River, Bar and Harbor Pilot Injuries

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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Legal Support for Injured Ship or Barge Pilots

Successfully navigating a ship or barge through a narrow river channel or into a crowded ocean port facility isn’t as easy as it looks. That’s why cruise ships, barges, tankers, freighters and other vessels are steered through these potentially hazardous straits by highly trained pilots who specialize in navigating a specific river, lake, canal or harbor.

River, bar and harbor pilots who have been injured in an on-the-job accident, we urge you to reach out to Lambert Zainey. Our maritime pilot injury attorneys are here to provide all the legal support possible.

River, Bar and Harbor Injury Attorneys

The Critical Role Of A Ship’s Pilot

With all the hazards to consider while navigating a ship or barge through a narrow river channel or into a heavily trafficked ocean port facility, it’s easy to understand why a ship’s pilot plays such a crucial role in today’s maritime industry. First, pilots must look out for other vessels sharing the water, as well as bridges, piers and other structures in and near waterways.

Pilots must also be aware of the many hidden obstacles lurking just below the surface — sand bars, rocks, coral reefs and all sorts of sunken debris. And finally, pilots must deal with bad weather, treacherous currents and shifting tides.

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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Potentially Dangerous Situations For Pilots

Like all maritime work, being a river, bar or harbor pilot can be potentially hazardous. Each year, pilots are injured or killed in accidents caused by the below.

  • Human Error – In the event of a disaster, a single miscalculation may be all it takes to cause a catastrophe to occur.
  • Collisions – The impact of a collision can cause severe injuries. Among these are crippling bone fractures, brain injuries, neck injuries, and spinal injuries.
  • Poorly maintained or defective tools and equipment.
  • Falling Overboard – Exposes the pilot to severe hypothermia or drowning.
  • Transfer Accidents – Pilots are often required to navigate ships that are already en-route to their destination. This means they have to board the vessel using a transfer boat, transfer basket or helicopter.
  • Slips, Trips and Falls – The number one cause of injury to pilots, according to the National Transportation Safety Board. Defective ladders and railings, slippery decks and unsecured lines are just a few of the causes of slip, trip and fall injuries.
  • Groundings – Depending on the circumstances, grounding can result in the same type of injury as a collision.
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.

Compensation For Injured Mate

The amount of compensation you receive after an injury depends on a lot of factors. One of the most important is the law firm you pick to represent you. If you’ve worked on a vessel, you know that the maritime world has its own language and customs and anyone who hasn’t experienced it probably wouldn’t have a clue as to how things operate in that world.

  • Past medical expenses
  • Future medical expenses
  • Lost wages
  • Lost earning capacity
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Pain and suffering

Lambert Zainey has been representing injured maritime workers for almost half a century. Our maritime lawyers speak the language and are already familiar with that world.

Lift Boat Seacor Power Capsize

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

Learn More About This Case

Maritime Laws And Ship Pilot Accidents

Maritime law is similarly unique and requires the services of an experienced maritime attorney to maximize a settlement under any and all maritime laws that may apply in your case, including:

Over our long history, Lambert Zainey has obtained over a billion dollars in settlements for our clients. We’ve represented river, bar and harbor pilots and other maritime workers who have been injured in maritime accidents all over the U.S.

Call us today to schedule a free consultation with an experienced maritime pilot injury attorney.

Frequently Asked Questions About Ship Pilot Injury Cases

When determining whether a maritime worker such as a river or harbor pilot qualifies as a Jones Act seaman, several factors should be considered:

  • Was the worker employed on a vessel that was in navigation (afloat, in operation and capable of moving in open water)?
  • Did the pilot’s duties contribute to the work of the vessel?
  • Did the ship pilot have a substantial connection to a single vessel (spending at least 30 percent of total employment time on it)?

The most common injuries for maritime workers, including river and harbor pilots, include:

All cases are different, so there is not an easy answer to this question. The laws involved, the severity of injuries and circumstances of the accident can all affect the timeline of a case. While some cases may take only a few months to settle, others may go on for a year or more.

Many maritime workers are scared to file a lawsuit after an accident because of the idea of being put on the rumored “blacklist” and unable to get employment in the industry.

While we can’t tell you whether there actually is any “list”  maritime employers use, we can tell you that at Lambert Zainey we DO NOT think this should be a factor in deciding to pursue a claim. There are laws that protect maritime workers from being retaliated against by their employers.

Employers pay maintenance and cure benefits to river and harbor pilots who have been hurt at work until the worker has reached Maximum Medical Improvement.

Sometimes, an employer is found to be “arbitrary and capricious” or “willful or callous” in delaying, denying or terminating benefits. When this happens, the ship pilot can seek punitive damages and attorney’s fees under maritime law.

Read more about what you can do if an employer ends maintenance and cure too soon

Maritime injuries often leave workers with overwhelming financial difficulties. Our maritime pilot injury attorneys know you need the compensation from your maritime claim to help deal with these difficulties, but the truth is that there is no one-size-fits-all answer to how determining how much a case is worth without knowing more information.

We strongly encourage you to schedule a consultation with one of our experienced maritime lawyers to discuss the facts of your case.

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