Barges are popular flat-bottomed vessels that were built mostly for the transportation of bulk goods, cargo, and sometimes passengers via rivers and canals. Millions of Americans work aboard barges or other vessels each year. Barge work can be dangerous. Unfortunately, sometimes barge workers are hurt during the course and scope of their employment in the barge industry. Texas barge workers injured while working should contact a Texas Barge Accident Lawyer immediately for guidance on their case.
Accidents Facing Texas Maritime Workers Working on Barges
Sometimes workers aboard barges are injured from malfunctions such as an engine breakdown which can cause safety issues to workers and can cause collisions with other vessels. Failure to properly inspect and maintain engines and other equipment on a barge can also cause workers to be injured.
Another reason barge workers may be injured includes faulty ventilation. Workers often have to work in confined and enclosed spaces. If they do not have adequate ventilation to create a safe atmosphere, workers can become ill by breathing in air that is filled with deadly hazards (such as toxic chemicals from barge storage tanks that were released into the air). Additionally, insufficient crew members aboard a vessel during a work trip is important for safety. Not having sufficient crewmembers aboard a barge to carry out necessary operations such as lifting heavy ropes and cables can create safety issues for workers aboard the barge. These issues can cause a variety of different accidents to occur causing serious injuries to maritime workers.
What Are Some Common Injuries Sustained By Workers Aboard a Texas Barge?
The maritime industry, which includes barge workers, is one of the most dangerous industries to work in. Unfortunately, many barge accidents occur each year causing workers to sustain serious injuries. Barges experience accidents for a variety of reasons, as noted above, such as operator error, poor ventilation, failure to follow safety protocols, mechanical breakdowns, and defective equipment, among other reasons, causing injuries to maritime workers. Some examples of common injuries sustained by employees working aboard barges include, but are not limited to:
- Broken bones
- Back injuries
- Paralysis
- Brain damage
- Hypothermia,
- Diseases (such as cancer)
- Death
Regarding diseases, barges, unfortunately, expose workers to dangerous chemicals because of the nature of the cargo that they transport. Some barges carry toxic chemicals in their holding tanks, such as benzene, xylene, toluene, gasoline, and jet fuel, among other toxic chemicals. Exposures to these chemicals (including dermal and vapor) can cause barge workers to become very sick with cancers such as leukemia, AML leukemia, and blood cancers, among other types of cancers.
What Steps to Take if Injured on a Barge?
If you are a maritime employee who was injured while working aboard a barge, you should seek immediate medical attention for your injuries. Your health and safety is the first priority. You should then report your injuries to your employer. Next, if you feel that you sustained an injury while on the job because of the negligence of your employer, or another party, you should contact an experienced Texas barge accident lawyer for a legal opinion on your case. You will also want to collect as much documentation as possible regarding the incident that caused your injuries as well as the medical treatment you received thereafter.
How Can A Texas Barge Accident Lawyer Help With Your Barge Injury Case?
If you are a maritime worker, it is important to know what maritime laws may apply to your case to cover medical expenses and lost wages that you may sustain if you are injured on the job. Maritime lawyers, including barge accident lawyers, specialize in an area of law called maritime law which protects maritime workers who are injured at work. The protections and compensation available to maritime workers under maritime law depend on a variety of different factors that are unique to each and every case such as the type of worker injured, where the injury occurred, and the specific details of the accident and injuries sustained. Some of the more common maritime laws that protect workers in the maritime industry include:
- The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA)
- Death on the High Seas Act (DOHSA)
- Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA)
- Jones Act
- Applicable state laws
A Texas barge accident Lawyer is well versed in these laws and can explain how they apply to your unique case.
Compensation Options for Barge Maritime Workers in Texas
Maritime workers injured on a vessel, such as a barge, may be able to recover compensation for a variety of different damages including, but not limited to:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Cost of rehabilitation
- Economic loss
- Pain and suffering
If you are hurt in a barge accident while working as a maritime employee, an experienced Texas Barge Accident Lawyer can advise you as to your rights and evaluate your case to determine if you are entitled to compensation for your injuries. An experienced maritime lawyer can also represent you in your barge accident case from the very beginning to the very end, taking your case to court to fight for your fights, if necessary.
Were You or a Loved One Injured Working on a Barge? If so, Contact a Texas Barge Accident Lawyer at Willis Law Firm Today!
Working aboard a vessel, such as a barge, is dangerous. If you or a loved one were injured while working aboard a Texas barge, help is available to you and your family. Contact an experienced Texas Barge Accident Lawyer at Willis Law Firm today. Our maritime lawyers can advise you on the legal remedies available to you and help you determine what compensation you may be eligible to obtain for injuries sustained from working aboard a Texas barge. You can call our office at 1-800-468-4878 or email us through our online webform to find out more about your legal rights and options.
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