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Tugboat Accident Lawyer

California Tugboat Injury Attorney Preston Easley Represents the Injured in CA and HI in Accidents Involving a Tugboat

Tugboat Accident Lawyer

They may not be as glamorous as yachts or cruise ships, but tugboats do the down-and-dirty work of marine commerce, maneuvering barges, freighters, and other large vessels into and out of crowded harbors and canals. Because of the nature of their job, tugboats tend to more compact, and more solidly built than other types of boats, and they run mostly on diesel fuel. Tugboats are also frequently called on in emergency situations, such as rescues of disabled cruise ships or oil platforms (for example, a fleet of tugboats can drag a damaged platform back to shore). If you were involved in a tugboat accident, contact a Tugboataccident lawyer at the Law Offices of Preston Easley.

Maritime Accident Lawyer Preston Easley is a Graduate of the U. S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. You Can Rely on His Expertise in Maritime Law to Protect Your Rights. Contact Him Today For a Free Consultation About Your Case.

The Dangers Facing Tugboat Workers, Crew, and Passengers

Tugboats often operate in crowded and/or dangerous conditions, making tugboats especially susceptible to the types of accidents that can injure (or even kill) an unwary crewman. It’s not uncommon for a tugboat to collide with, or be rammed into by, the boat it’s supposed to be towing, and the opportunity for accidents is all the greater if multiple tugboats are cooperating on the same job. In addition, sailors on tugboats are at the mercy of the same weather conditions (typhoons, hurricanes, etc.) that are the bane of anyone who makes a living at sea.

Many tugboats are independently owned, and the proprietors work on very slim margins. For this reason, it’s often the case that a tugboat has not been properly maintained, its crew has not been properly trained, or it has been insufficiently staffed, all of which put the tugboat’s crew at increased risk of injury. A fatigued crew is more likely to misjudge the distance between the tugboat and the barge it’s towing, or to secure the ship improperly; a snapped line or loose winch can easily result in severe injury or even death.

Tugboat Accidents and Wrongful Death Attorneys

Free Consultation • Serving All Of Hawaii and California

The important thing to remember, if you or a loved one has been injured in a tugboat accident, is that your rights are guaranteed by the Jones Act, which allows injured crew members to sue the ship’s captain and owner, and even their fellow sailors, if it can be shown that their negligence or recklessness contributed to the mishap. At the very least, the responsible individuals may be required to cover your living expenses while you recuperate from your injuries, as well as all your medical bills. In the most blatant cases of recklessness or negligence—such as an unseaworthy vessel or an inebriated captain—the Jones Act entitles you to sue the responsible party for longer-term damages, including income lost due to chronic pain and suffering.

For your free initial consultation, call or email our law offices today.

Law Offices of Preston Easley
2500 Via Cabrillo Marina
Suite 106
San Pedro, California 90731

Phone:  (310) 832-5315
FAX:  (310) 832-7730

San Diego, CA (619) 699-4884
Ventura, CA (805) 289-1551
Honolulu, HI (808) 922-2383

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Cases We Handle

  • maritime worker working on ship

    Longshoremen & Shipyard Workers

    Longshoring and shipyard work are very dangerous occupations. Workers in these fields, along with marine construction workers, are covered by the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, a very generous no-fault workers’ compensation system. It covers medical expenses, temporary disability, permanent disability and vocational rehabilitation.

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  • sea vessel docked at US shore

    Jones Act Seamen

    A seaman is a member of the crew of a vessel or group of vessels under common ownership or control. The vessel can be anything from a raft to a cargo ship. We represent seamen who work aboard recreational vessels, tugboats, dredges, barges, skiffs, workboats and cargo ships. We also represent seamen who are marine construction workers

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  • Diving

    We represent people who have been injured in SCUBA diving accidents and Commercial diving accidents. We also handle diving boat accidents. Diving can be very dangerous. We successfully represented a commercial diver who was seriously injured while cleaning the propeller of a U.S. Navy ship at Pearl Harbor

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  • accident at construction site and hard hat on floor

