The Most Common Maritime Injury
A slip, trip or fall is one of the most common types of accidents on a vessel, oil rig or dock. When you work on the water, you are constantly dealing with wet surfaces, uneven footing, and tight spaces.
Many workers believe a maritime slip and fall accident is just “part of the job” or “bad luck.” This is rarely true in the eyes of maritime law. When a slip, trip, or fall happens, it is usually because the ship owner, dock owner, or employer was negligent or failed to maintain a reasonably safe workplace.
If you were injured in a slip and fall, you may have the right to full financial compensation under the Jones Act, the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA), or other maritime laws. The maritime lawyers at Lambert Zainey know how to prove negligence in complex maritime slip and fall claims.
The Legal Grounds: Proving a Slip and Fall Was Not Your Fault
To get compensation, your case must prove that the injury was caused, at least in part, by the negligence of the employer or an unsafe condition. The law that applies to your case depends entirely on your job title.
If You are a Seaman (Jones Act)
The Jones Act protects maritime workers who spend a significant portion of their time working on a vessel. Your claim will rely on two powerful concepts:
If You are a Dockworker or Longshoreman (LHWCA)
If you work on a pier, dock, or in a shipyard, you are generally covered by the LHWCA. While you cannot sue your direct employer, you can often sue the vessel owner or a third party if their negligence caused your fall.
The Most Common Causes of Maritime Slip and Fall Accidents
The environment on the water is inherently dangerous, but many slip and fall accidents are caused by preventable hazards. These are the specific hazards we look for when investigating your maritime slip and fall claim:
The Employer’s Secret Evidence: What a Maritime Lawyer Demands
One of the biggest advantages the company has is access to all the vessel’s documentation. When you hire an experienced maritime lawyer, our first step is to demand the critical evidence that proves the employer was negligent or the vessel was unseaworthy.
This evidence often includes documents the employer would rather keep hidden:
Get Our FREE Guide to Protect Your Claim
What you do after an accident is critical. Insurance companies will try to get you to make mistakes that can hurt your claim. Our free guide can help you avoid these traps.
Download our complimentary guide: “5 Costly Mistakes to Avoid After Any Maritime Accident” to arm yourself with the knowledge you need to protect your rights.
Your No-Fault Right: Maintenance and Cure After a Slip and Fall
If you are a seaman (covered by the Jones Act), you have a special right that exists regardless of who was at fault for your slip and fall: Maintenance and Cure.
This is a fundamental, no-fault benefit owed to every injured seaman:
Key Difference: The company must pay Maintenance and Cure, even if the slip and fall was 100% your fault. However, you can only recover the larger, comprehensive damages (pain and suffering, lost future wages) by proving the company’s negligence or the vessel’s unseaworthiness through a Jones Act claim. A specialized attorney is necessary to pursue both.
Damages: What Compensation Can You Recover?
The goal of filing a maritime claim is to ensure you are fully and fairly compensated for all the losses you sustained due to the employer’s negligence.
Under the Jones Act and maritime negligence laws, you can recover significant damages that go far beyond basic medical bills and lost wages:
What to Do Immediately After a Slip and Fall to Protect Your Claim
The steps you take immediately after the injury are critical to the success of your claim.
- Seek Medical Attention: Your health is the priority. Get immediate care and describe exactly how the fall happened to the medical provider.
- Report the Incident: Report the accident to your supervisor immediately — ideally within 7 days under the Jones Act — and make sure the official accident report is filed. Ask for a copy.
- Document the Hazard: If possible and safe, take photos or videos of the exact condition that caused you to fall (the oil slick, the broken railing, the clutter). This evidence can disappear quickly.
- Get Witness Information: Write down the names, job titles, and phone numbers of any crew members or personnel who saw the fall or who know about the unsafe condition.
- Do Not Sign Anything: Do not sign any documents, give a recorded statement, or accept any money (beyond basic Maintenance and Cure) until you have spoken with an experienced maritime injury lawyer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I be fired for reporting a slip and fall?
No. Under the Jones Act, your employer cannot legally fire you or retaliate against you for filing an injury report or hiring a lawyer. If they do, you may have a separate, powerful claim for wrongful termination.
How long do I have to file a claim after a maritime slip and fall?
In most maritime injury cases, you only have three years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. If you wait too long, your claim will be lost forever. Do not delay.
What if the company says the fall was 50% my fault?
Under the Jones Act, you can still recover compensation even if you were partially at fault. This is called “comparative negligence.” If the company was 50% at fault, you can recover 50% of your total damages. We fight to minimize your percentage of fault.
Do I Have a Maritime Case?
Get Legal Answers Today for Your Slip and Fall Injury
If you suffered a maritime slip and fall accident on a vessel, rig or dock, the company and their insurer are already working to minimize or deny your claim.
At Lambert Zainey, we have decades of experience successfully representing seamen and longshoremen in complex maritime slip and fall claims. Our job is to investigate your case, prove the negligence, and ensure you get the maximum compensation you are entitled to.
Contact our nationally recognized maritime lawyers for a free, confidential case evaluation today.
