact. The Chronicle also reported that Captain Samuel Martin believes that the fatal boating accident victims died from the injuries they received during impact, and did not suffer death by drowning.

Vujasinovic & Beckcom, P.L.L.C. extends their condolences to the families of all of the fatal boating accident victims.

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Did you know that Congress passed a specific law to prevent maritime workers from getting fired, demoted, or disciplined for reporting safety violations or concerns?

That's right.  A seaman who reports in good faith or is about to report to the Coast Guard a violation of a safety rule or regulation is cannot be fired for report such violations. 

Maritime workers who are fired or retaliated against after reporting a safety violation can sue their employer for money damages.

Because maritime work is dangerous, the United States Congress has decided to encourage workers to monitor worksite safety.  And protect workers who do just that.

Maritime Work is Dangerous

Our maritime lawyers realize that maritime work can be dangerous when companies cut corners on safety.  That's why we've dedicated our time to putting out free information for workers

Read These Articles Before You Hire An Attorney, Give a Recorded Statement, or Sign Any Forms

Do you want to get helpful information that is written for injured workers and their families, and not the company or insurance carrier?  In addition to our websites, please take a moment to read the following articles:

1.  How to hire the best lawyer for your Jones Act or offshore injury case

2.  How much is my Jones Act, maritime injury, or offshore injury case worth?

3.  What is the Jones Act?

4.  How to wreck your Jones Act case

5.  Financial Insecurity and Wrongful Termination - Two Fears After a Maritime Injury

6.  What is a Longshoreman and What Are Their Legal Rights When Injured?

7.  The difference between the Jones Act and the Longshore & Harbor Worker's Compensation Act

8.  The Truth About Offshore Injury Claims.

9.  What Should You Do If You Are Injured Offshore

10.  What you should know if you were hurt offshore and your employer is giving you a hard time

11.  Should I give my employer or the insurance company a "recorded statement?"

12.  Do I need to hire a lawyer for my Jones Act or offshore injury claim?

13.  What happens when you file a Jones Act lawsuit.

14.  6 Critical Things you must know if you are injured at sea

15. The Secrets Your Employer May Not Want You To Know If You Are Injured Offshore.

16. I was injured on a cruise ship - What are my legal rights?

To learn more about our law firm and what we can do for you, please visit the following websites:

www.vbattorneys.com

www.maritimeaccidentattorney.com

www.texasinjuryaccidentlawyer.com

About our law firm

Brian Beckcom handles Jones Act, maritime injury, and other offshore injury cases.  If you want to find out more about our law firm and the types of cases we handle, please visit our Maritime Injury Law practice area page on our main website.

Or, you can send a message to Mr. Beckcom by using the Contact form on this website.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks