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  • Do I Need A Jones Act Lawyer?

    by Matthew D. Shaffer on January 25, 2012

    If you have been injured in the course of work on a vessel, you may be wondering whether you need to consult a Jones Act lawyer. The answer, in most cases, is yes. The Jones Act is a federal law that provides a different system for workers compensation for those designated as “seamen.” The complexities of this maritime law are such that, even i...
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  • Your Jones Act Claim Clock is Ticking

    by Matthew D. Shaffer on April 17, 2012

    Maritime accidents are a special type of case. A person’s right to a maritime claim for an injury that occurred at sea can vary by the status of the person, whether the injured person is a passenger or a crewmember of the vessel on which the injury occurred.The legal issues involving accidents covered by maritime law can be totally different fro...
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  • How Do You Know When You Have a Maritime Claim?

    by Dennis M. McElwee on May 15, 2012

    A person may have a maritime law claim if they have been injured while working aboard a ship, but there are many other factors that must be considered.The ship’s nation of origin, where the ship was, and who owns the ship or who employs the worker are all things to be taken into consideration when deciding whether a maritime lawsuit is a viable ...
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  • Offshore Supply Vessel Crewmember Injured in Maritime Accident

    by Dennis M. McElwee on June 11, 2012

    A crewmember on an offshore supply vessel that ran aground at the Galveston North Jetty last week, sustained injuries, and had to be taken to the hospital. The accident occurred at the Galveston Jetties over the weekend when the offshore supply vessel, the Ashton T ran aground. The 94-foot vessel was carrying about 1,600 gallons of diesel fuel a...
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  • Seven People Killed in Tugboat Explosion

    by Matthew D. Shaffer on June 14, 2012

    Seven crew members have been reported dead in a tugboat explosion tragedy off the coast of Qatar. The accident occurred one week ago, when an offshore LNG buoy terminal exploded. The crewmembers were conducting maintenance work on the buoy at the time of the explosion.  According to some sources, only one of the crew members on the tugboat esca...
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  • Worker Dies After Fall On Cargo Ship

    by Dennis M. McElwee on June 28, 2012

    A crew member died after falling into the cargo bay of a cargo ship docked in the Houston Ship Channel on Thursday morning. The worker fell from the deck into the cargo hold about 12:30 a.m. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, the ship was docked at Texas Terminal NO. 37 near Patrick’s Bayou. The man was pronounced dead after being rushed to Mem...
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  • Jurisdiction and Liability at Sea

    by Matthew D. Shaffer on July 10, 2012

    The questions of liability for workers injured in a maritime environment and the jurisdictions of the courts that may properly hear such maritime claims is complicated by issues such as state versus federal jurisdiction and liability for injuries that arise in areas where state versus national versus international territorial waterways may not b...
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  • What to Expect at Your Jones Act Attorney Consultation

    by Matthew D. Shaffer on August 21, 2012

    The Jones Act is a maritime law that essentially serves as a worker's compensation statute for the high seas. The rules of a Jones Act claim are not exactly like worker's compensation, but can also provide additional benefits based on the conditions surrounding any particular injury claim.Any possible litigant should prepare for the initial cons...
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  • Seaman Sues After Falling On Vessel’s Wooden Flooring

    by Matthew D. Shaffer on February 06, 2013

    A seaman his filed suit in a New Orleans federal court, claiming he sustained disabling injuries from a fall after slipping on a vessel’s wooden floor. The Jones Act lawsuit accuses Big R Towing Inc. of negligence for failing to maintain the vessel and her appurtenances in a safe and reasonable state of repair.  The lawsuit also claims the defe...
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  • Tankers Collide Off Galveston In Gulf Of Mexico

    by Dennis M. McElwee on February 22, 2013

    Two chemical tankers collided in the Gulf of Mexico early Wednesday about 70 miles south of Galveston, according to U.S. Coast Guard officials. Both vessels were en route to Houston at the time of the crash. The Chem Sea, a 385-foot tanker, and Bow Kiso, a 557-foot tanker, collided about 4:30 a.m. Wednesday. The double-hulled Bow Kiso, a Panama...
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  • Louisiana Pipeline Fire Extinguished

    by Matthew D. Shaffer on March 15, 2013

    A pipeline fire was finally extinguished after burning in a Louisiana bayou since Tuesday, the U.S. Coast Guard said Friday. One man was critically burned and three others received minor injuries in the blaze, which began when a tug pushing a barge struck the gas pipeline. While the fire was out, the Coast Guard said minimal flaring was continu...
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  • Structural Defects Not to Blame for Jurong Shipyard Maritime Accident

    by Matthew D. Shaffer on April 04, 2013

    Noble Corporation is continuing investigations into an accident at the Jurong Shipyard that injured more than 80 workers in December. The company now says that it has conducted an inspection of the Noble Regina Allen jack up which tilted on December 3, injuring several workers. The inspection has not revealed any damage to the legs, jacking syst...
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  • CDC Warns of New Norovirus Strain

    by Matthew D. Shaffer on May 09, 2013

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is warning about a new highly contagious strain of the norovirus bug, which is also commonly known as the “cruise ship bug.”  This bug often makes it undesirable presence felt during cruise ship journeys, bringing down crewmembers and passengers with symptoms including nausea, vomiting and abdominal...
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