Injured Deckhand Rights & Compensation
There are few roles in the maritime industry as critical as the deckhand.
In addition to the manual labor they perform, deckhands provide maintenance for the ship and often serve as lookouts during navigation. With such a crucial role among the crew, it’s no surprise that deckhands are often injured at work. Dangerous conditions present a number of health hazards to all maritime workers, but this is especially true of deckhands.
Compensation for Injured Deckhands
Under the Jones Act, deckhands are classified as seamen and therefore are entitled to compensation after an injury on the job. A deckhand injury lawyer can help pursue the following kinds of compensation after an accident on board a ship or other vessel:
- Medical expenses, both past and future
- Wages lost out on due to the accident
- Current wages
- Future wages
- Pain and suffering
A Virginia deckhand and maritime injury lawyer who is well-versed in the Jones Act and other maritime laws can help those injured on the job. Different from other forms of workers’ compensation, the Jones Act entitles deckhands and other maritime workers to significant compensation.
The Jones Act and Deckhands
The Jones Act is a federal law that ensures maritime workers have the compensation they need to recover and recuperate fully after being injured on the job. One of the oldest laws on the books, the Jones Act serves as protection for deckhands and other maritime workers who become injured at work. The act requires stakeholders to provide a safe working environment and to provide compensation to those injured while on the job. The Jones Act requires that deckhands demonstrate that their employer was negligent and that their negligence contributed to their injuries. Examples include:
- Failure to provide adequate training
- Failure to provide supervision
- Failure to prevent hazardous environments, like leaving grease or oil on the deck of the vessel
- Failure to maintain equipment
A Virginia deckhand maritime lawyer can help anyone injured while working in the maritime industry. By aggressively pursuing the compensation owed under the Jones Act, an attorney can ensure you and your family have all you need to recover after an accident at work.
Deckhand Injuries
Working as a deckhand, one is exposed to a number of dangerous working conditions. Even when the weather is mild, heavy machinery and slippery decks provide the perfect storm of conditions for accidents. A maritime injury lawyer can help deckhands who have suffered the following kinds of injuries, among others:
- Head injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Back and spinal cord injuries
- Repetitive use injuries
Deckhands work long hours performing a wide range of duties. From painting and cleaning to checking tows and operating portable pumps, there’s no task too large or too small for deckhands. With that in mind, it’s no surprise injuries occur because of these common hazards:
- Lack of safety training
- Lack of safe equipment
- Fatigue
- Over-exertion
- Malfunctioning or defective equipment
- Collisions
Richard Serpe: An Attorney Who Understands Maritime Law
An experienced maritime lawyer can help you get the results, the settlement and the financial compensation you deserve. Richard Serpe gained a Master’s Degree in maritime law from Tulane University School of Law. He has also been awarded the rank of Proctor (the highest rank available) from the Maritime Law Association of the United States.
