A Landing Craft Air Cushion or LCAC is a high-speed amphibious navy ship transporting up to 75 tons of equipment, cargo, or weapons from ship to shore right on the sand. These ships have training off the coast of Jacksonville, and in early May, two of these high-speed military vessels collided in the middle of one of these training sessions, injuring more than 30 sailors. While the Navy has yet to report what caused the collision, they did report that most of the people treated on board were evacuated to a nearby trauma hospital for additional care.
This is the second incident in recent weeks that saw sailors harmed during what is supposed to be routine training exercises. The Navy's primary focus is on the sailor’s health and well-being, but all maritime officers and their families should be familiar with the Jones Act. Protecting injured maritime workers, crew, and officers with compensation for injuries or fatalities is how the Jones Act works for you and your family. If you or a loved one has been injured in a maritime accident, contact a Jones Act attorney to start your family on the road to compensation.
The Importance of Safety When Working or Traveling by Boat
The dangers of working and being on the water cannot be overstated. Boating accidents have all the significant components of a car accident, including the risk of drowning, longer emergency response times, and exposure to the elements or inclement weather. Boating accidents include injuries, missing people, and even death to those on board. Accidents happen, but it’s vital that tragedies can be avoided by simply operating vessels responsibly. When a boating accident occurs, the party responsible can be held accountable for any negligence that caused the accident.
Common Causes of Boating Accidents
Most boating accidents can be avoided. Ensuring that small details such as wake zones and weather reports and ensuring the safety equipment are functional and not overlooked is what keeps everyone coming home safely from the sea. The vessel's captain is responsible for the safety of those not only on their boat but anyone else in or on the water around them. Through negligence, inattention, or inexperience, many captains end up facing liability for everyone who has suffered from a boating accident.
The leading causes of boating accidents are:
- Operator Error
- Improper Lookout
- Speeding
- Mechanical Failure
- Inclement Weather
Ensuring that, as a captain, your boat is in working condition and your safety equipment is functional and ready for emergencies is the first step to ensuring that your boat is safe for passengers and crew to board. No one wants to find themselves in an emergency at sea, and the risks of capsizing, falling overboard or even hitting a floating object all increase in stormy weather. The most critical equipment on board is always a Coast Guard approved life jacket for all passengers. Captains can keep their crew safe with careful planning and attention to marine weather forecasts.
The Risks Faced by Maritime Workers
The rewarding and challenging work in the maritime industry comes with some of the most significant risks in the American workforce. From unpredictable weather to heavy machinery maritime workers face unique challenges that also require strict safety guidelines.
These maritime safety tips can help prevent maritime worker accidents and injuries.
- Maintaining situational awareness of moving cargo, electrical malfunctions, spills, or unsafe conditions is essential to maritime safety.
- Safety certifications and training should remain current with safety equipment such as harnesses, helmets, or goggles.
- Maritime workers have a responsibility, to all on board, to be fit for duty. Fatigue, illness, intoxication, or lack of training can put everyone on board and on the water at risk.
- Failure to follow these guidelines can lead to devastating accidents, so a maritime injury attorney can help workers through their next legal steps.
Legal Protections for Injured Maritime Workers (Jones Act)
The Jones Act is one of the most vital federal laws for maritime workers. Maintaining the rights of those working and also ensuring that employers provide care and compensation to those who have been injured or have wrongfully died while working. While some employers try to take advantage of the injured crew or retaliate against them when they try to file a claim for their suffering, the Jones Act provides the legal backing that the crew needs to ensure that they receive compensation and justice.
Contacting a Miami Maritime Injury Lawyer
For centuries, sailing was considered one of the most dangerous professions in the world. To this day, the maritime industry has a higher fatality and injury rate than the national average for all workplaces. As a maritime worker, you must remain vigilant in your safety precautions and ensure that you receive compensation and care if you or a loved one are injured. At Mase Seitz Briggs, our maritime attorneys in Miami, Florida, can help you and your family handle many crew member cases like injuries, pay, and even fair and safe treatment at the workplace. Our decades of experience specializing in maritime law will ensure you receive the compensation you deserve. Contact us today to start working with our experienced attorneys to set your family up for justice. Give us a call at (305) 377-3770 to get started.