Houston Tug Boat and Barge Accident Lawyer

A tugboat a diesel-powered boat designed to move barges, large, flat-bottomed vessels, which are incapable of quickly alter course and can be powered. They may be self-propelled with a crew or unpowered, relying on a tugboat to move them.  Tugs and barges are hazardous places to work, and you should know an experienced Houston tug boat and barge accident lawyer if this is your line of work.

Small but powerful tugboats are designed for maximum power and fuel capacity, and working aboard one comes with many risks. Crew members are subject to line handling, tripping, falling and other hazards. When a powerful tug is pulling a heavy and unwieldy barge, the danger increases. If you’re a tug or barge crew member, whether you’re a captain, pilot, mate, engineers, cook, or  deckhand and have suffered injuries while working, you are  protected under federal maritime law by the Jones Act, which gives you the right to sue your employer.

Injury Types

Some common injuries types aboard tugs and barges include:

• Pinch-point and other line-handling injuries to the hands from being crushed by a line or steel cable
• Amputations
• Herniated discs, sprains, and strains to the back caused by excessively heavy lifting.
• Slip, trip, and fall accidents caused by debris, foreign objects, and accumulations of oil, coal, or sand on gunnels and decks, resulting in fractures, brain injuries, spinal cord damage, fractures, and other injuries.

Claiming Compensation under the Jones Act

Many tug and barge accidents could be prevented by attention to proper maintenance and inspection and by implementing and enforcing safety procedures to prevent injuries from occurring. It is not uncommon for owners to push captain take shortcuts in order to complete a job faster. When negligence on the part of an owner or another worker is a contributing cause of your accident, you are covered by the Jones Act, which gives you the right to recover compensation for your injuries. The Jones Act allows you to recover both economic and non-economic or quality of life damages.

You can choose to have your case heard in either a federal or a state court, and you should select an attorney to represent you who is thoroughly familiar with the Jones Act.  Jones Act cases are different from Worker’s Compensation and typical personal injury cases, so make sure that the lawyer you choose has plenty of experience with this specific type of case.

Experienced Jones Act Lawyers in Houston

In Houston, Texas, you’ll find the experienced maritime lawyers you need at the Houston law firm of Gordon, Elias, & Seely, LLP have the specific barge and tug boat maritime law experience that will turn the odds of a fair and adequate recovery to you favor. We have the legal knowledge, skill, and experience I n all types of accidents that occur on the water or in port, and have a long record of assisting clients in their pursuit of justice when they’ve been injured. We are focused on your needs and those of your family, and will be diligent, unrelenting, and aggressive in fighting for your rights. our combined 60 years of law practice, we have obtained millions of dollars for our clients in compensation for maritime injury claims.

If you’re having a hard time meeting your basic living expenses, let us know. We are often able to advance you enough money to keep you going until your case is resolved, and it is always interest free.

Free Maritime Injury Consultation at Gordon, Elias, & Seely, LLP in Houston

Contact Gordon, Elias, & Seely, LLP today to arrange a time to discuss your case with one of our professional Houston personal injury attorneys. The consultation is free, and we take injury and wrongful death cases on contingency, so you’ll have no out-of-pocket expenses or fees.  We front all expenses and hours of work on your case, and you only pay us if we win money for you.