Massachusetts Commercial Fishing Injury Lawyers

Commercial fisherman and lobstermen face life-threatening conditions everyday they go to work. Long hours and strenuous activity greatly increase the risk of a commercial fishermen sustaining a serious work injury. If you or a loved one is harmed while employed as a commercial fisherman or commercial lobstermen, contact an experienced accident attorney that understands how these accidents occur and who will remain committed to making sure that you receive the compensation that you deserve.

The Responsibility of the Boat’s Owners

The owners and operators of commercial fishing boats have a duty to make sure that their vessel is seaworthy. This means they must make  sure that the boat’s crew is properly trained. The following boats and captains must comply with these laws:

  • Clam and oyster dredgers
  • Commercial fishing boats
  • Crab and lobster boats
  • Gillnetters
  • Grouper and snapper vessels
  • Long line vessels
  • Processing vessels
  • Shrimpers
  • Trawlers
  • Tuna and sword boats

Common Injuries Faced by Fishermen

Due to the work conditions, fishermen are constantly in danger of being seriously injured. Some of the most common injuries sustained by fishermen include:

  • Broken bones due to falls off of broken safety rails
  • Crushing accidents involving crane or winch accidents
  • Defective equipment and inadequately maintained machinery
  • Falls caused by cluttered and poorly maintained decks
  • Injuries caused by poorly maintained vessels
  • Injuries caused by negligently supervised crew
  • Limb injuries when body parts become caught in cables, machinery, or rigging
  • Repetitive motion injuries caused by overloaded traps
  • Severe extremities caused by poorly secured hatches
  • Strains caused by falls on slippery decks
  • Unsafe weather conditions including lightning and heavy wind

The Importance of Jones Claim Acts

Commercial fishermen were not historically afforded the same type of work injury coverage as most other workers. As a result, in 1920, the federal government created the Jones Act which helps to make sure that fishermen receive financial compensation when injured or killed at sea. Compensation awarded under the Jones Act encompasses monetary damages and lost wages.

Later, in 1988, Congress created the Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Safety Act, which requires both operators and vessel owners to follow safety regulations that are designed to decrease the risk of many dangers unique to the fishing industry. Despite these regulations, however, commercial fishing companies frequently commit violations that endanger workers’ lives. A skilled fisherman injury attorney knows how to make sure that these parties are held accountable.

Speak with an Experienced Commercial Fishing Accident Lawyer

Commercial fishing cases can be particularly complex. For one, maritime law is complicated and requires an intricate understanding of specialized area of law. Contact our law office today to schedule an initial free consultation during which time we will discuss the various available strategies in your case and begin collecting evidence about how the accident happened.

We offer a free, no-obligation legal consultation to help you understand your rights and the value of your case.

Our worker’s injury lawyers assist clients throughout all of Massachusetts including, but not limited to, those in the following counties, cities and towns: Plymouth County, Brockton, Plymouth, Bridgewater, Marshfield, Hingham, Duxbury, Wareham, Abington, Rockland, Whitman, Hanson, Holbrook, Middleborough; Norfolk County including Quincy, Stoughton, Dedham, Weymouth, Braintree, Avon, Holbrook, Randolph, Canton, Sharon, Brookline, Franklin; Bristol County including New Bedford, Fall River, Taunton, Attleboro, Westport, Dartmouth, Mansfield, Easton, Raynham, Lakeville, Norton; Cape Cod, Hyannis, Falmouth, Barnstable and the Greater Boston area including Cambridge, Somerville, Medford, Everett, Lawrence, Lynn, Revere, Dorchester, Roxbury.