Houma Shrimping Boat Accident Lawyer
Shrimp boats are complex vessels which can cause serious injuries or death when waters get rough, equipment breaks, or workers are exposed to dangerous conditions.
Anyone who has been injured while on a shrimp boat should contact a Houma shrimping boat accident lawyer to discuss the accident and their injuries, review who might be responsible for their injuries, and determine which course of action might be best for their situation. An experienced maritime injury attorney can help you pursue the compensation you deserve.
High Fatality and Injury Rates Among Fishermen
Those who earn their living working on any type of boat understand just how dangerous conditions can be, especially during extreme weather conditions. While the job simply has to get done, sometimes shortcuts and unnecessary risks are taken which put shrimpers at risk of serious injury or death.
According to the Centers for Disease Prevention & Control (CDC), workers in the commercial fishing industry, including those who work on shrimping boats, generally have the highest occupational fatality and injuries rates in the United States. As a Houma attorney can further explain, some of the most common causes of injury or death on shrimping boats include:
- Drowning as a result of vessels sinking, capsizing, and workers falling overboard
- Becoming entangled in machinery and nets
- Being injured by winches
- Being exposed to harmful substances or environments such as contact with electric currents
- Inhaling toxic substances
Possible Compensation for Maritime Accidents
Regardless of how an accident occurred, Louisiana shrimpers who have been injured while working on vessels at sea or in while performing other duties while in harbors or shipyards may be entitled to compensation from various sources, including the Longshore & Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, the Jones Act, and claims related to unseaworthy vessels – often referred to as vessel negligence claims.
Each of these potential forms of recovery may provide injured workers with medical coverage for illness and injuries suffered while performing their duties, compensation for lost wages, vocational rehabilitative services, and more.
While every case is unique and will depend on the facts and circumstances surrounding the situation, a shrimping boat accident attorney can review the situation and determine what types of compensation may be available and from whom. This is where having an experienced Houma shrimping boat accident attorney can help the most. Individuals can find out more about what types of compensation their injuries may qualify for.
Talk to a Houma Shrimping Boat Accident Attorney Today
Anyone who has been injured in Louisiana when working on a shrimping boat should contact an experienced Houma shrimping boat accident lawyer to determine what types of compensation may be available to them.
This can include lost income, the payment of medical expenses to those whose injury will heal to vocational rehabilitation services and possibly Social Security Disability (SSD – also known as Social Security Disability Insurance – SSDI) to those who may have become permanently disabled.
Keep in mind that there may be other avenues to receiving the compensation you need to provide for your family that are not readily apparent as the laws which govern maritime and admiralty accidents are complex and often seem to overlap. Contact Kopfler & Hermann today to learn more and get help.