As the most dangerous job in the United States, all commercial fishermen face many risks every day. For those aboard processing vessels, these risks are increased – or perhaps just specialized – due to the dangerous fish processing equipment onboard. All of these risks can be controlled with specific safety measures and training.
However, if a company overworks their employees or becomes more concerned with their bottom line, this duty of care may fall to the side and cause injuries. If you have suffered an injury on a fish processing ship due to negligence like this by your maritime employer, an experienced Seattle commercial fishing injury attorney can help sort through your case and determine what compensation you may be eligible for.
Oregon, Washington, Alaska, and California Fish Processing Vessel Injury Attorney
Whether you are a deckhand on a freezer trawler in the North Pacific or an equipment operator on a longline factory vessel in the Gulf of Alaska, you have the right to compensation after an on-the-job injury due to your employer’s negligence. The Oregon maritime injury attorneys of BOATLAW, LLP based out of Bellingham, Portland, and Seattle has decades of combined experience handling cases like yours. For a free initial case review about the civil justice and compensation your case may qualify for under maritime laws like the Jones Act, contact BOATLAW, LLP today by calling 1-800-262-8529.
Fish Processing Vessel Injuries
In addition to the usual risks of being a maritime worker and the risks of being a commercial fisherman, there are other hazards involving the dangerous processing machinery on board. If proper safety procedures are not taught or appropriate safety guards and equipment are dysfunctional or not in place, a fish processor could suffer a very serious injury. Accidents aboard these vessels most commonly involve the following injuries:
- Shoulder, neck, and back injuries
- Knee injuries
- Broken bones
- Repetitive use injuries
- Frostbite
- Amputated fingers
- Lost limbs
These injuries can be caused on a fish processing vessel by anything from a slip and fall to having an arm get caught in processing equipment. When the accident is due to a lack of safety measures or other negligence, you could have a maritime injury claim. An experienced Oregon fish processor injury attorney will be able to fight for the most favorable compensation through settlement or by taking your case to trial.
Fish Processing Vessel Claimable Damages in Washington
All fish processing vessels, including freezer trawlers, longline factory vessels, purse seine freezer vessels, stern trawlers, and squid jiggers or any other vessel that guts, decapitates, filets, skins, shucks, ices, freezes, or brine chills a kind of seafood, are protected under maritime laws like the Jones Act. If you are injured aboard one of these processing vessels you are entitled to maintenance and cure no matter who carries the fault. If the injury was due to your processor employer’s negligence, these same laws give you the ability to pursue other damages, including:
- All medical expenses related to the incident
- Rehabilitation
- Reduced or eliminated earning capacity
- Lost wages
- Disability
- Pain and suffering
- Possible punitive damages for gross negligence
BOATLAW, LLP | Maritime Injury Lawyer for Processing Vessels
If you have suffered an injury on a fish processing vessel due to your maritime employer’s actions or inactions, contact the experienced Portland maritime injury attorneys of BOATLAW, LLP today. We will work together as a team to fight for the most favorable compensation in your case, whether that requires a settlement or going to trial. Your first consultation is free, so call BOATLAW, LLP today at 1-800-262-8529 to schedule yours.
