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Recent Maritime Awards & Verdicts
- Arnold & Itkin LLP filed suit on behalf a Houston man injured while working overseas on a pipe-laying barge
- Arnold & Itkin LLP recently filed suit on behalf of a Port Arthur, Texas resident who was severely injured while taking part in the BP oil spill clean up efforts
- Although Oil Spill is Slowed, Economic Damages are Still Being Calculated, Says Texas Attorney
- Arnold & Itkin reaches a settlement valued over $9,000,000 for Louisiana landowners.
- Allegations Indicate BP Cut Corners on Safety Aboard Oil Rig, Houston Attorneys Say
Related Topics
| Alabama Seaman Files Maritime Lawsuit in Boat Accident, Claims Vessel was Unseaworthy |
An Alabama seaman, who was injured when a boat he was riding in capsized, is suing the boat owner.The worker, Willie Sigler, was hired by Omega Protein Inc. The Houston-based company operates facilities that produce fatty acids supplements and maintains a fleet of shipping vessels. According to the lawsuit, as the worker engaged in his seaman duties in the Gulf of Mexico, the purse boat capsized. Sigler suffered serious injuries. As a result of the injuries caused by the unseaworthy boat, Sigler incurred heavy medical expenses, loss of earnings, and other monetary and non-monetary losses. The lawsuit alleges that the company employees failed in their responsibilities to maintain a seaworthy boat.
Unseaworthiness can include dangerous conditions that arise while the vessel is in operation or conditions created by other employees. Seaworthiness includes the availability of safety gear as well as a trained crew. An unseaworthiness claim is brought against the owner of the vessel, not the employer. However, in many cases, the owner of the vessel may also be the employer. Maritime Attorneys can prove UnseaworthinessProving unseaworthiness of a vessel can be a challenge for the average maritime worker. These specifics are best left to a maritime lawyer who can base your unseaworthiness claim on earlier court decisions in maritime lawsuits. For instance, the poor structural design of the vessel can be the basis for a claim, as well as the shortage of life rafts on board. The scope of unseaworthiness is constantly broadening as maritime lawyers attempt to make conditions safer for workers by holding employers accountable for the state of vessels.
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As a seaman, Sigler had the right to a seaworthy vessel. An unseaworthy vessel is one that is made unsafe because of things like: