According to the Associated Press, the Arkansas state medical examiner has identified the remains of a man found in the Mississippi River as those of a worker who went missing last year when a barge capsized.

The news outlet reported that officials were able to identify the man, who went missing in April 2014, after the barge he was working on sunk during an unloading accident. The incident actually killed two men—officials found the body of a second victim about a week after the incident took place.

The family of the victim who was found previously has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against several companies, including Cooper Marine & Timberlands, Logistic Services and Severstal U.S. Holdings for their alleged role in the incident.

The workers, both longshoremen, were unloading a barge when two steel coils recoiled, rolling down the shoreward side of a vessel, causing it to capsize and sink. The incident took place on the Mississippi River, near Blytheville. The family member who filed the lawsuit said that negligent procedures on the part of the owners and operators of the barge caused the incident to talk place.

Speak to Our Maritime Attorneys Following a Barge Accident

As we noted in this August blog, if your loved one dies in a barge accident, you should speak to our maritime attorneys about your legal rights. You may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit or another claim under a different form of maritime law.

Barge operators have a duty to protect workers both onshore and offshore. Those that fail to do so should face consequences. While money obtained through a lawsuit will not bring your loved one back, it may help your family recover financially following a death. The money you obtain can be used to pay for burial expenses, as well as replace your loved one’s lost income.

Call our maritime law firm today if your loved one has been killed in a barge accident. We represent victims nationwide. In the video above, attorney Carolyn Latti explains how our firm helps people who have lost loved ones in maritime accidents both onshore and offshore.

Latti & Anderson LLP – Nationwide Maritime Attorneys