What Are Common Maritime Injuries?

What are common maritime injuries? Working in the maritime industry means huge risks for broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, and respiratory illnesses, among others. An accident can substantially affect your ability to get back to work, so you need full medical care and insurance benefits to do so.

By working with a qualified New Orleans maritime injury lawyer, you can seek maintenance and cure payments, workers’ compensation benefits, or other financial relief provided by state and federal law. Untangling the process of doing this can be complicated, but you deserve every penny if you are hurt.

Ways You Can Suffer Common Maritime Injuries

Getting hurt can happen in a number of ways when you’re serving on a vessel or floating structure. You are also in danger when working on docks dealing with heavy equipment and hazardous substances.

Here is a list of how you might suffer common maritime injuries:

• Falling from rigging or over railings, including overboard into the water
• Being hit by falling cargo or debris
• Getting caught in fishing gear or lines
• Suffering hypothermia or heat exhaustion
• Getting trapped in enclosed spaces with toxic fumes
• Slipping and falling on decks or cargo containers
• Chemical or thermal burns
• Repeatedly performing the same task for hours at a time
• Being untrained or working with untrained coworkers
• Not having enough or the right safety gear from your employer
• Getting hurt by dock equipment and vehicles

If you are hurt while doing your work, you have the right to receive benefits from your employer or to take legal action against those at fault. Demonstrating negligence can be complicated, but the average maritime injury settlement can allow you to recover from your injuries fully. Securing this compensation requires a dedicated and diligent legal representative. 

These Common Maritime Injuries Require Maximum Compensation From Those at Fault

If you suffer scrapes, cuts, or other small injuries, it’s still vital that you report them to your supervisor or manager. Small conditions like these can trigger infection, leading to more serious illnesses or injuries.

Most maritime injuries are much more severe, and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), workers in this industry are much more likely to get hurt or killed than employees in other jobs.

Common maritime injuries include the following:

• Broken or fractured bones
• Internal organ damage
• Internal bleeding
• Electrical burns or electrocution
• Crushing injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Facial and head wounds
• Burns from hazardous substances, flames, and overheated machinery
• Smoke inhalation, being waterlogged, or other respiratory injuries
• Blunt force trauma
• Lacerations and puncture wounds
• Degloving and amputations

Seek medical care immediately, report your accident, and then contact a maritime injury attorney to discuss your claim during a free consultation.

There are certain damages available in a maritime injury case, such as pain and suffering, but you may overlook what you are due without experienced guidance. Your lawyer will work to secure full compensation from those at fault. 

Using the Law to Seek Damages for Your Common Maritime Injuries

Depending on the type of work you do and where that work takes place, you have rights under a number of laws to receive compensation and other benefits. While you may have clear evidence of what happened and who is at fault, be sure that your employer and anyone else who is to blame will fight back to prevent paying what you deserve. 

Fortunately, a superior maritime injury law firm will be able to examine your case and determine which of the following laws may apply:

• The Merchant Marine Act of 1920, also called the Jones Act
• The Longshore & Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act
• The Death on the High Seas Act (DOHSA)
• The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA)

Your lawyer will build your case by interpreting these federal laws, along with any state law that could impact your case. They will investigate the circumstances, gather appropriate and robust evidence, create powerful narratives to persuade the court in your favor, and help you manage all legal proceedings.

Ultimately, your lawyer’s goal will be to identify and pursue all potential compensation avenues for the most satisfactory outcome. 

Expect Employers to Resist Settling Your Claim

While you are protected by federal legislation, your employer may rely on various defense strategies to avoid paying your benefits or paying you less than what you deserve.

For example, your attorney may need to present substantial evidence showing how the ship owner or operator failed to make the ship seaworthy. 

The doctrine of unseaworthiness, as described by the United States Court for the Ninth Circuit, requires the following:

• Owners must provide and maintain all vessels as seaworthy, a duty they cannot assign to anyone else.
• To be considered seaworthy, a vessel must have all parts and equipment that are reasonably fit for its intended purpose. 
• Owners must provide enough properly trained crew members to perform the work required so the vessel can operate safely. 
• Owners must provide the right kind of safety gear suited to the vessel’s purpose and in adequate numbers for all crew members.  

Your attorney can request maintenance and cleaning logs, cargo manifests, crew training records, and any other documentation that could show an employer’s negligence.

Together with your medical treatment records and doctor’s expectations for your outcome, you can push back if your employer claims they are not at fault. You should not have to pay the bills for your common maritime injuries when someone else is careless. 

Learn More About Common Maritime Injuries From Scott Vicnair Injury Lawyers

When you’re hurt on your maritime job, you should seek immediate medical attention and then report your injury to your employer within 30 days.

After that, gather your documentation and schedule a free case review with a top-tier New Orleans maritime injury lawyer from Scott Vicknair Injury Lawyers. We are ready to build the most powerful case we can for you, seeking full benefits and other compensation according to the extent of your injuries.

Contact us today and arrange a free consultation to learn more and get started on your common maritime injuries claim. We believe in protecting your rights and holding at-fault parties accountable when they are negligent or careless.