Deckhands are a vital part of ship operations. They provide critical manual services on a wide range of vessel types. Deckhands’ duties can include unloading and loading cargo, performing maintenance on the vessel, handling lines and cables, and more. Unfortunately, there are many opportunities in a deckhand’s line of work for severe injury. If and when an injury does occur, the injured deckhand should consult an attorney to determine his or her options for recovery.
BoatLaw, LLP is a maritime injury law firm representing injured maritime workers, longshoremen, dock workers, and defense base employees nationwide. We fight for maximum compensation, even if your claim was previously denied. With decades of success in worker’s compensation, injury, and wrongful death cases, our experienced attorneys are ready to protect your rights. Call 1-800-BOATLAW today for a FREE, no-obligation consultation, or submit a contact form and our legal team will reach out to you ASAP.
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Washington, Alaska, California, and Oregon Attorneys for Deckhands
A skilled maritime attorney can represent you if you’ve been the victim of an injury at sea. At Boatlaw, we have decades of experience representing seamen, including those who have worked as deckhands throughout the Pacific Northwest, including the Gulf of Alaska and the Bering Sea. Call us today at 1-800-262-8529 to schedule a free consultation.
We are qualified to represent clients in federal and state courts in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and California.
Information for Injured Deckhands
The Jones Act Is Applicable to Deckhands
If you are hurt in an accident on land, you may know to turn to the court closest to where the injury occurred. However, there are no courts at sea, where a deckhand works. Instead, injuries sustained aboard vessels are governed by maritime law.
The Merchant Marine Act of 1920, often called the “Jones Act” after its author, governs the ability of those who work on the ocean to recover for their injuries. The law gives “seamen” the right to sue an employer in the case of injuries they suffer while in the service of vessels.
A “seaman”, for the purposes of the Jones Act, is an employee who 1) contributes to the accomplishment of a vessel’s mission or function, 2) is in the service of a vessel in navigation, and 3) has a “substantial connection” to the vessel. The “substantial connection” test examines both nature and duration of service.
Generally, deckhands are covered by the Jones Act and are able to recover under this federal law.
Types of Injuries Deckhands Suffer
Deckhands usually have multiple job responsibilities on a ship. Therefore, there tend to be multiple ways that a deckhand can be hurt. Some of these injury causing circumstances may include:
- Cuts, amputations, and broken bones while handling lines and cables;
- Burns due to fires and explosions while doing cleaning and maintenance; or
- Shoulder and spinal cord injuries while loading and unloading cargo.
Employers and vessel operators are required to have adequate policies and procedures in place for the safety of deckhands and other seamen onboard a ship. Failure to have such procedures in place, or failure to have adequate supervision to ensure the procedures are followed, may result in employer or vessel owner liability for injuries to crewmembers.
It is also the responsibility of vessel owners to ensure that their ships are “seaworthy”. If a ship sinks because of faulty design, poor construction, or inadequate maintenance, the vessel owner may be liable for injuries and/or deaths caused by the sinking. A ship is also considered unseaworthy if its staff is not sufficiently qualified, sufficiently equipped, or sufficient in number.
If you are the spouse, child, or dependent of a deckhand lost at sea due to negligence, you may be able to recover under the Death on the High Seas Act. Your recovery may include economic losses such as loss of support. The Jones Act may also cover certain losses relating to the death of a provider.
Boatlaw LLP | Attorneys for Deckhands Injured in the Pacific Northwest
If you are a deckhand who suffered an injury on board a ship for which you were a crewmember, or if your family member or loved one was a deckhand lost at sea, you have the right to seek compensation. An experienced maritime lawyer from Boatlaw LLP can help you obtain that compensation. With offices in Bellingham, Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, Boatlaw LLP serves the maritime workers of the Pacific Northwest, including those working in Washington, Oregon, California, and Alaska. Call us today at 1-800-262-8529 for a free consultation.
This article was last updated on Wednesday, August 1, 2018.
