Maritime Accidents Legal Help

Working on the high seas is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. Rough seas, wet surfaces, large objects, heavy equipment…it’s the perfect storm for an accident to happen. Unfortunately many workers are injured and killed every year in the U.S. Fortunately there are laws that protect injured maritime workers and there are great lawyers that can help you and your family if you’ve been injured.

Offshore Injuries

According to the research, nearly 50% of all maritime accidents are caused by human error. That’s a high figure but it’s not the only reason people are injured while onboard sea vessels. Another 30% of maritime accidents happen as the result of failure on the part of a person to avoid an accident. This means that conditions that should have been dealt with properly by someone onboard the ship was not.

The main causes off injuries and accidents that occur at sea are:

• fire
• water-leaks
• gales
• collisions
• grounding
• falls
• equipment injuries

Injuries at Ports

Many injuries occur at local ports. As you can see from the chart below, some ports in the U.S. are incredibly busy with thousands of ships coming in an out of port. Naturally, there are more chances for injuries to occur simply due to volume.

U.S. Port Activity

Right to a Safe Working Environment

The law requires employers to make the working environment as safe as possible. Unfortunately, for many people that work on ships that is not the case. If you feel you are working in a dangerous environment where safety precautions are not being followed, consider filing a complaint with OSHA. Workers can file a complaint with OSHA by:

• Calling 1-800-321-OSHA (6742)
• Filling out an online complaint via eComplaint Form
• Printing a complaint form and mailing it to OSHA

If you feel like you are working in a dangerous environment where safety guidelines are not followed or if you just have questions, contact OSHA at 1-800-321-OSHA. Your information will be kept confidential.

If you (or a family member) have already been injured, contact us today for a free consultation. There is no charge and if we accept your case, there is no fee unless we recover money for you.