The knee is the largest joint in the human body, connecting the femur (thighbone) to the tibia (shin bone) and the patella (kneecap). Ligaments, tendons, and muscles connect to the fibula and the other bones to allow for movement and to stabilize the knee. An injury to any of these critical components could adversely affect a person’s ability to walk, run, perform physical labor, or otherwise fully enjoy life.
Maritime workers are especially susceptible to knee injuries, given the demanding, physical nature of their work. Workers in the maritime industry can suffer knee injuries aboard a ship, barge, tugboat, fishing vessel, or on the docks while loading or unloading cargo.
Most maritime-related knee injuries are covered under federal maritime and admiralty law, which provides for “maintenance and cure” benefits to pay medical expenses for injuries incurred by seamen who are injured in the service of a ship. Additionally, the federal Jones Act provides for compensation for injuries that occur due to negligence. Seafarers are also owed a warranty of seaworthiness, which ensures that a vessel and its equipment and gear are all reasonably fit for their intended purpose. A breach of the warranty imposes liability on the vessel owner, regardless of the owner’s knowledge of the defective condition, if it results in injury to the seaman.
Damages that may be recoverable include lost wages in the past and future, compensation for the inability to work as before, medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of the ability to enjoy life.
Attorneys for Maritime Knee Injury in Washington, Oregon, California, and Alaska
If you suffered a knee injury in a maritime or admiralty accident, contact an experienced maritime attorney at Anderson Carey Williams & Neidzwski, LLP to discuss your knee injury claim.
Negligence or unsafe conditions may have contributed to your injuries. Your legal rights include compensation for a knee injury if you are no longer able to work or cannot resume regular duties at a previous job due to your injury.
The maritime lawyers at Anderson Carey Williams & Neidzwski, LLP have decades of combined experience in maritime law. We are familiar with many of the injuries that occur at sea or in port and we know when they could have reasonably been prevented.
We have recovered just compensation for many maritime workers over the years. We realize that a knee injury can be catastrophic and may prevent a person from working to support their family and enjoying life. In addition, the financial repercussions can persist indefinitely.
The attorneys at Anderson Carey Williams & Neidzwski, LLP are experienced in maritime knee injury cases, including fractures; dislocations; ligament tears and sprains; and cartilage, meniscus and tendon sprains and tears.
Some of our clients require surgery and long periods of rehabilitation, while others suffer serious, long-lasting physical damage that surgery and rehabilitation cannot fully correct. We fight for proper compensation for all of our clients.
Our clients come to us from throughout the Pacific Northwest, and we have offices in Seattle and Bellingham, Washington; San Francisco, California; and Portland, Oregon. Many maritime employment contracts require the injured maritime worker to litigate against the employer in a certain venue, often Seattle.
If you suffered a maritime knee injury due to employer negligence, unsafe conditions, or defective equipment, contact the knowledgeable maritime injury attorneys at Anderson Carey Williams & Neidzwski, LLP by calling 1 (800) 262-8529. We can help you get the medical treatment you need and compensation you deserve in order to get you back on your feet.
Causes of Maritime Knee Injuries
By their nature, many jobs on board a ship or along the docks are physically demanding occupations. Some knee injuries happen in a moment, but other knee injuries occur gradually over time as a result of continued stress.
Some of the most common causes of knee injuries to seafarers, commercial fishermen, longshoremen, and other maritime workers include:
- Slip and falls on wet surfaces
- Sudden or unexpected waves in rough seas
- Heavy lifting
- Improper fall protection equipment for high-elevation tasks
- Improper handling of mooring lines, tow lines, and winch cables
- Equipment failure
- Faulty vessel or vessel equipment design
- Fatigue
If a shipping company or other maritime employer fails to teach proper safety techniques or provide necessary equipment, a knee injury may result. Such failure is often negligence, which could expose a company to liability under the Jones Act or other maritime law.
Types of Maritime Knee Injuries
Some types of maritime-related knee injuries include:
- Bone fractures
- Dislocations
- Patella (kneecap) injuries
- Ligament strains, sprains, and tears — including the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament), PCL (posterior cruciate ligament), MCL (medial collateral ligament), and LCL (lateral collateral ligament)
- Meniscus strains, sprains, and tears
- Tendon strains, sprains, and tears
A dedicated maritime and admiralty attorney may be able to help you recover damages from the party responsible for your knee injury if you were injured at sea or on the docks and, as a result, incurred unpaid medical expenses or were unable to work temporarily or permanently.
Knee injuries can result in extreme discomfort, or worse, a permanent disability, so it is important to know your legal rights if you suffered a knee injury while working in the maritime industry. The attorneys at Anderson Carey Williams & Neidzwski, LLP can help you get the medical treatment you need.
Treatment for the injury and other related medical expenses may be required for many months or years. Complex medical procedures such as MRIs and X-rays, or invasive medical procedures — including reconstructive surgery or a partial or total knee replacement — may be required to restore normal function.
Knee injuries may result in a prolonged period of recovery and unemployment. Improper training and inadequate equipment both cause and contribute to knee injuries in the maritime industry. Shipping companies are required to train workers on safe and proper techniques, but sometimes, serious knee injuries occur during shipping operations.
Additional Resources
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) — Knee Injuries — AAOS maintains an informative website that includes information about knee injuries and treatments, as well as articles about specific types of knee injuries.
Find an Attorney for Maritime Knee Injuries in Washington, Oregon, California, and Alaska
The long-term effects of a maritime knee injury can be devastating. If a maritime-related knee injury is serious, the financial implications can extend for many years and render a person unable to resume previous employment and other normal activities.
You should not allow a maritime-related knee injury to drain your financial resources or prevent you from living a full and prosperous life. Call Anderson Carey Williams & Neidzwski, LLP at 1 (800) 262-8529 or submit an online form to schedule an appointment to meet with our dedicated maritime attorneys today.
