Drowning in the frigid ocean water is an ever-present risk for seamen and shipyard workers.
Generally, hypothermia and drowning can be prevented through proper implementation of safety measures by maritime employers or owners of the vessel on which you or your loved one served. If these safety measures were not followed or safety equipment was lacking, and you or a loved one suffered an injury due to hypothermia or drowned, you may be eligible for compensation. An experienced maritime accident attorney will sort through the details of your case and determine which laws are applicable, as well as what compensation you can pursue.
Attorneys for Maritime Employees Who Suffered Hypothermia in Alaska, California, Oregon, or Washington
The dedicated maritime injury attorneys of Anderson Carey Williams & Neidzwski, LLP have decades of combined experience pursuing compensation from maritime companies whose negligence resulted in injury or death to you or your loved one. Their dedication is founded on a personal passion for maritime pursuits.
If you have survived a fall overboard, a vessel sinking, or have lost a loved one who was a seafarer or shipyard worker to a drowning, there are various maritime laws that Anderson Carey Williams & Neidzwski, LLP can use to help you receive the maximum compensation you deserve. Your first consultation is free, so call 1-800-262-8529 to schedule yours today and find out what Anderson Carey Williams & Neidzwski, LLP can do for your maritime injury or wrongful death case. We serve clients across the U.S. and have offices in Bellingham and Seattle, WA; Portland, OR; and San Francisco, CA.
Drowning Accident Causes
Drowning rarely, if ever, looks anything like what is shown on television or in the movies. Often the victim doesn’t make any sound at all and barely has the energy and wherewithal to stay afloat, much less splash around to get attention (if the victim is even conscious). Frequently, maritime drowning incidents involve an injured, unconscious worker falling into the water. That is why the most important strategies in decreasing drowning accidents are safety and prevention. Hypothermia or drowning in the maritime industry can be caused by:
- an insufficient number of personal flotation devices and survival suits;
- faulty personal flotation devices;
- failure to educate maritime workers;
- failure to perform regular, routine safety inspections to ensure required flotation devices are worn;
- fatigue and exhaustion from overworking;
- failure to implement a buddy safety system so that no worker works alone;
- lack of drowning prevention equipment, such as life ring buoys, life rafts, and ladders that reach the water;
- failure of life rafts or other survival crafts;
- lack of safe access to and from the vessel;
- slip and fall or trip and fall;
- lack of fall prevention measures; or
- a vessel sinking.
Many accidents resulting in hypothermia or death by drowning can be prevented by operating and maintaining a seaworthy ship. This requires not only having the necessary safety equipment on board and functioning, but also having a maritime crew that is fully trained in safety procedures to prevent themselves and their fellow crewmembers from drowning.
The lack of these measures is negligence under the law and may qualify your hypothermia or wrongful death by drowning case for compensation under one or more maritime laws. An experienced maritime injury attorney will be able to examine your case and determine under which laws to pursue damages. Call Anderson Carey Williams & Neidzwski, LLP today for your free, no obligations consultation at 1-800-262-8529.
Recoverable Damages in Maritime Drowning Accidents
Falling overboard and suffering hypothermia is a serious emergency that either causes immediate death, serious injury, or death from injuries incurred during the incident. If you survive a drowning accident, there is a risk of severe brain injury, memory loss, and some level of disability—all of which require extensive medical care. If you lose a loved one to drowning, you have to endure the knowledge of their painful death as well as cope with funeral expenses, loss of income, and other expenses.
When negligence is a causal factor in the accident, these expenses may be covered under maritime law. An experienced maritime injury attorney will be able to determine if your case qualifies for the following damages:
- Pain and suffering
- Medical costs
- Rehabilitation costs
- Assisted living costs
- Loss of income
- Reduced capacity to work
- Funeral costs
- Loss of household services
- Loss of support
BOATLAW, LLP | Maritime Lawyers for Wrongful Death by Drowning
If you or a loved one has suffered injury or death due to a drowning accident caused by the negligence of a maritime employer, you have a right to pursue compensation. The compassionate, experienced maritime injury attorneys of Anderson Carey Williams & Neidzwski, LLP will fight to secure you maximum compensation in your case through whatever means possible. To schedule your free consultation with Anderson Carey Williams & Neidzwski, LLP, call 1-800-262-8529 today. We serve clients across the U.S. and have offices in Bellingham and Seattle, WA; Portland, OR; and San Francisco, CA.