The Most Common Maritime Injury
A slip, trip or fall is one of the most common types of accidents on a vessel, oil rig or dock. When you work on the water, you are constantly dealing with wet surfaces, uneven footing, and tight spaces.
Many workers believe a maritime slip and fall accident is just “part of the job” or “bad luck.” This is rarely true in the eyes of maritime law. When a slip, trip, or fall happens, it is usually because the ship owner, dock owner, or employer was negligent or failed to maintain a reasonably safe workplace.
If you were injured in a slip and fall, you may have the right to full financial compensation under the Jones Act, the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA), or other maritime laws. The maritime lawyers at Lambert Zainey know how to prove negligence in complex maritime slip and fall claims.
The Legal Grounds: Proving a Slip and Fall Was Not Your Fault
To get compensation, your case must prove that the injury was caused, at least in part, by the negligence of the employer or an unsafe condition. The law that applies to your case depends entirely on your job title.
If You are a Seaman (Jones Act)
The Jones Act protects maritime workers who spend a significant portion of their time working on a vessel. Your claim will rely on two powerful concepts:
If You are a Dockworker or Longshoreman (LHWCA)
If you work on a pier, dock, or in a shipyard, you are generally covered by the LHWCA. While you cannot sue your direct employer, you can often sue the vessel owner or a third party if their negligence caused your fall.
The Most Common Causes of Maritime Slip and Fall Accidents
The environment on the water is inherently dangerous, but many slip and fall accidents are caused by preventable hazards. These are the specific hazards we look for when investigating your maritime slip and fall claim:
The Employer’s Secret Evidence: What a Maritime Lawyer Demands
One of the biggest advantages the company has is access to all the vessel’s documentation. When you hire an experienced maritime lawyer, our first step is to demand the critical evidence that proves the employer was negligent or the vessel was unseaworthy.
This evidence often includes documents the employer would rather keep hidden:
Get Our FREE Guide to Protect Your Claim
What you do after an accident is critical. Insurance companies will try to get you to make mistakes that can hurt your claim. Our free guide can help you avoid these traps.
Download our complimentary guide: “5 Costly Mistakes to Avoid After Any Maritime Accident” to arm yourself with the knowledge you need to protect your rights.
Your No-Fault Right: Maintenance and Cure After a Slip and Fall
If you are a seaman (covered by the Jones Act), you have a special right that exists regardless of who was at fault for your slip and fall: Maintenance and Cure.
This is a fundamental, no-fault benefit owed to every injured seaman:
Key Difference: The company must pay Maintenance and Cure, even if the slip and fall was 100% your fault. However, you can only recover the larger, comprehensive damages (pain and suffering, lost future wages) by proving the company’s negligence or the vessel’s unseaworthiness through a Jones Act claim. A specialized attorney is necessary to pursue both.
Damages: What Compensation Can You Recover?
The goal of filing a maritime claim is to ensure you are fully and fairly compensated for all the losses you sustained due to the employer’s negligence.
Under the Jones Act and maritime negligence laws, you can recover significant damages that go far beyond basic medical bills and lost wages:
What to Do Immediately After a Slip and Fall to Protect Your Claim
The steps you take immediately after the injury are critical to the success of your claim.
- Seek Medical Attention: Your health is the priority. Get immediate care and describe exactly how the fall happened to the medical provider.
- Report the Incident: Report the accident to your supervisor immediately — ideally within 7 days under the Jones Act — and make sure the official accident report is filed. Ask for a copy.
- Document the Hazard: If possible and safe, take photos or videos of the exact condition that caused you to fall (the oil slick, the broken railing, the clutter). This evidence can disappear quickly.
- Get Witness Information: Write down the names, job titles, and phone numbers of any crew members or personnel who saw the fall or who know about the unsafe condition.
- Do Not Sign Anything: Do not sign any documents, give a recorded statement, or accept any money (beyond basic Maintenance and Cure) until you have spoken with an experienced maritime injury lawyer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I be fired for reporting a slip and fall?
No. Under the Jones Act, your employer cannot legally fire you or retaliate against you for filing an injury report or hiring a lawyer. If they do, you may have a separate, powerful claim for wrongful termination.
How long do I have to file a claim after a maritime slip and fall?
In most maritime injury cases, you only have three years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. If you wait too long, your claim will be lost forever. Do not delay.
What if the company says the fall was 50% my fault?
Under the Jones Act, you can still recover compensation even if you were partially at fault. This is called “comparative negligence.” If the company was 50% at fault, you can recover 50% of your total damages. We fight to minimize your percentage of fault.
Do I Have a Maritime Case?
Get Legal Answers Today for Your Slip and Fall Injury
If you suffered a maritime slip and fall accident on a vessel, rig or dock, the company and their insurer are already working to minimize or deny your claim.
At Lambert Zainey, we have decades of experience successfully representing seamen and longshoremen in complex maritime slip and fall claims. Our job is to investigate your case, prove the negligence, and ensure you get the maximum compensation you are entitled to.
Contact our nationally recognized maritime lawyers for a free, confidential case evaluation today.
