Maritime Accidents

Unfortunately, many accidents on fishing vessels occur on the Washington shores and throughout the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. Unlike most other types of personal injury claims, federal laws govern maritime accidents. Although workers' compensation benefits are not available to seamen and fisherman who are injured on the job, several federal laws aim to assist employees who have suffered maritime accident injuries.

Jones Act

The Jones Act is a federal law that allows crew members and crew masters on a vessel to bring claims against their employers for negligence. This Act applies to all crew members, including cooks, deckhands, and even entertainers, and all kinds of maritime vessels, including boats, ships, barges, tugboats, cruise ships, tour boats, fishing vessels, and ferries.

Injured maritime workers who sue their employers under the Jones Act can recover a variety of damages, including, but not limited to past and future lost wages, lost future earning capacity, past and future medical expenses, physical and psychological therapy, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and costs of retraining.

General Maritime Law and "Unseaworthiness"

Commercial boat owners must provide vessels for their employees that are considered "seaworthy." Seaworthiness generally means that the ship is safe to be used for its intended purpose. Unseaworthiness is a strict liability standard. This means that injured seamen do not have to prove the vessel's owner knew about the unseaworthiness. They need only prove that the dangers existed and people were injured as a result. Some of the conditions that can render a vessel unseaworthy include:

• Inadequate or missing safety equipment, including lifesaving equipment
• Failure to comply with safety regulations
• Undermanned boat or insufficient supervision
• Defective boat design
• Dangerous, defective, or insufficient tools or equipment
• Insufficient or improperly trained crewmembers
• Unreasonably slippery or obstructed decks

Seek Experienced Legal Representation

If you or a loved one has been injured in a maritime accident, it is important to hire an attorney who understands the complex legislation that governs these types of injuries. At the Corrie Yackulic Law Firm, LLC, we have extensive experience representing injured seamen and have a thorough understanding of the applicable laws. To schedule a free consultation to discuss your case, contact us today.