Crush injuries are a devastating but all-too-common occurrence in the maritime industry. Sailors, longshoremen, and other maritime workers labor alongside some of the world's most powerful gear. Avoidable accidents occur and maritime injuries can be terrible. Those who are fortunate enough to survive a crush injury often experience long-term medical issues that may cause them to leave their employment permanently. However, with the help of an experienced maritime accident lawyer, you and your family may be able to obtain the financial security you deserve.
Depending on the magnitude of the damage, a crushing accident can result in serious maritime injuries such as amputations, crushed and fractured bones, and even death. Crush injuries can occur in a variety of ways in the maritime sector, including shifting cargo, a port vehicle or crane accident that pins a worker, or a fall overboard that causes someone to be crushed between two vessels.
Crush injuries can result in serious medical issues, lasting disability, and even death in some situations. As a maritime worker, you should not have to pay out of pocket for crush injuries.
Any injury induced by intense pressure to a part of the body that results in physical damage is referred to as a crush injury. It could be as simple as a bruise or as serious as broken, splintered bones or lungs that have collapsed or been punctured. Crush injuries to the legs and feet are common. Crushed upper extremity injuries are the most prevalent, followed by crushed torso injuries. Tissue damage is one of the most visible consequences of a crush injury. Skin damage, wounds and tears, shattered bones, wounded nerves, and organ damage can all result from a maritime injury.
Crush injuries may not appear to be life-threatening, yet they can be quite serious. A crushed limb, for example, might be terrible, but it can also result in death due to a medical condition known as rhabdomyolysis. This happens when the crushed muscle tissue starts to deteriorate. The components that have been broken down circulate in the bloodstream and must pass via the kidneys. The kidneys may be unable to process all of that material, causing them to get obstructed and cease to function. As a result, the blood becomes poisonous, which can be fatal. Crush syndrome is another name for this.
Crush injuries can also result when maritime workers come into unintentional contact with industrial equipment. Sadly, seamen continue to get trapped in heavy equipment like, winches, drums, and other hydraulics. As with many other workplace injuries, these crush injuries can usually be avoided with reasonable care, like:
Making certain that crewmembers have proper safety gear and clothing.
When dealing with moving parts, avoiding the use of rings or other jewelry.
Long hair should be pulled back to avoid getting caught and dragging you into moving machinery.
If you were injured on a vessel, on a pier, or offshore, and sustained a crush injury, you may be entitled to significant compensation for your pain and suffering, lost wages, and medical expenditures. If you were a longshoreman, you may have rights to workers' compensation under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act or maintenance and cure, regardless of who was at fault in the incident. If you are a seaman, the Jones Act allows you to seek maintenance and cure regardless of fault as well as compensation if you can prove that your employer was negligent. Anything that your employer should have provided, including training, equipment maintenance, a safety system, or safety equipment, but didn't, could be considered negligence.
Consult an attorney specializing in admiralty law at Mariner Law, PLLC to file your claim and determine what you may be due. Your dependents may have certain rights if you are killed in a crush accident, and a lawyer can be a valuable champion in ensuring that they receive what they are entitled to under the law. Call for a free consultation with a Jones Act attorney: (253) 600-2531. The firm proudly serves mariner clients in Washington, Oregon, New York, Connecticut, Alaska, and nationwide.