Fishing Boat Accident Attorneys in Houston

The Port of Houston, as one of the busiest seaports in the country, supports a massive commercial fishing industry. Commercial fishing is not only thriving but is also one of the deadliest occupations in the maritime industry.

Relentless hours, back-breaking labor, and unsafe work conditions are among the risk factors. If your work on a fishing boat leaves you injured, it’s time to consult with an experienced Houston maritime injury attorney.

Injury Risks in the Commercial Fishing Industry

There is a range of risk factors related to fishing vessels that put those who work on them at increased danger of injury or death, including (according to NOAA):

  • The age, condition, and level of maintenance of the fishing vessel

  • The safety regulations employed on the fishing vessel

  • The factor of human competency

  • The factor of weather conditions

The result of poor safety, hazardous conditions, and other unforeseen circumstances can be:

  • Vessel disasters

  • Falls overboard

  • Slip and fall accidents on the fishing vessel

  • Accidents involving the machinery on the fishing vessel

  • Injuries related to the repetitive motion inherent to the job

Safety Regulations for Fishing Industry Vessels

Of all the risk factors those who engage in the commercial fishing industry face, vessel disasters are most closely associated with fatalities. In response, the U.S. government created the Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Safety Act of 1988. This act affords the Coast Guard the authority to implement safety regulations that include carrying specific minimums in relation to life-saving equipment.

Can You Be Compensated for Injuries on a Fishing Boat?

The Jones Act —  and maritime law in general — grant those who work on commercial fishing boats the right to pursue damages as a result of negligence on the part of the commercial fishing company, including a boat that isn’t seaworthy.

You can seek compensation for all the following losses:

  • Maintenance and cure benefits, which is a dollar amount assigned to daily living expenses and your healthcare expenses until you reach maximum medical improvement.

  • Your future healthcare needs as a result of your work-related injuries

  • Your lost income due to time lost on the boat

  • Your physical and emotional pain and suffering, which – in relation to a serious injury or terrifying accident – can be challenging to overstate

Your Houston fishing boat accident lawyer will strive to ensure that every category of loss you experience is carefully represented in your strong injury claim.

How to Report a Work Injury on a Fishing Boat

If you have been injured in your work on a commercial fishing boat, there are a range of basic steps you should take to help ensure your fullest recovery possible and to help protect your legal rights.

Obtain the medical attention you need

The first order of business is tending to your health. Without the proper medical care early on, your injuries can progress into something far more challenging to treat effectively. Carefully following your healthcare provider’s instructions and advice is important not only for your health but also for your injury claim.

Report your work-related injury

Let your supervisor, boss, or employer know that you were injured on the fishing boat as soon as you are able to do so, and make sure that your report is in writing. The fishing company should have a protocol for accidents on the boat, and carefully following their requirements is key — as is maintaining copies of everything you submit.

Reach out to a lawyer who accepts fishing boat accident cases

Fishing industry injury claims are notoriously complicated, which makes it important to reach out to a trusted maritime injury attorney early in the process. Your attorney will take on a range of important tasks that support your legal rights.

How Can We Help With a Fishing Boat Accident?

At Haun Mena, we recognize just how serious accidents on fishing boats tend to be and recognize the immense losses you’re experiencing, whether to your health or of someone you care about. In our quest to help victims regain their health and well-being to the utmost degree possible, we’ll engage in all the following on your behalf:

  • Gathering all the available evidence and compiling it into a solid claim that leaves little room for doubt in relation to an employer’s negligence and the extent of your losses

  • Taking the testimony of others on the boat about the injury-causing accident

  • Securing the expert testimony of professionals with knowledge relevant to your claim

  • Carefully outlining the full extent of your financial, physical, and emotional losses

  • Knowledgeably negotiating with the insurance company on behalf of your rights

  • Preparing to take the matter to court if the involved insurance company is not invested in fair negotiation practices

  • Communicating with the insurance company on your behalf – eliminating the risk that they will attempt to make you comment about something that damages your claim.

Contact a Commercial Fishing Boat Accident Attorney in Houston for Help

The lawyers at Haun Mena proudly serve Houston and have a track record of effectively guiding challenging claims like yours toward positive outcomes. Your recovery can hinge on your claim’s resolution. You have our commitment to fiercely advocate for your legal rights and best interests. If you or a loved one were injured on a commercial fishing boat, learn more about what we can do to help you. Contact or call us at 713-561-5334 today.

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