Deckhand 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.

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Deckhand Injury Claims Attorneys

Deckhands are employed on nearly every vessel afloat, from fishing and ferry boats to cargo vessels, cruise ships and tugboats. If you’re a deckhand who is injured and unable to work, we urge you to reach out to the deckhand injury attorneys at Lambert Zainey. We are headquartered in New Orleans and represent the rights of injured maritime workers from across the United States.

When vessel owners fail to provide the necessary and/or adequate equipment to perform a job safely, and such failure results in injury, an injured deckhand may pursue a claim for negligence and/or unseaworthiness against the vessel owner. A deckhand may also be able to file a claim against their maritime employer for negligence, if the vessel owner and employer are separate entities.

Maritime Lawyers in New Orleans

We have represented injured maritime workers for over 40 years. We understand the laws that govern maritime employers and employees.

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What Is a Deckhand And What Are Deckhand Duties?

Deckhands assist in the operation and maintenance of a vessel, performing a wide variety of on-board duties. Their exact duties and titles vary depending on the type and function of the vessel they work on. They are sometimes called barge hands, dredge deckhands, pilot-boat deckhands, ferryboat deckhands, tugboat deckhands, and others. Deckhands generally perform the following duties:

  • Loading, unloading and stowing of supplies and equipment.
  • Operation of deck equipment.
  • Standing watch.
  • Helping to dock the ship.
  • Securing vehicles for transport aboard ferryboats.
  • Handling the lines that moor the vessel to a wharf or another vessel.
  • Using lines, wires, ratchets and stationary winches to build or break tow.
  • Housekeeping duties like cooking and laundry.
  • Assisting in midstream fuel or passenger transfers. 
  • Customer service.
  • General cleaning and maintenance of deck areas and super-structures, including all of the gear and equipment.

If you were hurt at work, Lambert Zainey can help. We promise to put our 40+ years of experience, knowledge and resources to work to get you maximum compensation. Contact us to schedule a free consultation with our nationally recognized deckhand accident lawyers.

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.

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Common Injuries In Deckhand Accident Cases

Most deckhands work long hours. Shifts may be 12 to 14 hours per day, and they may work up to 14 days straight or more before they have a day off. They perform these duties in all types of weather, at any time of the day or night. Many of these duties place the deckhand in potentially risky situations that could result in serious injury or even death.

Back Injuries

While not always catastrophic, back injuries can severely impact an offshore worker’s ability to perform his job, affecting his future earning potential.

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Amputations

The loss of limbs or digits may occur during an offshore accident, or be necessary as a result of the injuries sustained in an accident.

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Sandblasting Accidents

The loss of limbs/digits may occur during an offshore accident, or be necessary as a result of the injuries sustained in an accident.

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Depression

Maritime workers can spend months having no contact with friends or family, facing some of the harshest working conditions of any job.

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Burn Injuries

Burn injuries can be among the most severe, with long-term physical and emotional scars. Injuries can result in permanent disfigurement.

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Chemical Exposure

Exposure to hazardous chemicals, whether by inhalation or direct contact, can result in serious and costly, long-term health problems.

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Water Blasting Injuries

They may not appear severe immediately after the accident. Make no mistake, this injury is extremely severe.

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Heat-related Illnesses

As temperatures rise, it becomes more difficult to maintain a safe internal temperature in our bodies which can lead to heat-related injuries.

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Hypothermia

Biggest causes of hypothermia, a dangerous drop in body temps, for maritime workers are exposure to cold temp and immersion in cold water.

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Spinal Chord Injuries

Injuries to the spine can lead to paralysis and loss of limb function. They can occur to maritime workers by falls, collisions, and incorrect lifting. 

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Head Injuries

Maritime workers are surrounded by cranes, crawling through confined spaces and low hanging beams. Bumps on the head are common events.

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Brain Injuries

Maritime workers who suffer traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) can have problems with long-term cognitive and neurological functions.

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Gangway Injuries

Climbing from the shore to the deck of a ship is how most gangway injuries happen. Gangway security is an important part of shipyard safety.

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Emotional Distress

After a maritime accident, PTSD and other emotional trauma can be just as serious and dangerous of a health problem as a physical injury.

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PTSD

Some think PTSD can only happen to war veterans. Anyone who has had a traumatic event can develop PTSD, even maritime workers.

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Legal Rights Of An Injured Deckhand Under Maritime Law

General Maritime Law and the Jones Act require maritime employers and vessel owner/operators to provide a safe work environment for deckhands. This includes a seaworthy vessel with appropriate, adequate, and functioning gear, appurtenances and crew.

