Posts Tagged ‘MaritimeAccident’
What are the Most Common Accidents on Board Ships?
Unlike car accidents or slip and fall cases where attorneys see the same type of accident over and over, there is no “common” type of accident on board a ship. Each maritime accident is truly unique with an outcome based on a distinctive set of circumstances. However, in our years of practicing maritime law at…
Read MoreWhat Boating Safety Concerns Are the Coast Guard and Connecticut River Task Force Addressing?
One of Massachusetts’ busiest waterways is the state’s portion of the Connecticut River. Because of this, the United States Coast Guard is partnering with the Connecticut River Task Force in order to address recreational boating safety boardings for this summer. This safety push is led by the Coast Guard Sector Boston law enforcement and other…
Read MoreWhy Did the United States Coast Guard Terminate This Yacht Voyage?
One of the main reasons that there are various boating accidents during the summer is because one or both of the vessels involved in the accident was unsafe. All recreational boats are required to have updated safety codes on board in order to protect their passengers. Unfortunately, some boating trips are terminated by the United…
Read MoreUpdates on M/V IYANOUGH Crash Lawsuit Regarding the Claimants’ Answer to the Petition
In June 2017, a high-speed passenger ferry named the M/V IYANOUGH crashed into a jetty in Hyannis, Massachusetts. Initially, it was reported that fifteen people suffered injuries. The ferry is owned and operated by the Woods Hole, Martha’s Vineyard and the Nantucket Steamship Authority. The owner of the ferry filed a lawsuit, to eliminate its…
Read MoreWho Is Liable If I’m Injured on a Cruise Ship?
If you are a passenger on a cruise ship and get injured, there will be a few things you will have to prove in order to determine liability. The number one thing you will have to confirm in court is that the cruise ship operator was negligent in some way. This is the main way…
Read MoreOwners of the M/V IYANOUGH file Petition for Limitation of Liability
Last June, a high-speed passenger ferry crashed into a jetty in Hyannis, Massachusetts that left fifteen people injured. The ferry, named the M/V IYANOUGH and operated by the Wood’s Hole, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority, crashed into the jetty a few miles from the dock. Due to heavy winds and rough seas, the evacuation…
Read MoreCoast Guard Aircrew Rescues Four People Off of Martha’s Vineyard
A Coast Guard aircrew rescued a group of four people from a sinking fishing vessel Wednesday night near Martha’s Vineyard. The fishing vessel, named F/V SEA STAR, radioed the Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England at 6:20 p.m. that night. They reported that their vessel was sinking and taking on water, and that they were…
Read MoreThings Passengers Need to Know About Filing Maritime Injury Claims
If you’re injured in a car accident, filing a claim can be simple. However, if you are a passenger injured in an accident at sea, filing maritime injury claims can be complicated. After all, you have to determine a few factors before you can file a claim, including: Was the ship seaworthy? Did the accident…
Read MoreAre Burn Injuries Common on Board Vessels?
While ships are surrounded by water at sea, that does not mean they are impervious to fires, nor are maritime workers invulnerable to burns. Just last month, a flash fire occurred in a Virginia shipyard, which sent three workers to the hospital with severe burn injuries. Just a few months prior, a fire broke out…
Read MoreDoes Fatigue Put Maritime Workers at Risk?
Maritime workers are essential to the global economy. More than 90 percent of the world’s trade is shipped by sea or across navigable waters. However, the maritime industry is plagued with falls overboard, groundings caused by navigation errors, collisions, fires, drownings and even amputation injuries. Unfortunately, many of these accidents are caused by fatigued maritime…
Read MoreAre Safety Drills Causing Maritime Accidents?
Earlier this month, a seafarer died and four were injured in a maritime accident on the Harmony of the Seas, the largest cruise ship in the world that just sailed its inaugural voyage this year. Specifically, a lifeboat fell 30 feet from its davit and into the water during a ship safety drill. Of the…
Read MoreWhat is the “Safer Seas Digest” and How Can It Help You Offshore?
Last month, we wrote a blog on the top three lessons the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) had learned from its annual report on maritime accidents. The 72-page report looked at 29 major maritime accidents. Since then, the NTSB has released its annual “Safer Seas Digest,” which crewmembers can use in training and safety…
Read MoreWhat Has the NTSB Learned from This Year’s Maritime Accidents?
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released its annual report on maritime accidents from the last year and what has been learned from them. The 72-page report examines 29 major maritime accidents in 2015 with high casualty numbers. It seems the report gleaned three major lessons from last year’s accidents, including: The hazards associated…
Read MoreShould I talk to an Insurance Company After a Maritime Accident?
Consider this situation: you’ve just suffered a maritime injury and are trying to recover. You’re in pain, probably shocked, traumatized by your accident and may have family worried about you. On top of all of this, you now have medical bills and possibly lost wages to contend with. However, any injury or death is covered…
Read MoreMaine Lobsterman Dies After Falling Overboard
A Maine lobsterman died this month after falling off a boat near Jonesport. The lobster boat crewmembers contacted the U.S. Coast Guard, but the lobsterman was dead by the time they arrived in spite of CPR attempts. The lobsterman left a wife and a young son behind. Falling Overboard is a Leading Cause of Maritime…
Read MoreWhat to Expect After a Maritime Injury
If you’re in a car accident, you know what to do. You call the police and file an insurance claim. However, when you experience a traumatizing maritime injury while working at sea, things work a lot differently. In all of the confusion, it can be easy to say or do the wrong thing that could…
Read MoreWhy is This Deckhand Suing a Marine Towing Company?
Recently, Latti & Anderson LLP resolved a case against a tug company and its owner where the crew member was on deck, helping feed out the line from the line box when the next thing the crew member heard was a loud pop and he was thrown numerous feet back on the stern on the tug. The crew member sustained…
Read MoreIs Too Much Technology Causing Maritime Accidents?
In a previous blog, we described a boat accident that occurred due to distracted boat operators, one of whom was distracted by paperwork and the other hanging his fishing nets. However, a recent article published by Marine Electronics & Communications describes a very different type of distraction that has possibly caused an increase in maritime…
Read MoreThe Jones Act Essentials: Answers to the Most Common Questions
The Jones Act is a law governing most maritime matters. It was created in 1920 to explicitly define the rights of injured seamen and their families because they were not covered by workers’ compensation laws. The most common explanation of when the Jones Act is applicable would be when a seaman is injured or dies…
Read MoreWho is Responsible When Boats Collide?
Seventeen nautical miles off the Shinnecock Inlet, a commercial fishing boat and a sport fishing boat collided. The commercial vessel, the Elizabeth J, was fishing for scallops when the crew saw an approaching vessel appear on radar. The oncoming sport fisher, the Nina Marie, was moving at a speed of about 20 knots in fog…
Read MoreBulker Secured After Causing Millions in Damages
On April 6th, A Greek bulker owned by the Bariba Group broke free from its moorings and drifted uncontrolled across the Mississippi River. The Privocean, an 81,434 dwt bulker, destroyed parts of the dock it was moored at, spilled about 10 barrels of oil into the river, and crushed a tug boat against a tanker.…
Read MoreWill New Training Regulations Prevent Deaths and Injuries at Sea?
According to Professional Mariner, new regulations require that ships sailing internationally must provide crewmembers with enclosed space drills every two months. The news outlet reported that vessels operating under Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) must now participate in training programs about the dangers of enclosed spaces to prevent injury and death incidents. The International…
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