    Construction & Industrial Accidents

    Construction and industrial sites can be very dangerous. Although you generally cannot sue your own employer for a construction site or industrial accident (generally workers’ compensation is your exclusive remedy against your employer) there are many circumstances in which you can file a third party lawsuit against an entity other than your employer for an unsafe condition at a work site which causes you to be injured

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  • Forklift and Crane Injuries Lawyer

    Crane & Forklift Accidents

    The Easley firm has extensive experience with crane and forklift accidents and workplace accidents involving dangerous equipment and machinery. These accidents can be caused by operator error and they can be caused by the unsafe and defective condition of the equipment

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  • auto accident involving two cars on a city street

    Motor Vehicle & Truck Accidents

    Motor vehicle accidents can result in serious injury and death. These kinds of accidents can involve automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, bicycles, pedestrians and unsafe road design and unsafe road conditions

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  • Catamaran Injuries Attorney

    Passenger Vessel Accidents

    Passenger accidents are common on recreational vessels, catamarans, tour boats and cruise ships.  They are frequently caused by rough sea conditions and unsafe conditions aboard the vessels.  The Easley firm has extensive experience in the field of maritime law.  We have made new law in the field of maritime law with numerous precedent setting decisions in the State Appellate Courts, the Ninth Circuit Federal Court

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  • Defense Base Act

    The Defense Base Act is an extension of the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act which covers civilian employees of U.S. defense contractors injured overseas, including war zones. The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensations Act as extended by the Defense Base Act is a very generous no fault workers’ compensation system

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Areas Where We Practice

Preston Easley is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. He served five years of active duty as a Naval officer — three years as a deck officer on a fast frigate and two years as a patrol boat skipper. Mr. Easley also served aboard a tank landing ship in the reserves.

waves

California

Hawaii

Let Us Get You The Compensation You Deserve

Preston Easley is an experienced lawyer with considerable expertise in handling federal and state personal injury cases. He will aggressively seek the maximum amount of compensation you are entitled to receive. Attorney Easley represents victims of serious and fatal accidents involving cars, trucks, construction projects and maritime work.

Construction Workers We Help

  • Crane and Forklift Operators
  • Pile Drivers
  • Scaffold Workers
  • Iron Workers
  • Carpenters
  • Electricians
  • Operating Engineers
  • Electricians

Maritime Workers We Help

  • National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO) Shipyard Workers
  • Manson Construction Company Workers
  • Manson Dredging Workers
  • Dutra Dredging Workers
  • Commercial Divers
  • Scuba Divers
  • Commercial Fisherman
  • Government Maritime Claims Against the Navy, Army Corps of Engineers, or the US Coast Guard, etc.
  • Marine Construction Workers
  • Offshore Oil and Gas Workers
  • Seamen
  • Shipyard Workers
  • YYK Enterprises, Inc.
  • Pacific Tugboat Service
  • Long Beach Container Terminal
  • Tugboat, Dredge, Longshoremen, and Ferry Workers
  • Barge Crews and Barge Workers
  • Marisco Limited
  • HL Welding
  • SSA Marine
  • Catalina Express
  • R.E. State Engineering
  • Shimmick Construction
  • Nova Group
  • American Scaffolding
  • Safway Scaffolding
  • Kirby Tugs
  • Crowley Tugboats
  • P&R Water Taxi
  • Continental Maritime
  • Pacific Ship Repair
  • Seaward Marine
  • Healy Tibbitts
  • General Construction
  • BAE Shipyards
  • South Coast Welding
  • Matson
  • Pasha
  • Hawaii Stevedores, Inc.
  • McCabe, Hamilton & Renny
  • Young Brothers
  • Sause Bros.
  • Foss Maritime
  • Fenix Marine Services
  • ITS
  • Total Terminals
  • TraPac
  • PCMC
  • Maersk
  • Yang Ming
  • China Overseas Shipping
  • Evergreen

Boating Accidents

  • Catamaran Accidents
  • Charter and Tour Boats
  • Cruise Ship Accidents
  • Passenger Accidents
  • Jet Ski and Personal Watercraft
  • Motorboat Accidents
  • Recreational Accidents
  • Scuba Diving Accidents
  • Speed Boat Accidents
  • Yachts and Sail Boat Accidents
  • Repair Accidents
  • Crew Accidents
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