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.
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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
Nationally Recognized Attorneys
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
- Future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Pain and suffering
Over $1 Billion Recovered For Our Injured Clients
Frequently Asked Questions about Captain Accident Claims
Lambert Zainey has helped Captains and other maritime workers who have been injured in maritime accidents while working on America’s lakes, oceans, coastal waters, rivers, and bays. Our maritime injury attorneys are dedicated to protecting your rights and aggressively negotiating to get you the full settlement you are due for your injuries.
If you’ve been injured in maritime accident, you likely have many questions. While we recommend contacting the Captain injury attorneys at Lambert Zainey to schedule a free consultation to get answers specific to your case, here are some of the most common questions we hear:
Maritime workers, including Captains, face many dangers. Common injuries include:
- Back Injuries
- Amputations
- Sandblasting Accidents
- Depression
- Heat-related Illnesses
- Water Blasting Injuries
- Chemical Exposure
- Burns
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Head Injuries
- Welding Fume Exposure
- Hypothermia
- Brain Injuries
- Gangway Injuries
- Emotional Distress
- PTSD
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)?
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
