Trawler / Shrimper Accidents

Trawler and shrimper accidents happen quickly and frequently – long hours of brutal work combined with unstable weather conditions create an environment in which serious accidents and injuries can easily occur. Pressure to lower prices to compete with shrimp farms often forces shrimpers to take dangerous risks, further compounding the likelihood of injury.

If you have suffered injury from a trawler or shrimper accident, you need help from an experienced attorney who understands the challenges you face – and which laws will offer you compensation for your injuries. Parker Waichman Alonso LLP has been successfully helping maritime injury victims for more than 20 years. Our attorneys have represented many trawler/shrimper accident claims, and we work hard to secure maximum compensation for our clients, many of whom struggle with severe, sometimes lifetime injuries.

Please submit our online form or call 1-800-LAW-INFO (1-800-529-4636) for help with your case. We handle maritime law claims from port cities along the U.S. Eastern Seaboard, including New York, Philadelphia, Wilmington DE, Baltimore, Norfolk, Charleston, Savannah, Jacksonville FL, Fort Lauderdale FL and Miami.

In recent years, the shrimping industry has faced challenges as private shrimpers try to compete with large-scale farming enterprises. Shrimpers also face poisoning from exposure to hydrogen sulfide (h2s) gas or fumes from decomposing shrimp. This gas can cause unconsciousness, brain injury and even death, so boat owners and operators have a responsibility to warn of the danger and provide protective masks. Deckhands and others working on trawlers face similar risks. Regardless of the type of vessel, the commercial fishing industry is challenging and often dangerous, which is why there are specific regulations known as Maritime Law that exist to cover those who work on the water.

In order to file a successful claim, you must know which laws cover your accident. Most trawler or shrimper accidents, like other fishing accidents, are covered by the Jones Act, a law that covers seamen and certain other maritime workers for injuries sustained on the job, including compensation for medical treatment and what is known as “maintenance and cure" – the financial equivalent of the room and board you would receive at sea. If negligence played a role in your accident – for example, if a defective piece of equipment was to blame – then you may be able to file a personal injury claim for negligence against the equipment manufacturer. The types of damages may be different in a general personal injury claim, and can include lost wages and pain and suffering, so it's important to distinguish which laws are applicable in your accident case.

Whether your accident falls under the Jones Act or other personal injury law, you must act quickly to secure compensation. Jones Act and negligence claims have a strict filing deadline, so it's important to contact a lawyer as soon as you can. Working long hours on a shrimper or trawler is a tough job, but injuries can make your life even tougher as you face medical bills and an uncertain future.

At Parker Waichman Alonso LLP, our most important goal is to help you get your life back on track – and we have a 20-year track record of success to help make that happen. If you have suffered injury from a trawler or shrimper accident, please submit our online form or call 1-800-LAW-INFO (1-800-529-4636) for a legal consultation with our legal team.