Factory Trawler Injuries

SEATTLE COMMERCIAL FISHING INJURY LAWYERS

We know how hard you work. When selecting a lawyer to represent you in a maritime injury case following an injury on a factory trawler or commercial fishing vessel, you need a law firm that works as hard as you do. Our lawyers have earned a national reputation for hard work, tenacity, and grit in commercial fishing injury cases. For decades, the Seattle-based maritime injury lawyers of Kraft Davies Olsson PLLC have successfully represented fishermen, deckhands, and fish processors injured on factory trawlers in Alaska, the Bering Sea, off the coasts of Washington and Oregon, and elsewhere. We know the fishing industry.

Injuries occur due to unsafe lifting conditions, insufficient lighting, slips and falls on deck, vessel sinking, vessel fires, offloading fish product, swinging loads from cranes, unsafe or unguarded machinery and processing equipment, unreasonably long shifts, falling overboard in heavy weather, vessel instability, and many other unsafe conditions that employers fail to control.

LAWYERS THAT GET RESULTS

Our lawyers have collected hundreds of six and seven-figure verdicts and settlements against some of the largest fishing companies in the world, including America Seafoods Company, Icicle Seafoods Company, The Fishing Company of Alaska, Trident Seafoods Company, and many other fishing companies operating in the waters of Alaska, the Bering Sea, Puget Sound, off the coasts of Washington and Oregon, and elsewhere. We know how fishing companies operate, know the equipment out on deck and in the processing factory, and know how to effectively prosecute your claim against the fishing company. Because we have filed lawsuits against many of the fishing companies before, we can build on the knowledge gained in other lawsuits to help enhance your case.

FREE CASE EVALUATION

We offer a free case evaluation for injured fishermen and fish processors. Because we accept cases on contingent fee, you don’t have to pay any up-front costs to be represented by a nationally-recognized maritime personal injury firm that has been fighting hard for injured fishermen, deckhands, and processors for decades.

Like you, we know how to get the job done. We’re here to help you make a full and fair recovery – call us today at 206.624.8844 for a free case evaluation.

What is Maintenance, Cure, and Unearned Wages?

Under maritime law, injured fishermen and processors are entitled to payment of maintenance, cure, and unearned wages following an injury or illness while in the service of the vessel.

• Maintenance is a daily allowance for room and board expenses while you receive curative medical treatment for your injuries or illness. The amount of these payments may be set by your employment contract with the fishing company or may be based on your actual room and board expenses. An experienced maritime injury lawyer may be able to increase your maintenance rate if the rate provided in your employment contract does not fully cover your room and board expenses.
• Medical cure are the medical bills for medical treatment necessary or helpful in improving your medical condition. These may include the cost of surgery, physical therapy, equipment, travel costs, and other expenses related to your medical care.
• Unearned wages are the wages that you would have earned had you remained on the vessel until the end of your fishing contract, including any bonuses and overtime pay that you would have earned.

What Damages Are Available Under the Jones Act?

Under the Jones Act and general maritime law, you may be entitled to recover additional benefits if your injury was caused by an unsafe condition, defective equipment, or the negligence of another employee. These benefits may include

• past and future lost wages;
• economic losses;
• loss of earning capacity;
• the cost of retraining if you injury prevents return to work at sea;
• cost of future medical care or equipment for your injuries;
• damages for past and future pain, disability, and loss of enjoyment of life;
• damages for disfigurement;
• loss of enjoyment of life caused by your injuries.

Contact our lawyers today for a free evaluation of the benefits available to you under the Jones