A few years back it was estimated that an average of 5,015 non-fatal injuries occurred per 100,000 maritime workers every year.

Personal injury is also a key focus of maritime law, that provides maritime workers protection and remedy against offshore injuries. However, given the specificity of maritime law, you would need a specialized attorney – a maritime lawyer to make your case.

Maritime or admiralty law is a branch of law that specifically deals with disputes occurring at sea. These laws cover a wide variety of subjects like rules surrounding cargo, shipping, offshore conflicts and more.

Listed below are some of the most common kinds of maritime injuries. If any of your injuries are caused as a result of the following, you should pursue legal action against your employer.

1. Poor Safety Standards

Employees are able to make claims under the Jones Act when the injuries occur as a result of their employers’ negligence. Failure to adhere to safety standards like using signs to indicate hazardous zones, or providing employees with adequate protection or safety gear are two severe violations.

2. Faulty Equipment

Poor maintenance of equipment is a big reason for offshore injuries. Employees are required to operate all kinds of machinery on a regular basis, and any neglect towards ensuring they’re in good condition calls for employer liability under the Jones Act.

Employers are required to ensure all equipment is regularly inspected, fixed and taken care of for optimal safety during usage. Conveyor belt injuries, trawl winch injuries, cargo and crane injuries are quite common among maritime workers.

3. Oil or Other Spills

Slips and falls due to oil or grease spillage will also incur the liability of the employer. So if you’re wondering what to do after slipping on board, you should look into hiring a maritime lawyer to make your claim.

4. Improper Training

Before being asked to operate any kind of machinery or perform any dangerous task, every employer must be sufficiently trained. A lack of training is a failure on the part of the employer to perform his or her duties. Injuries that could have been avoided with proper instructions or training are a clear sign of negligence by the employers.

5. Human Error

An employer will be liable when fatigue, tiredness or sleep deprivation induce human error and injury.

Keep in mind that the human error here must be caused due to factors like working overtime, poor working conditions, improper sleeping schedules and other elements under the control of the employer.

How Do You Find a Good Maritime Lawyer?

Finding a maritime lawyer who is familiar with maritime law is imperative to your case. Given that it is a specialized branch of law, there are several peculiarities to it that a regular attorney may not be equipped to dealing with. So, make sure your lawyer has the relevant experience and knowledge to practice in this particular field.

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