Fishing Boat Accidents

Hundreds of crew members have died in fishing boat accidents across the country. In 1990, the Aleutian Enterprise sank in the Bering Sea, which took the lives of nine individuals. Eleven years later the Arctic Rose sank in the same area, claiming 15 lives. Most recently, a fishing vessel sank off the New Jersey coast taking the lives of six crew members and leaving only one survivor to provide the details of the frightening fishing accident.

Commercial fishermen have one of the most dangerous jobs in the country. Injuries on fishing boats usually fall under the Jones Act. When a crew member is injured on a fishing boat, he or she is entitled to compensation, known as maintenance and cure. This compensation is provided while the injured fisherman recovers from the injuries incurred while working on the vessel. The Jones Act also allows workers to collect damages for injuries caused by negligence or an unseaworthy vessel.

A Jones Act lawsuit that claims negligence or unseaworthiness can result in compensation for past and future medical expenses, past and future lost wages, pain and suffering, disfigurement, mental anguish and damages associated with the injury. The amount of damages available in a Jones Act case depends on the details of the accident and should be discussed with a fishing boat injury attorney.

Fishing boat injuries can vary and may include burns, head injury, spinal cord injury and neck injury. There are many causes of fishing boat injuries including slippery decks, bad weather, wire cable and winch injuries, rough weather or high seas, neck and back lifting accidents and defective equipment. Mistakes are often to blame for fishing boat accidents, which can lead to serious injuries, even death. Sometimes fishing boat injury cases involve the negligence of a third party, such as a contractor or someone who works for a different employer. A third party claim can be made in addition to a Jones Act claim.

Fishing boat accident cases can be complex and require the expertise of a Jones Act attorney. Contact our law firm today if you have been injured on a fishing boat. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The legal consultation is free and confidential.

Be aware that there are deadlines to file injury claims and if you wait too long, you could miss your opportunity. Therefore, don’t delay in pursing legal advice regarding your fishing boat injury.