Sadly, last week, the U.S. Coast Guard suspended the search for a missing towboat deckhand who reportedly fell overboard from a vessel into the Mississippi River.

According to Professional Mariner, the man went missing near Osceola, Arkansas, on April 7. He allegedly fell overboard from the Joe Ellis into the Mississippi River at the Mid River Terminal dock around mile marker 782.

The Coast Guard responded to the incident by sending out two duty marine investigators in a 25-foot boat, working alongside Mississippi County Sheriffs’ Department boat crews, Blytheville Rescue Squad boat crews and an Arkansas Fish and Game officer.

Working With an Attorney Following a Maritime Death

Keep in mind, if your family member dies in a maritime accident, it may be in your best interest to speak to an attorney. In an attempt to recover damages following a death, an attorney may be able to prove negligence or the unseaworthiness of a vessel, depending on the circumstances.

To prove unseaworthiness, an attorney may argue that a specific piece of equipment, a piece of gear, an appliance or any of the vessel’s accessories were not adequate or safe. To prove negligence, an attorney may argue that errors played a role in a person’s death.

Remember, our firm works to ensure that families get the damages they need when an accident kills their loved one. In the video above, Carolyn Latti explains how maritime law differs from other forms of personal injury law.

For more information about our firm, visit our Facebook or Twitter pages and continue to follow our blog. We have recovered verdicts and settlements in excess of $1 million in wrongful death cases and recently recovered a $8 million settlement for the family of an engineer who was killed on a tug from an engine room fire.

Latti & Anderson LLP – Nationwide Maritime Attorneys