Your Rights After a Shipyard Injury in Florida
A shipyard can be a dangerous job site if proper safety measures are not taken to protect workers. Far too often, shipyard workers are subjected to unnecessary hazards that lead to serious injury or death. If you are injured in a shipyard, you might be entitled to compensation. The best way to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve is by contacting a qualified attorney.
What Are Common Shipyard Injuries?
Workers at a shipyard can be exposed to harsh conditions. They may be expected to work long hours and work with heavy equipment and machinery. Without adequate safety measures, work in a shipyard can be hazardous, leading to serious injury.
Common shipyard injuries include:
- Amputation
- Drowning
- Crushing injuries
- Broken bones
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Spine injuries
- Lung damage
- Loss of vision or hearing
While shipyard injuries may range in severity, they are rarely minor. Many injuries are severe, leading to long term health problems. If you are injured in a shipyard, you need to seek medical attention and consult with an attorney. Depending on the situation, you might be entitled to compensation for your damages.
What Laws Protect Shipyard Workers?
There are several state and federal laws that may protect you as a shipyard worker. Whether you are protected under the law will depend on your status as a seamen or other type of worker.
Laws that may protect shipyard workers:
- Jones Act - The Jones Act protects seamen who have been injured while working in service to a vessel. The vessel does not have to be moving in the water at the time the seamen is injured, but it must be operational.
- Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) - The LHWCA protects longshore workers, shipbuilders, harbor construction workers, and others who are injured while working on navigable waters of the U.S. or in “adjoining areas customarily used in the loading, unloading, repairing, or building of a vessel.”
If you are not protected under one of these acts, you may be entitled to file a claim based on personal injury or wrongful death against a liable party. To determine the best course of legal action after a shipyard accident, you need to speak to an attorney.
What Types of Hazards Are at a Shipyard?
There are a number of hazards that may be present at a shipyard. While shipyard work can be dangerous, employers must do everything that they can to identify existing hazards and put safety procedures into place that protect workers from serious injuries.
Potential hazards at a shipyard include:
- Increased risk of drowning
- Diving unaccompanied
- Caught-in hazards
- Electrical hazards
- Failing to ensure machine guarding
- Fire and explosion hazards
- Exposure to toxic chemicals
- Fall hazards
When an employer fails to protect their workers, they must be held accountable for any resulting injuries.
Contact Our Office to Learn More
If you were injured at a shipyard in Florida, contact Mase Seitz Briggs at (844) 627-3529 to schedule a free consultation. We have decades of experience and will always provide you with the superior legal representation you deserve.