Maritime Injury Accidents Involving Winches, Cranes, and Cargo Hooks
Cargo handling accidents involving negligently operated or defective winches, cranes, or cargo hooks can result in serious injuries and death. The maritime lawyers at Stacey & Jacobsen, PLLC have extensive experience in handling cases involving winches, cranes, wire rope, and cargo hooks. They understand how these accidents happen, what is considered safe practice, and how accidents can be prevented. They understand maritime workers. They know how your injuries will impact you for the rest of your life, and how those injuries may impact your future earnings.
If you are a seaman who has been injured by the negligent operation of a crane or winch, you have rights to compensation under the Jones Act. A winch, crane, wire rope, or cargo hook that fails under normal and expected use renders a vessel unseaworthy. It is critical that proper safety procedures be implemented by the vessel owner. Your employer owes you a duty provide you a safe place to work, and a duty to provide you a seaworthy vessel.
A seaman injured through negligence or unseaworthiness is entitled to damages for lost past and future wages, pain and suffering, lost earning capacity, and medical expenses. In almost all cases, a seaman is entitled to maintenance and cure. All of an injured seaman’s reasonable medical expenses must be paid for by his employer (cure), and a seaman is entitled to a daily living allowance (maintenance) until he has reached maximum medical improvement. A seaman is also entitled to his wages through the end of his contract or voyage of injury.
Frequently accidents involving cranes and winches aboard ship involve miscommunication and lack of signals between the crew. A spotter and tag lines should be used when the fall of the load cannot be fully observed. Defective hooks and home-made hooks should not be used. Controls and hydraulics should be properly maintained. Bridles, ropes, and wires should be routinely inspected and replaced when necessary. Bulling of cargo and lifting loads in excess of safe ratings should not be done.
If your employer or their insurance company is telling you the accident is your fault, it is time to contact an experienced maritime injury lawyer. The lawyers at Stacey & Jacobsen, PLLC can explain to you your rights to compensation under Federal Maritime Law. They have represented thousands of maritime injury workers and recovered millions of dollars in compensation for workers injured in crane and winch accidents. The Jones Act is a law that was passed to provide injured seamen fair compensation for their injuries. It is your right - it’s the law.