There are hundreds of public and private ferries operating across the United States. In 2015 alone, they transported roughly 118.9 million passengers and 25 million vehicles. As a ferry worker, you are contributing daily to an important, modern mode of transportation that is highly efficient. However, you are also putting yourself at risk for injury every day you work.
If you suffer an injury on a ferry due to operator or owner negligence, or unseaworthiness of the vessel, you are eligible to pursue compensation under various maritime laws. With the aid of an experienced maritime injury attorney, you can establish a case against the negligent entity and fight for compensation for the injuries you sustained as a ferry worker in Oregon, Washington, California, or Alaska.
Lawyers for Injured Ferry Workers in Washington, Oregon, California, and Alaska
While ferries are an efficient form of transportation, they can also be dangerous to the employees that work on them, if the ferry owner or operator is negligent. If you are a ferry worker that has been injured while working on a ferry in Washington, Oregon, California, or Alaska due to the negligence of a fellow crewmember or your employer, contact the experienced maritime injury attorneys of Anderson Carey Williams & Neidzwski, LLP.
The skilled maritime injury lawyers of Anderson Carey Williams & Neidzwski, LLP will use their decades of combined experience and passion for maritime pursuits to fight for the maximum compensation you deserve. With offices in Seattle and Bellingham, Washington; Portland, Oregon; and San Francisco, California, the team helps clients all over the west coast. To find out what Anderson Carey Williams & Neidzwski, LLP can do for you as an injured ferry worker, call 1-800-262-8529 today and schedule your free initial case consultation.
Causes of Accidents Involving Ferry Workers
Whether you work on a passenger ferry, a car ferry, or a roll on/roll off ferry, you are exposed to a certain amount of risk that the vessel owner, operator, and employer are expected to reasonably mitigate. If this reasonable duty of care is violated and you suffer injury and/or other damages as a result, you may have a claim for compensation.
What constitutes negligence on a ferry varies widely according to the circumstances of your case. If you have suffered injury due to any of the following circumstances, your injury was likely caused by negligence:
- Improperly trained ferry crewmembers
- Unsafe ferry docking procedures
- Insufficient number of ferry crewmembers
- Improperly maintained ferry equipment
- Lack of proper ferry safety procedures, especially for mooring lines
- Improper manning
- Defective tools
- Snow or ice buildup on ferry decks
- Excessive engine or machinery noise/vibration
- Unseaworthiness
Accidents caused by these common circumstances on a ferry can result in serious injuries, such as broken bones, crush injuries, and head, neck, shoulder, back, or brain injuries. If you were injured while working on a ferry, it is best to first report the injury and seek medical care. Then, you should contact an experienced maritime attorney to discover the recovery options available to you as an injured ferry worker.
Recoverable Damages for Injured Ferry Workers
As a ferry worker, you likely qualify as a seaman and may be able to recover under both the Jones Act and the doctrine of unseaworthiness. This means that you can pursue damages from both the ferry owner and your employer, or a joint claim if they are the same entity. Damages you and your maritime injury attorney can fight to recover may include:
- Medical expenses
- Rehabilitation and occupational therapy expenses
- Mental health care for trauma
- Reduced earning capacity
- Professional retraining costs
- Disability and lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Even if your own negligence or the negligence of another ferry worker contributed to the accident, you likely still have grounds to recover. A skilled and passionate maritime injury attorney at Anderson Carey Williams & Neidzwski, LLP can determine which maritime law(s) applies to your case and pursue damages in the appropriate legal venues for your injury.
BOATLAW, LLP | Maritime Injury Lawyers for Washington, Oregon, California, and Alaska Ferry Workers
Working on a ferry is a difficult job riddled with risk. If you are a ferry worker in Washington, Oregon, California, or Alaska, including in the Bering Sea, Gulf of Alaska, and Puget Sound, and have suffered injury due to your employer’s negligence or the unseaworthiness of the vessel, contact the experienced maritime injury attorneys of Anderson Carey Williams & Neidzwski, LLP. The team has offices in Bellingham, Seattle, Portland, and San Francisco and are ready to help you with your maritime injury claim. Your first consultation is free, so call 1-800-262-8529 today and schedule yours.