Crab Boats

Commercial King Crab Fishing

Alaska King Crab fishermen have the most dangerous job in the world. Facing extreme wave conditions in the Bering Sea, long hours, slippery decks, heavy equipment, dangerous crab pot launchers, swinging cranes, unguarded bait choppers, sea ice, and other hazards, these hard-working crab fishermen earn good incomes to support their families back home. In the wake of an injury, crab fishermen need an experienced maritime injury lawyer who can help them obtain maximum compensation for an injury so that they can begin the difficult path to recovery from an injury. We can help.

Over 65 Years of Experience Representing Injured Crab Fishermen

Our Seattle-based lawyers have more than 65 years of maritime injury experience representing fishermen injured in the King Crab fisheries in the Bering Sea, Alaska, and the North Pacific. We know the dangers of crab fishing and what measures a responsible employer should take to limit the risk of injury and death to the crew. When profits and speed of production are put before safety, it is the hard-working crew and their families that pay the price for life-long injuries and even deaths. We’ve seen first-hand the consequences of unsafe vessel operations and the needless pain it can cause.

We’ve handled complex cases involving defective crab pot launchers, crew members being hit with swinging crane loads, injuries from bait choppers, slips and falls, crew member assaults, frost bite, men going overboard, heavy lifting injuries, and other serious injuries on Alaska King Crab fishing boats and other commercial fishing boats. Because of our experience in crab vessel injuries, it’s likely that we’ve handled a case similar to yours in the past and your case can benefit from ground broken in other cases. While most law firms charge the same contingent fee to represent injured crab fishermen, our lawyers have gained a national reputation for representing injured commercial fishermen and maritime workers.

Jones Act Benefits for Crab Fishermen

Under the federal Jones Act, an injured crab fisherman can recover damages for past and future lost wages, past and future medical expenses, compensation for pain and disability, the cost of retraining into another occupation if they can’t go back to work fishing, and other damages caused by the injury.

In order to recover these damages under the Jones Act, however, the injured crab fisherman must show that the injury was caused by the negligence of their employer or another member of the crew, an unsafe condition, an unsafe method of work, or defective equipment. Because each case is different and the particular facts may be complex, it is important that you consult with an experienced maritime injury lawyer as soon as possible. While a lawsuit must be filed within three years of your injury to preserve your claim, early investigation and collection of evidence can make the difference between winning or losing your case. As time passes, the memories of witnesses fade, they leave the area or lose contact, and critical physical evidence may be lost.

Free Initial Case Evaluations

Our law firm offers a free initial case evaluation for injured crab fishermen. We accept cases on contingent fee, which means that we don’t get paid attorneys’ fees unless we make a financial recovery for you. Contact us today for a free initial consultation without obligation.