Primary Causes of Maritime Accidents

If you or a family member is injured or suffer a loss while on a Cruise Ship call our Law Firm. Many do not realize that cruise ships and the companies that run them fail to take reasonable measures, on a regular basis, to ensure a safe passage for their passengers and guests. Hundreds of individuals have suffered personal injuries or even death due to the negligence of  crewmembers or others. Injuries occur everyday because crew members fail to follow simple safety precautions. In some cases passengers have been attacked because of a lack of security on most ships. Common Cruise Ship Accidents include; injuries due to falls, poor equipment, sexual battery or assaults by crew members or other passengers, bad  food, food poisoning, and severe injuries while on excursions.

If you or a loved one has been injured or suffered a loss call the Texas Law Firm of Carabin Shaw at 800-862-1260.

A cruise ship or cruise line may be responsible for injuries you receive while on board the cruise ship or while on an excursion. If you are injured while off the cruise ship, you should obtain any and all information you can about your situation.

SOMEONE IS ALWAYS WATCHING: Most cruise ships are equipped with video surveillance cameras that may have captured your accident. Cruise line employees are directed by the company to make notes and observations about passengers who have been injured. People who will be observing you include; your cabin steward, purser, waiters, bartenders, the doctor and medical staff, and all others you contact regularly.

CALL US WHEN YOU GET HOME & GET A SECOND MEDICAL OPINION: The quality of medical care on board a vessel is sometimes questionable. Cruise ship medical facilities can be inferior to even your basic walk-in clinic. Many do not even have working X-Ray machines.

• Write down the name, address and phone number of all potential witnesses; including, all crewmembers and passengers that you have contact with.
• Take pictures of your injuries.
• Demand a copy of all of your medical records and other documents before leaving the ship.
• If you are out to sea or in a foreign country and your injuries are severe; demand that the cruise line fly you back to the USA for medical treatment.
• Keep all of your cruise documentation.
• Keep a copy of your incident report.
• Contact a crew member and the ship’s doctor immediately.
• Take photographs to document the condition(s) that caused your injury.

It is inherently dangerous to work at sea. To provide a safe working environment, Ships and Workers alike must be seaworthy. When maritime accidents happen, the vessel is often far from help. When a crew member is burned in an explosion, or if the vessel has capsized because of extreme weather conditions, getting outside assistance can be delayed. If a vessel loses power and is “floundering” in stormy waters, collisions with other ships, or permanent structures and even land can occur.

There are dozens of causes for maritime accidents. Many of them are unavoidable like severe or extreme weather conditions. Other accidents are caused in part, or even entirely by negligence. If a maritime accident was the result of someone’s negligence, workers injured in the accident can claim compensation for damages caused by the accident under the Jones Act and other Admiralty laws.

A considerable portion of maritime accidents can be attributed directly to human error. Conditions at sea can be severe. This means that crew members need to be well trained, and alert to dangerous situations. This can prevent many accidents from happening. Unfortunately there are many factors at sea that can contribute to accidents with disastrous consequences.

Here are some causes of human errors that have led to maritime accidents:

• Long Hours, Lack of sleep leading to Fatigue
• Inexperience, and lack of training
• Long voyages, extended time at sea
• Personal relationships aboard the vessel
• Reckless Behavior, including abuse of drugs and alcohol
• Poor decision making and/or negligence
• Pressures and stress of Job Duties

Offshore and maritime workers encounter numerous dangers. The specific dangers faced depend a lot on what type of job their vessel is doing. A fisherman who works at sea for extended periods of time will face different hazards than a worker on an offshore oil platform. One thing remains constant: Working at sea is dangerous.

Examples of Common Maritime Accidents include:

• Explosions
• Fires
• Shifting of improperly secured cargo leading to injury
• Slips and Falls
• Poor/improperly stowed equipment.
• Steering/navigational failures
• Running Aground
• Collisions with other vessels, or permanent structures.
• Many others

If you have been injured while working at sea, consulting with a qualified maritime attorney is a crucial step. A maritime attorney will help you determine if your accident was the cause of negligence, and what type of compensation you can seek under the different types of Admiralty Law. Carabin Shaw has a qualified, experienced team of attorneys that will work for you to protect your interests. If you have been injured in the service of a Maritime Vessel or while performing other maritime duties, contact Carabin Shaw day or night, 7 days a week for a free consultation. 800-862-1260