Types of Maritime Accidents
The combination of heavy machinery, heavy cargo, large and heavy ships, wave action, extreme weather and human error are a ready-made recipe for potential disaster on seagoing vessels. These factors can affect any ship from a small fishing boat to a deep water container ship.
The many kinds of maritime accidents include:
- - Being caught in equipment
- - Capsizing
- - Collisions with other vessels or permanent structures
- - Crushing accidents can happen while loading and unloading cargo, or being crushed by heavy equipment or machinery
- - Explosions, one cause of explosions is flammable cargo
- - Falling from heights, for many different reasons
- - Fatigue due to working long hours seven days a week
- - Faulty tow wires or lines
- - Faulty vessel design
- - Fires may be caused by human error (even the careless discarding of a cigarette butt) or flammable cargo; many freighters carry flammable cargo
- - Food poisoning
- - Foundering or sinking; boats such as fishing boats may founder from taking on water or colliding with another vessel or object
- - Grounding often may happen on sandbars, in narrow canals, and in places where sharp turns are necessary
- - Oil spills
- - On-deck injuries
- - Piracy
- - Problems with lines
- - Problems with winches
- - Seamen falling overboard. This may be due to rough seas
- - Tripping
- - Vessel that is not seaworthy
- - Helicopter accident
Maritime workers who are injured on the job are protected by the Jones Act. The act even protects workers on oil rigs that are free floating or helicopter pilots working with ships. Passed in 1920, the act provides insurance compensation for workers injured while working on navigable waters. The concept behind the law is called "maintenance and cure."
Jones Act
The Jones Act has its origins in ancient Mediterranean seagoing traditions. More recently, the Jones Act has been primarily an adaptation of compensation laws for injuries suffered by railroad workers. Another recent act protecting mariners is the Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Safety Act of 1988.
Those maritime workers who are not considered ‘seamen’ are generally covered under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act.
Sources of Information Regarding Maritime Law and the Jones Act
Seaman Status in United States Under Admiralty La: A seaman is a US citizen who spends a significant amount of his/her time working as a crewmember or a captain on a US flagged vessel that is considered “in navigation” within the coastal waters and inland waterways of the US.
Merchant Marine Act of 1920, also known as the Jones Act, is a United States federal statute. Not only does the law regulates maritime commerce in U.S. waters and between U.S. ports, but it also formalizes the rights of seamen.
The Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act is the statutory workers' compensation provision that covers certain maritime workers, including most dock workers and maritime workers not otherwise covered by the Jones Act.
No matter what type of accident and injury you have suffered while working at sea, it is important to seek the services of a lawyer that is experienced in maritime law. This section of the law is extremely complex and requires experience and knowledge. Only a skilled maritime injury lawyer can help you get the full amount of compensation you need to support your family while recovering from your injuries.
To schedule a free consultation with an experienced maritime lawyer, please contact us today.
Additional Sources of Information Regarding Severe Maritime Injuries
The National limb Loss Resource Center The Center provides FREE comprehensive information and resources to people with limb loss and their families, friends as well as healthcare professionals.
Burn Rehabilitation Burn rehabilitation is unquestionably a difficult and time-consuming effort for the patient. Treatment goals and strategies vary, depending on the patient's injury, stage of treatment, age, and comorbidities.
Traumatic Brain Injury Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an extremely complex injury with a broad spectrum of symptoms and disabilities. The impact on the patient and his or her family can be devastating.
Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Treatment for spinal cord injuries is divided into to two stages: acute and rehabilitation. Beginning at the time of injury, the acute phase lasts until the person is stabilized. Once the person has stabilized and is ready to begin working toward his or her independence, the rehabilitation phase begins.