Falls on Barges and Ships

Falls are one of the leading causes of serious injury and death on barges and maritime vessels. Ships working often operate in bad weather conditions, where wet and icy decks are common and ladders and stairs become slippery when wet and are oily and slick from the products they transport. Serious falls happen when workers on ships are required to work on elevated platforms, derricks, ladders or close to areas with great height differential. Often the deaths from falls are due to falls from unsecured ladders and scaffolding or from the improper use of personnel baskets or employers not supplying or requiring safety harnesses to be worn. Many other fall related deaths are due to unguarded deck openings, cargo holds, open hatches and manholes.

Some workers have been known to fall using the steps inside the barge tanks that are welded and built in to the tank walls. Those steps are known to be slick and some corrode due to their proximity corrosive cargo in the tanks. The Willis law firm represented such a maritime worker that fell 16-18 feet when the wall ladder inside the tank was partially corroded through, gave way causing our client to fall to the tanks bottom. He suffered an extensive neck, back injuries requiring multiple spinal surgeries and fusions. A Jones Act lawsuit was filed against his employer and barge owner. A significant and confidential settlement was reached after a Jones Act injury lawsuit was filed.

On many ships and barges unguarded deck edges and sides of ships can be a source of falls and fatalities. Many falls also occur while working are using high pressure hoses that often can whip due to change in pressure while using cleaning equipment. Under the Jones Act, the maritime employer owes the injured ship or vessel worker a daily wage known as maintenance and medical treatment known as cure and the employer may be liable if found even the slightest but negligent for other personal injury damages. Ship and barge owners have a duty to provide a safe vessel that has proper guards, barricades, nets and railings to prevent falls and injuries. When the ship owner fails in that duty, they may be found negligent and found negligent under the General Maritime Laws and land based legal claims.

Fall Injury Lawsuit

If you or a loved one has suffered a serious fall or other injury on a barge or ship, then call us immediately. We can help prevent your maritime employer, the insurance company’s adjuster or others from steering you to what best suits their bottom dollar, not yours. Get a maritime lawyer with over 30 years of experience on your side. Free and Confidential Case Review.

Talk to a Maritime Injury Lawyer Today at 1-800-883-9858 or fill out our online form.