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Cargo Operations

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, three and a half maritime cargo handlers are absent for every 100 workers due to workplace illness or injury. This is almost four times the average of all other industries. Many of these accidents are caused by vessel negligence in not providing adequate equipment, training, or procedures for their crewmembers. Cargo handlers can sue negligent vessel owners under the Longshore and Harbor Worker’s Compensation Act (LHWCA).

Safety measures are critical in preventing cargo operation injuries onboard a ship and on the dock. If you have suffered an injury working while serving as a crew member on a cargo operation and believe it is your employer’s fault and/or the fault of an involved third party, an experienced maritime accident attorney can help you pursue compensation. Vessel crew members have a cause of action for injuries caused by negligence during cargo operations under the Jones Act.

Maritime Injury Attorneys for Cargo Operations Accidents Serving Washington, Oregon, California, and Alaska

With decades of combined experience handling maritime cases like yours, the maritime injury attorneys of BoatLaw, LLP will fight to get you the compensation you deserve as a result of the injury you sustained during cargo operations. Since cargo workers perform duties both on the water and on the docks, it can be tricky figuring out which maritime law or laws govern your claim.

Our dedicated team of maritime injury attorneys will sort through the details and work with you to determine the optimal avenue to maximum recovery.

The attorneys at BoatLaw, LLP serve the Pacific Northwest, including the states of Washington, California, Oregon, and Alaska. For your free consultation to discuss what BoatLaw, LLP can do for your cargo operation injury case, call 1 (800) 262- 8529 today.


Cargo Operation Accident Information Center


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Causes of Maritime Cargo Operation Accidents

Maritime cargo operation workers face many hazardous conditions and occupational risks every day they are on the job. Whether handling toxic cargo; unloading cargo onto a dock; loading cargo onto a ship; or working in container terminal operations, roll-on terminal operations, roll-off terminal operations, or Ro-Ro terminal operations, your job puts you in danger of injury.

Risks of injury can usually be controlled by proper safety measures and procedures. However, too often maritime companies are more concerned about their bottom line than the well-being of their crew. Negligence regarding safety measures and procedures can result in the following accident-causing situations:

  • Crewmember fatigue
  • Improperly secured or guarded gangways
  • Poorly trained industrial truck operators, such as forklift drivers
  • Improperly loaded cargo and/or unbalanced cargo
  • Cargo that is poorly stacked
  • Cargo too heavy for a worker to handle personally
  • Shifting of improperly secured cargo
  • Hazardous cargo containers that are faulty or leak
  • Lack of safety training in heavy lifting
  • Lack of safety equipment for heavy lifting, such as back braces
  • Unguarded moving equipment parts, such as on cranes
  • Heavy equipment that is negligently operated
  • Cranes made unsafe by deterioration from sand and salt water
  • Faulty or otherwise unsafe conveyor belts
  • Failure to notify employees of and block entrance into crane’s swing radius

Any time an accident occurs due to circumstances such as an untrained crewmember, faulty equipment, or a lack of safety equipment availability, it may be considered negligence on the part of the maritime employer or vessel owner. When an injury occurs, the injured cargo operations worker or vessel crewmember should contact an experienced maritime injury attorney to determine a course of action to pursue compensation.


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Common Maritime Cargo Operation Accident Injuries in Washington, Oregon, California, and Alaska

Working in cargo operations frequently involves heavy lifting and the operation of dangerous machinery. In busy maritime environments, negligence, such as a lack of safety measures, can be a formula for injury and disaster. Some of the injuries common to maritime cargo handlers include:

  • Repetitive use injuries
  • Knee injuries
  • Head, neck, and shoulder injuries
  • Back injuries
  • Fractured, broken, or shattered bones (such as from a crushing accident)
  • Spinal cord Injuries
  • Brain injuries
  • Chemical burns
  • Burns from excessive heat, fire, or explosions
  • Hypothermia and other near-drowning injuries, such as brain damage
  • Paraplegia and quadriplegia

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Recoverable Damages in Maritime Cargo Operation Accidents

Because cargo operations occur both at sea and on land, there are two acts under which your claim may qualify for compensation. The Jones Act provides for damages to seamen engaged in cargo operations, while the LHWCA is essentially a worker’s compensation law for shipyard and dock workers. The LHWCA also provides a negligence action for longshoremen, shipyard, and dock workers injured as a result of vessel negligence. The application of these and other maritime laws to your case can get complicated, so it is recommended you hire an experienced maritime injury attorney to guide you through the process of seeking any of the following damages:

  • Expanded maintenance and cure
  • Medical bills
  • Lost wages
  • Living expenses
  • Reduced earning capacity
  • Disability
  • Pain and suffering
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Disfigurement

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BoatLaw, LLP | Maritime Injury Lawyers for Cargo Operations Accidents

If you are one of the many maritime cargo workers that has been injured on the job, you shouldn’t suffer in silence or accept whatever payment is offered from an employer who is more worried about their bottom line than you. Call the experienced and compassionate maritime injury attorneys at BoatLaw, LLP today. Your first consultation is free, so call 1 (800) 262-8529 now and begin the process to achieving maximum compensation in your cargo operations injury case. The attorneys at BoatLaw, LLP serve the Pacific Northwest, including the states of Washington, California, Oregon, and Alaska.


 

  • The Maritime Law Association of The United States
    The Maritime Law Association of the United States (MLA) was founded in 1899. Its formation was prompted by the organization, some three years earlier, of the International Maritime Committee.
  • Washington State Bar Association
    The Washington State Bar Association operates under the delegated authority of the Washington Supreme Court to license the state's nearly 40,000 lawyers and other legal professionals.
  • Oregon State Bar
    The Oregon State Bar is a government agency in the U.S. state of Oregon. Founded in 1890 as the private Oregon Bar Association, it became a public entity in 1935 that regulates the legal profession.
  • Alaska Bar Association
    The Alaska Bar Association is a mandatory bar association responsible to the Alaska Supreme Court for the admission and discipline process of attorneys for the State of Alaska.