The maritime industry is inherently dangerous for workers, and leg injuries are some of the most common types of injuries resulting from workplace accidents. If you suffered a leg injury in a maritime job, contact an experienced lawyer with the expertise to help you get compensation.
About Maritime Leg Injuries
Maritime workplaces are full of hazards, and workers are susceptible to many types of injuries. According to some studies of injuries in maritime workers, leg injuries are the second most common type after hand and wrist injuries. Engine room workers are more likely than deck workers to suffer leg injuries on the job.
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What Causes Leg Injuries?
Many factors make maritime jobs inherently hazardous. They work with and around a lot of equipment, machinery, and cargo. Many work in confined or crowded spaces with trip hazards. They work in environments where bad weather can make their jobs even more dangerous. Many maritime workers operate at heights, which can lead to falls.
Even with all these inherent dangers, preventable causes of accidents and leg injuries are unfortunately common:
- Faulty equipment
- Poorly maintained equipment
- Inadequate training
- Failure to follow safety protocols
- Lack of safety equipment or training
- Failure to use safety equipment or personal protective equipment
- Cluttered decks or slippery surfaces
- Bad weather or navigation
- Collisions and grounding of ships
- Improperly loaded or secured cargo
Types of Leg Injuries in Maritime Workers
Accidents involving the legs in maritime jobs can lead to several injuries. These are some of the common types:
- Fractures
- Sprains and strains
- Ligament and tendon injuries
- Joint injuries, including dislocations
- Crush injuries
- Lacerations
Leg injuries often arise from accidents and acute injuries. Maritime workers also suffer injuries related to repetitive use and strain. Doing the same or similar physical work over many years can lead to repetitive stress injuries and arthritis that cause pain and disability.
Examples of Maritime Leg Injuries
These real-world examples show how leg injuries occur in various maritime jobs. From minor to more severe incidents, most of these injuries are preventable.
Pilot’s Leg Crushed in Boarding Accident
A pilot working in the Port of Aberdeen in Scotland suffered a severe leg crush injury in 2018. The incident occurred as he was boarding a vessel coming into the port. The arrangement of the ladder onto the ship was different than he expected, resulting in his leg getting trapped and crushed.
The pilot suffered life-changing injuries that required multiple surgeries, ending his career as a pilot. He now works to improve safety in the maritime industry and for pilots, who have some of the most dangerous jobs.
Leg Injury in Ladder Accident
Another maritime worker suffered a serious leg injury in an accident at the Port of Auckland in New Zealand in 2021. The ship’s crew was retrieving a telescoping accommodation ladder to store it just before the ship left port.
One of the crew members was standing in an area previously identified as a danger zone when his leg became trapped between the fixed and stationary parts of the ladder. A report determined that the ship’s safety culture was weak. Better communication, risk control, and supervision could have prevented the accident.
Leg Injury in Lifeboat Drill
Accidents and injuries can even occur when crew members are conducting safety drills. In 2020, a worker suffered significant leg injuries during a lifeboat drill in Canada. The crew of a bulk carrier was undergoing a free-fall drill when connections failed, and the boat dropped 45 feet into the water.
The workers in the lifeboat were standing when they should have been sitting and secured. The fall occurred unexpectedly because the connecting slings had deteriorated and were not included in safety checks. These preventable factors led to serious injuries, including leg injuries.
What to Do if You Injured Your Leg in a Maritime Job
Medical attention should be the top priority after any injury sustained on the job. Ask for help, begin first aid, and call for emergency care if needed. Once you are medically stable, you can ensure a report documenting the incident is filed.
Keep a record of the incident report and any medical care you receive. You can use these documents to seek compensation. You should be able to get compensation for medical care, ongoing medical needs, lost wages, and other related expenses.
Contact a maritime lawyer to determine how you can seek compensation. Several different maritime laws apply to different types of maritime workers. For example, if you work on a ship, you are most likely covered by the Jones Act. This law allows seamen to file lawsuits to recover damages when negligence contributed to their injuries.
Other laws cover longshoremen and offshore workers, providing a way to make a workers’ compensation claim. A maritime lawyer can sort through these complicated laws, review your case, and help you make a claim.