What Should I Do If My Son Fell From a Tugboat and Drowned?
Losing someone you love so suddenly, as is the case with drowning, is a shock. It takes a while to know what to do or how to cope. Unfortunately, sometimes employers and their insurance companies will use your vulnerability to their advantage, building a case against your loved one and figuring out a way to escape some or even all of their responsibility for your loss.
That is why it is important to get in touch with an attorney as soon as possible after the incident that claimed your loved one’s life. You need someone on your side fighting for your rights and in the best interest of your family. With the guidance of a qualified and experienced maritime trial lawyer, you can put together a case strong enough to bring those at fault for your loss to justice and recover the compensation your family needs for medical expenses, lost income and suffering.
Suspected Fall from Tugboat Claimed Life of 25-Year-Old Deck Hand
While repositioning a barge at a Merritt Island, Florida boatyard, it appears a deck hand fell from a tugboat and drowned, according to Professional Mariner.
The incident took place on September 13, 2013. The 25-year-old deck hand was working on a tugboat for Beyel Brothers that was moving a barge from one side of a boatyard to another when he apparently fell into the Canaveral Barge Canal. None of the deck hand’s fellow crewmembers saw him fall overboard.
After the 25 year old went missing, the canal was closed by authorities, who conducted a search by air and water. The Coast Guard, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Brevard County sheriff’s deputies all participated in the search. A Brevard County dive crew recovered the deck hand’s body the following day near the tugboat he had been working on.
Latti & Anderson LLP through the years has represented families who have lost loved ones from falling overboard a vessel. In these cases, it is very important for the family to be involved in the investigation early on to determine the cause of the fall. It is important that all crew and witnesses are interviewed and that any video or electronic records from the wheelhouse are not destroyed.
If you have lost a loved one due to a fall overboard and you have questions about what to do, contact Latti & Anderson LLP.
Latti & Anderson LLP – Nationwide Maritime Attorneys