Common Types of Maritime Accidents and Injuries

Common Types of Maritime Accidents and Injuries

The maritime industry is thriving in League City. Since so many with maritime occupations—sailors, cruise ship staff, harbor workers, and those in the oil and mineral industry, to name a few—work and live here, it should come as no surprise that more maritime accidents occur here as well.

While many of the most common boating, oil rig, and sea-related accidents and injuries are similar to those that occur in typical workplaces, others are unique or particular to the maritime industry.

Consider the following common types of maritime accidents and the injuries that may result from them:

Accidents

• Slips and falls – Of course, there is a danger of slipping and falling in any workplace, but on a boat, ship, or oil rig, the danger is escalated. Conditions often include water or other substances, heavy cargo and other machinery, and loud noises, all of which can make slipping and falling more likely and the injuries that result more severe.
• Falling overboard – Even if you are a skilled swimmer, a fall overboard could be catastrophic, or even deadly. A worker wearing heavy duty equipment may be weighed down and unable to swim, eventually drowning, or could even be crushed between vessels. In loud settings, other workers may even fail to notice that a colleague has fallen overboard until it is too late.
• Dock and pier accidents – Ships may crash near the dock or pier or collide due to weather. Workers at port many also suffer injury while loading cargo onto ships and using the necessary equipment such as forklifts or even cranes.
• Improper training accidents – Injuries that occur due to improper training are the most unfortunate because they are so preventable. Whether it’s inadequate training on how to operate a ship or other piece of equipment, lack of training regarding safety practices, or failure to teach proper rescue measures, these accidents can lead to catastrophic injuries or even loss of life.

Injuries

• Lost limbs and amputation – In a maritime accident, a worker could lose a limb in a fall overboard, or even get a limb caught in a piece of machinery, suffering serious injury that requires amputation.
• Shoulder injuries – As lifting heavy equipment, reaching, climbing, and hauling are all common duties in a maritime job, workers can often sustain acute shoulder injuries or develop chronic conditions from repeated motion.
• Repetitive stress injuries – It’s not just shoulders—any body part, muscle, or joint that a maritime worker uses constantly due to the same repeated activity day after day can develop chronic pain, nerve damage, prolonged inflammation, arthritis, stress fractures, muscle and ligament tears, and other conditions. These injuries are serious, as they can interfere with your ability to perform your job.

Consult an experienced maritime injury lawyer when you’ve been hurt on the job in Texas

At Burwell Nebout Trial Lawyers, we are skilled professionals with more than 40 years of experience handling maritime injury cases in League City and throughout TX. To learn more about how we can help you, call (281) 645-5000 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.