Ship Salvage Accidents

Marine salvage operations are inherently dangerous. Even if everyone is following all of the safety rules and regulations, ship salvage accidents can still happen. If you are involved in a ship salvage accident you are covered by maritime law. You have a right to compensation. If the ship salvage accident was caused by negligence, you may be entitled to even greater damages, including compensation for your pain and suffering. You need to understand your rights. One of the most important things you can do for your ship salvage accident claim is to hire a maritime injury attorney.

Types and Causes of Ship Salvage Accidents

Some common types of ship salvage accidents include:

  • Slip and falls
  • Collision of two vessels
  • Collision of vessel with stationary object
  • Fires and explosions
  • Toxic spills
  • Rigging accidents
  • Falling tools
  • Malfunctioning equipment
  • Equipment failure
  • Diving accidents

Sometimes the cause of an accident may not be obvious. Sometimes a vessel owner was negligent in the way the vessel was maintained. Here are some examples where negligence plays a role in a ship salvage accident:

  • Failure to properly train crew
  • Failure to create a safe working environment
  • Failure to maintain or inspect the vessel
  • Failure to maintain or inspect equipment
  • Not giving crew sufficient warning about hazards
  • Impaired crewmembers
  • Creation of a lax safety environment
  • Defective equipment or components

Maritime law covers ship salvage accidents. If you have been injured, you need to make sure you look after your maritime rights. The best way to make sure you are getting the compensation you deserve is to hire a maritime injury lawyer.

Types of Injuries

Some of the common types of injuries in ship salvage accidents include:

  • Fractured bones
  • Strains and sprains
  • Burns
  • Chemical burns
  • Exposure to toxic substances
  • Crush injuries
  • Amputations
  • Torn or ripped ligaments or muscles
  • Back and neck injuries
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Drowning
  • Paralysis
  • Death

If you are injured in a ship salvage accident you need to get evaluated by a doctor as soon as possible. Even if your injuries do not require immediate medical attention, you still need to make sure there is nothing wrong with you. Many times people will try and push through injuries. This makes the already dangerous work even more dangerous. If you are hurt, even with a minor wound, you should return to work until medically cleared to do so. Otherwise, you are putting yourself and your co-workers in even greater danger.

You may be suffering from hidden internal injuries that are not yet symptomatic. When you have a medical exam you give yourself the best chance of having a quick recovery. If you later need to file an injury claim, having had medical evaluation in the days after a ship salvage accident can boost your chances of getting an appropriate recovery.

Proving Negligence and Making a Claim

Your employer, the at-fault party, and their insurance companies are not going to hand over money to you just because you have been injured. If you were injured because of someone else’s negligence you will need to prove it. Even though most cases settle out of court, you will still need to have a lot of evidence to support your claim.

Some of the key things you will need to prove to an insurance company or a court of law include:

  • That you were injured
  • That your employer owed you a duty
  • That your employer breached their duty
  • That your injury was a direct result of that breach of duty

The evidence to support your claim may come in the form of medical records, documents, and expert testimony. Insurance companies are not going to pay out any money unless they are convinced it would be cheaper to settle a case then head to court. You may be dealing with life and death, but to companies, it all comes down to a matter of dollars and cents.

A maritime injury lawyer will have experience both with how negligence works and what the best ways are to convince an insurance company it is in their best interests to resolve a case.

Dealing with a painful recovery on top of trying to get an injury claim filed is too much to ask of anyone. We want to help you find a skilled maritime injury lawyer with a strong track record in ship salvage accidents like yours. We know how hard it can be to find the right lawyer to evaluate your case. Contact us today and we can help you find the right lawyer for you. Time may be running out on your claim. Don’t delay. Reach out to us right away.

Contact us to schedule your free consultation.

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