Can an Attorney Help an Injured Shipyard Worker?

Updating a blog post we brought you last Friday, the co-worker of a man killed in a Colonna’s Shipyard accident in Virginia says the victim had extensive experience using the construction equipment involved in his death.

On March 30, rescue crews found 58-year-old Donald R. Thomas, of Chesapeake, dead in an excavator at the shipyard. Video from WAVY-TV showed a concrete piling going through the cab of the excavator at the time of the incident.

Martin Waterfield, a friend of Thomas, told WAVY that he was very experienced using the equipment at the shipyard. “Don used that excavator considerably. That was bought back when I was there. So, they’ve had it 12 plus years,” Waterfield said, according to station.

OSHA is continuing to investigate the incident. “[The shipyard] industry is dangerous. I mean, you have cranes moving and forklifts moving material around in the air constantly,” Waterfield said, according to WAVY. “You’ve got to get up on the side of ships, welding, burning, blasting, painting, you know, slip, trips, falls, accidents, that’s a hazard everyday.”

Keep in mind, last fall it was reported that OSHA discovered 12 safety and health violations at the shipyard, and the company is facing thousands of dollars in fines.

Working With an Attorney Following a Shipyard Accident

As we reported last week, if you are injured or your loved one has been killed in a shipyard accident, it may prove advantageous to speak to an attorney. You might have protections under the Longshore Act or other laws protecting employees, if you are injured on the job or your loved one is killed.

You will want to make sure that you speak to an attorney who understands the various laws that may be applicable to your case. In the video above, attorney Carolyn Latti discusses how you can contact an attorney for a free consultation following a maritime, shipyard, dock or pier accident.

Latti & Anderson LLP – Nationwide Maritime Attorneys

Source: http://wavy.com/2015/04/01/friend-shipyard-accident-victim-was-experienced-with-equipment/