When vessel owners fail to provide the necessary and/or adequate equipment to perform a job safely, and such failure results in injury, an injured deckhand may pursue a claim for negligence and/or unseaworthiness against the vessel owner. A deckhand may also be able to file a claim against their maritime employer for negligence, if the vessel owner and employer are separate entities.

Captain Injury Attorneys

Compensation For Deckhands Injured At Work

Under maritime law, injured deckhands may seek compensation for maintenance (living expenses) and cure (medical expenses) regardless of who is at fault for the accident. If our deckhand injury attorneys can prove the injury was caused by negligent acts or an unseaworthy vessel, the deckhand may be entitled to additional damages, including but not limited to:

  • Lost wages
  • Pain and suffering
  • Mental anguish
  • Medical expenses
  • Loss of earning capacity

The deckhand injury attorneys at Lambert Zainey have an impressive track record when it comes to securing maximum compensation for our clients who have been injured while on the job, including a recent settlement of $850,000.00 for a deckhand on a push boat who injured his back after being instructed to move a transfer hose by hand from one fuel barge to another.

case results

Over $1 Billion Recovered for Maritime Accident Victims

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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.

Maritime Laws That Protect Deckhands

The difference between maritime laws and remedies is important and can be complex. The deckhand injury attorneys at Lambert Zainey have been protecting the rights of injured maritime workers since the 1970s and can help you determine which laws apply to your case.

Since the 1920s, the Jones Act has been one of the most important laws protecting maritime workers’ rights, including deckhands. It expands the rights of injured seamen under General Maritime Law and adds new rights and causes of action for injured workers to seek compensation for damages related to on-the-job injuries.

Learn More About Who Qualifies Under the Jones Act

While most deckhands are are covered by the Jones Act, there are other federal maritime laws that offer protection to workers who don’t qualify as seamen. The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, or LHWCA, is one of these. It covers those injured while working in support of the maritime industry on any navigable waterway.

Learn More About Your Rights as a Longshoremen

Under general maritime law, deckhands and other crewmembers of a vessel have a legal right to seek compensation when they have been injured because of the unseaworthiness of a vessel. They also have the right to maintenance and cure payments.

Learn More About General Maritime Law

A deckhand who has been injured while working on a vessel has the right to maintenance and cure benefits. This is until reaching maximum medical improvement or returning to work.

Learn More About Maintenance and Cure

Lift Boat Seacor Power Capsize

SEACOR POWER CAPSIZING: LAMBERT ZAINEY SECURES RESOLUTION FOR ALL FAMILIES AFFECTED BY TRAGEDY

Learn More About This Case

Frequently Asked Questions

The Jones Act only covers injured workers who qualify for the legal definition of a seaman. To determine whether a deckhand qualifies as a seaman, our attorneys consider:

  • Whether the deckhand works on a vessel that is in navigation.
  • Whether the workers’ duties contribute to the function or mission of the vessel.
  • Whether the deckhand has 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

There are many different types of deckhand accidents. Some of the most common causes of injuries are:

  • Collisions
  • Allisions
  • Falling Overboard
  • Inadequate Railings
  • Defective or poorly maintained tools
  • Snapbacks
  • Fires and explosions
  • Chemical exposure
  • Bad weather
  • Falling objects
  • Failure to follow maritime rules and regulations
  • Undertrained, understaffed and/or overworked crews

Each case is different, so it’s difficult to give an estimate for how long a case might take. In most cases, it will take at least a few months but can take a year or longer depending on the complexity of the case.

We know this is an important question, but every deckhand injury case is different. The unique facts of your case and the legal issues involved will be the determining factors in the potential value of your accident case.

While we can’t give an accurate general answer, it may be helpful to read some of our case results. You can also schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced maritime lawyers to discuss the facts of your case.

Maritime workers sometimes choose not to pursue legal action against the responsible party because of a fear of reprisal by their employers. They are concerned about finding themselves on a “blacklist” and unable to get employment in the maritime industry.

We can’t say for certain whether any “list” is floating around among maritime employers, but even if there is, we feel strongly that this should NOT be a deciding factor in pursuing a claim. There are laws that protect deckhands and other maritime workers from being blacklisted or otherwise retaliated against.

Most workers who are injured on the job are protected by state workers compensation laws. However, deckhands and other maritime workers who suffer a work injury are typically protected by federal laws, including the Jones Act, general maritime law and the LHWCA.

The courts have little sympathy for an employer who is “arbitrary and capricious” or “willful or callous” in delaying, denying or terminating maintenance and cure benefits and allows the seaman to take legal action, including punitive damages and attorney’s fees.

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

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