Captain Injury Attorneys

Over $1 Billion Recovered for Maritime Accident Victims. We are proud to have a reputation for aggressively fighting for the rights of injured workers.

Injury Lawyers for Ship Captain Accidents

A ship’s Captain, like any other member of the crew, can become injured due to the negligence of a ship’s owner or the carelessness of a member of his crew. When a Captain becomes injured on the job and unable to remain in command of a vessel due to an accident that shouldn’t have happened in the first place, they have a right to seek compensation for their losses. The Captain injury attorneys at Lambert Zainey can help.

A Captain’s Responsibilities

Seamen become Captains after long years of hard work, dedication and training. No matter what type of vessel they command — a tugboat, barge, fishing vessel, freighter or cruise liner — a Captain is responsible for all aspects of a ship’s operations and ensuring that a vessel and its crew, cargo or passengers arrive safely at their destinations.

However, there are situations that are beyond the Captain’s control. When a Captain is injured, they may be entitled to compensation for pain and suffering, medical expenses, loss of wages and benefits and other damages.


Companies We’ve Fought Against

Lambert Zainey has obtained recoveries from a long list of maritime companies, including some of the biggest names in the industry.

Common Accidents For Ship Captains

Proving who was at fault in a maritime accident can be challenging. For more than 40 years, the Lambert Firm has been representing Captains, shipmasters and skippers who have been injured on vessels. Our Captain injury attorneys possess the skills and resources to fully investigate the details of your accident to determine exactly who or what was responsible for your injuries.

Lambert Zainey has helped Captains and other seamen who have been injured in a wide range of accidents caused by:

  • Equipment Failures
  • Fires and Explosions
  • Falling Objects
  • Collisions and Groundings
  • Slips and Falls
  • Inclement Weather
  • Defective Safety Equipment
  • Exposure to Toxic Materials
  • Falling Overboard
  • Human Error
case results

Over $1 Billion Recovered for Maritime Accident Victims

see all case results
Murphy Oil Spill
$330 MILLION SETTLEMENT

Oil storage tank rupture at the Murphy Oil USA refinery in Chalmette, LA. The fastest class certification and resolution of a case of its type and magnitude to date.

ARCO Explosion
SETTLED IN ONLY 12 MONTHS

Arco cryogenic platform explosion caused by improper cold cut of Southern Natural Gas pipeline. Settlement for the injured and deceased in approximately twelve months.

What Maritime Laws Apply In Captain Injury Cases?

At Lambert Zainey, our experienced Captain injury attorneys are as familiar with the operation of a ship’s vessel as we are with the many state, federal and international laws that may apply in your case, including:

What Compensation Can Injured Captains Recover?

If you’ve attained the rank of Captain, Shipmaster or Skipper, then you’ve been around long enough to know that the maritime industry has its own unique language and laws. Anyone who hasn’t worked aboard a vessel will find it difficult to understand how things operate in your world.

Lambert Zainey has a well-earned reputation for getting results, successfully resolving hundreds of maritime claims worldwide while obtaining over a billion dollars in settlements for our clients. Compensation may include:

  • Past medical expenses
  • Lost earning capacity
  • Future medical expenses
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Lost wages
  • Pain and suffering
Captain of Cargo Ship Falls Overboard in Mississippi River

Frequently Asked Questions About Captain Accident Claims

Maritime workers, including Captains, face many dangers. Common injuries include:

In most cases, the answer is yes. The Jones Act is a federal maritime law that protects injured workers who qualify as a “seaman.” To determine seaman status of a Captain, consider the following:

  • Did the Captain work on a vessel that is in navigation?
  • Did the Captain’s duties contribute to the function or mission of the vessel?
  • Did the Captain have a substantial connection to a single vessel (spending at least 30 percent of employment on it)?

Read more about who qualifies as a Jones Act seaman

This is one of the first questions asked by a maritime worker who has been injured. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to give an estimate because it can vary quite widely. In most cases, it will take at least a few months to finalize a case but can take a year or longer depending on the complexity of the accident and the laws involved.

Injured Captains sometimes choose not to explore their legal action against the responsible party because of a fear of finding themselves on a “blacklist” and unable to secure future employment in the maritime industry.

While we can’t say for sure whether any “list” is floating around among maritime employers, we feel strongly that this should NOT be a factor in deciding whether to pursue a claim. Maritime workers, including Captains, are protected by laws against blacklisting or otherwise retaliating against workers.

If an employer is “arbitrary and capricious” or “willful or callous” in delaying, denying or terminating maintenance and cure benefits, maritime law allows an injured Captain to take legal action that includes punitive damages and attorney’s fees.

Read more about your rights if an employer ends maintenance and cure too soon


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