Commercial Fishing Accidents
Offshore Injury Lawyer
Commercial fishermen go out into the Gulf of Mexico in all kinds of weather to catch fish and shellfish to feed our nation. It's physically demanding and dangerous work and, unfortunately, some fishing boat owners disregard work safety. Every year, crew members on commercial fishing boats die in preventable accidents. From 2000 to 2009, 116 commercial fishermen died in the Gulf of Mexico, including many from falls overboard and traumatic on-board injuries. Commercial shrimpers were involved in an alarming number of fatal accidents and many more were seriously injured.
If you have been seriously injured or lost a loved one in a commercial fishingboat accidentthrough the fault of someone else, it's important to talk to an experiencedmaritime lawattorney at Arnold & Itkin LLP to understand your legal rights. You may be entitled to money for medical bills, lost income, as well as maintenance and cure. A Jones Act attorney at Arnold & Itkin LLP will review your accident free of charge and advise you on the best course of action. Call (888) 346-5024 today or use our online contact form.
Commercial Fishermen Have Special Legal Rights
Many maritime workers, including commercial fishermen who make a living on the water, have special legal rights because of the recognized hazards of their work. At Arnold & Itkin LLP, we believe in holding accountable those boat owners and operators who believe that federal work safety rules don't apply to their crew. According to a 2010 study by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, nearly half of the fatal commercial fishing accidents in the Gulf of Mexico from 2000 to 2009 were caused by falls overboard, including slips, trips and loss of balance. Falls overboard may be prevented by the addition of mesh guards and raised side rails. The Gulf of Mexico commercial fishing industry also had the highest percentage of deaths due to injuries involving entanglement in fishing gear, deck winches or other hazards.
Accidents On-Board Commercial Shrimp Boats Need Special Attention
Shrimpers accounted for 55 of the 116 commercial fishing fatalities in the Gulf of Mexico, including falls from outriggers. The commercial shrimp industry had, by far, the most fatal accidents of any fishery in the Gulf of Mexico. The industry needs special attention to reduce the number of fatal accidents, the federal work safety study said. Fatal injuries on shrimp boats may be reduced by installing emergency-stop buttons on deck winches and on other dangerous equipment. Danger zones onboard vessels should be clearly marked and safety drills held to train commercial fishing boat crew in orderly responses in the event of onboard accidents, fires, flooding or other vessel disasters.
The experienced maritime attorneys at Arnold & Itkin LLP understand fishing boat accidents, and we are committed to holding to account those commercial fishing boat owners and companies that cause harm to others through their careless disregard for safety. Arnold & Itkin LLP is based in Houston, Texas, and ourpersonal injurylawyers represent clients in commercial fishing accidents in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Texas. We are justifiably proud of our record of success as shown by the hundreds of millions of dollars of compensation that we have secured on behalf of our clients.
If you would like to discuss your accident with Arnold & Itkin LLP, please contact a commercial fishing accident lawyer from our firm as soon as possible!
