Blog Post


$400,000 RECOVERY FOR FISH BOAT DECKHAND

Posted by: James M. Beard
June 01, 2009
Topic: Marine Safety

Fish Boat Deckhands who are working ashore preparing their fishing boats for work at sea may recover compensation under the Jones Act for their negligent injury. Beard Stacey Trueb and Jacobsen recovered $400,000 in compensation for a fishing trawler deckhand who fractured his arm when he fell from the top of a net pile on the dock. In preparation to put the fishing net aboard the vessel, the 20,000-pound net bundle had been wrapped with a lifting strap. A forklift was then used to attempt to pull on the strap to tighten down the net. The strap was not safely anchored to the forklift, and came loose while under heavy tension. The negligence claim was based upon the improper and unsafe manner of work. It is important to recognize that seamen may still be in the services of the vessel and entitled to coverage under the Jones Act as long as they are doing ships work, even though their accidents occurred on shore. Under Federal maritime law, an injured crewman may recover benefits for pain and suffering, lost wages, medical bills, healthcare costs, retraining costs, and for physical and psychological injuries.