Working on and around ships can be exciting, but it is dangerous. Injuries to seamen are common and can be permanent or even fatal. Ensuring your employer upholds its obligations to you after an injury requires assistance from an experienced attorney.
Contact a Houston seaman injury lawyer at Williams Hart & Boundas. We have been advocating for injured people in the maritime industry for decades with great success. Our maritime injury attorneys know the law, and we use it to secure the compensation you and your family deserve.
Understand Your Rights
Seaman is a term that applies to anyone who spends a substantial portion of their working life offshore aboard a vessel in navigable waters. If you spend at least 30 percent of your time onboard, you qualify as a seaman.
Federal law protects seamen who suffer workplace injuries by guaranteeing them maintenance and cure. The ship’s owner must provide free medical care, daily expenses, and a partial wage while the seaman is unable to work.
An important right is codified at 46 United States Code § 30104, which allows a seaman to bring an action against their employer. The damages you win in a lawsuit can include reimbursement for expenses not covered by maintenance, diminished future earnings, plus compensation for your pain and suffering. Our attorneys have represented numerous Houston seamen and the families of fatally injured seamen in legal actions against their employers and won substantial damages.
Common Accidents Involving Seamen
Working at sea involves many dangers. One of the most obvious is that a seaman may fall overboard and possibly drown, but there are several other hazards on the job that can injure seamen.
Malfunctioning equipment, slippery surfaces, or the violent motion of the ship can lead to falls that cause severe head injuries or spinal cord injuries. Unsecured cables and equipment can lead to crush injuries, amputations, and disfiguring facial injuries. Other common hazards include:
- Toxic substances
- Fires and explosions
- Exposure to infectious diseases
Medical care at sea is rudimentary, and the ship’s owner might not act appropriately to remove you from the vessel when you are ill or injured. The lack of immediate, effective care can have long-term consequences that lead to permanent injury or death. Our Houston seaman injury attorneys will ensure the ship’s owner compensates you for your injury-related losses that they are liable for.
How Do You Prove the Owner Is Liable?
A lawsuit seeking damages for a seaman usually asserts that the employer did not maintain a seaworthy workplace. To be seaworthy, a vessel must be structurally sound and equipped to accomplish its purpose. Other requirements for seaworthiness include that:
- An appropriate number of crew members are employed
- Safety procedures are consistently monitored and enforced
- All crew members are trained in effective safety procedures
- The crew members are properly screened and well-trained
- Equipment, tackle, and gear are stowed securely when not in use
- All equipment necessary for the vessel’s safe operation is present and in good order
Faulty navigation or communication equipment, insufficient wholesome food or clean water, and inadequate sanitation are also indicators of unseaworthiness.
Our experienced seaman injury attorneys in Houston understand the various scenarios that indicate a vessel was not seaworthy at the time of an incident. They will investigate the circumstances of your injury to build a compelling case against the ship’s owner.
Consult a Houston Attorney About Your Seaman Injury
Many seamen love their work, but workplace injuries can cut a career short. When a ship’s owner does not provide a seaworthy environment, a Houston seaman injury lawyer can sue them for the losses you suffered. At Williams Hart & Boundas, we offer free consultations, so call us today to discuss your maritime injury with our team.