O’Hara Fishing Company Maritime Injury Claims

Founded in 1907, the O’Hara Fishing Company has played a significant role in the maritime industry for over a century. With a homeport in Seattle, O’Hara Fishing Company has one of the largest fleets and catching capacities in the United States. The company has operations off the east coast, but the heart of the business is the five catcher processor vessels that fish in the Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands, and the Gulf of Alaska. Their vessels include F/T Araho, F/T Enterprise, F/T Defender, F/T Constellation, and F/T Alaska Spirit. The vessels catch and process flounder, Atka mackerel, Pacific Ocean perch, cod, and pollock.

Seamen working on O’Hara Fishing Company vessels face dangers every day. Because of the harsh weather, hazardous working conditions, and long hours, commercial fishing is one of the most dangerous occupations in the United States. If you were injured while working on an O’Hara Fishing Company vessel, you should reach out to the experienced maritime attorneys at Kraft Davies. You may be entitled to significant damages and compensation under maritime law. There are three primary avenues of recovery: maintenance and cure, the unseaworthiness doctrine, and the Jones Act.

Employers must pay maintenance and cure to seamen injured while working on their vessel. Maintenance refers to a daily living allowance to cover expenses like rent and food. Cure refers to all reasonable and necessary medical expenses. These benefits are available to all injured employees, no matter who was at fault for the injury. O’Hara Fishing Company is obligated to pay maintenance and cure until you can return to work or no further treatment will help you recover.

Under the unseaworthiness doctrine, vessel owners are required to provide its seamen with a seaworthy vessel. A vessel is unseaworthy if the ship or any of its parts or its equipment is not reasonably fit for its intended use. A vessel can be unseaworthy even if it is not in danger of sinking. An example of unseaworthiness includes worn, broken, or improperly designed equipment. O’Hara Fishing Company can be liable under the unseaworthiness doctrine, even if they were unaware of the danger.

In addition to claims under general maritime law, injured seamen are allowed to file negligence claims against their employer through the Jones Act. Under the Jones Act, O’Hara Fishing Company owes its employees a reasonably safe place to work. Grease or oil on deck, improperly maintained equipment, insufficient crew, and a failure to follow safety standards are all examples of negligence under the Jones Act. The negligence needs only to have played some role—no matter how small—in causing the injury.

Kraft Davies Olsson PLLC is a nationally recognized leader in maritime personal injury law. Kraft Davies has significant experience representing injured seamen against O’Hara Fishing Company. We understand the fishing industry and know how to get you the compensation that you deserve. If you or a loved one were injured in a commercial fishing or shipping accident, contact the attorneys at Kraft Davies today at 206-624-8844 or through this website.