Commercial Fishing Accidents and Injury Claims

According to the CDC, commercial fishing is the most dangerous job in the United States. 

Commercial Fishing Dangers

Commercial fishing accidents often result in significant injuries or death.  Accidents often occur when:

• Employers fail to comply with commercial fishing safety regulations or commercial fishing health regulations.  For example, fishing boats are required to have certain safety equipment on board including enough immersion suits for everyone on board the boat.  Immersion suits are specifically designed to protect someone in the cold ocean water.
• Crewmembers are negligent.  If a crewmember fails to act like a reasonable crewmember would act given the circumstances and injuries result then a crewmember, captain, or boat owner may be found liable for negligence.  For example, if equipment is not properly maintained, if fishermen are forced to work in extreme weather, if the deck is not properly cared for and maintained then serious injuries or fatalities can result.

These types of accidents most often give rise to serious injuries in slip and fall accidents, equipment related accidents and fishermen falling overboard.  Brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones and death can occur.

How to recover Damages for a Commercial Fishing Injury

If you have suffered a serious injury, or lost a loved one, in a commercial fishing accident then you may be able to claim legal damages pursuant to the Death on the High Seas Act, the Jones Act or a common law tort action. 

The first step to collecting damages is to hire a maritime lawyer who has experience with Death on the High Seas Act and Jones Act cases.  Your lawyer can help you determine if an employer failed to comply with commercial fishing safety regulations or commercial fishing health regulations or if negligence caused the injuries.  If the employer failed to take reasonable safety measures or if the employer or a crewmember failed to exercise a reasonable standard of care then you may be entitled to damages for your injuries.  Your lawyer can help you file a lawsuit and recover damages such as medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering.