Deckhand Thrown Overboard During Docking Gets Settlement

Working at sea comes with risks and rewards even on the calmest seas, but when the water gets rough, it can be downright dangerous. When one deckhand was thrown overboard and sustained an injury, he contacted The Young Firm and successfully filed a Jones Act claim, earning him a $610,000 settlement. 

Offshore Accident Leads to Shoulder, Knee and Ankle Injury

In November 2011, our client was thrown overboard during an improper and dangerous backloading operation offshore in rough weather. Despite telling the captain that the seas were too rough for this kind of docking procedure, our client was forced to carry out the request. 

While he was following the captain’s orders, the vessel hit the platform and our client was knocked overboard. For several frantic minutes, he clung to a rope dangling from the platform while the vessel crew scrambled to figure out what to do. Eventually, our client was able to pull himself back onto the vessel and to relative safety. He suffered a shoulder, knee and ankle injury, although the company claimed his ankle injury was unrelated to the accident. 

As a result of his injuries, he was unable to return to work and was forced to consider other options. He hired The Young Firm. We provided resources to support him while the case was ongoing.

We filed a claim against our client’s company for the following negligence: 

• Breach of a legally imposed duty of reasonable care owed by the defendant to the plaintiff
• Failure to provide a reasonably safe place to work
• Failure to properly train and supervise plaintiff
• Failure to take any means or precautions for the safety of defendant’s employees, including plaintiff
• Creation and maintenance of an unseaworthy vessel
• Failure to provide minimum safety requirements
• Failure to provide adequate equipment for the job in question
• Failure to provide adequate personnel for the job in question
• Other acts of negligence and unseaworthiness

After a lengthy back and forth with his company and its insurance carrier, we obtained a successful settlement for our client who was able to use the money to contribute to his granddaughter’s college fund.

Client Review

“From the first inquiry online to the very positive outcome of my case, the entire staff of The Young Firm treated me with respect and dignity every time we spoke. I must have sent 200 emails to The Young Firm over the course of my case and every one was responded to. My rambling messages and constant inquiries never fell on deaf ears. Everything Tim told me that was going to happen, did. Not once was I lost in the system of what I quickly discovered was going to be a lengthy process. The knowledge and reputation Tim Young and The Young Firm have was confirmed to me one day while I was in physical therapy. I live a fair distance away from New Orleans but found myself in a conversation with a guy who I soon discovered was an injured seaman like me. He told me about his accident and stated he wished he had hired Tim Young because he heard he was the best. I knew I made the right choice with The Young Firm when all the promises from my employer turn out to be empty. I honestly wanted to believe that the company I had given 110% to every hitch would take care of me after I was hurt, but they had other plans and Tim knew it all along. I can’t thank Tim, Jason, Rebecca, Lea and the entire staff at The Young Firm enough for all that they have done for me and my family. If you are considering a law firm that puts you first, your only choice should be The Young Firm.”

Quick Case Facts

• Settlement Amount: $610,000
• Claim Type: Jones Act Claim
• Injury Type: Shoulder, Knee and Ankle injury
• Age: 44
• Job Position: Deckhand
• Accident Location: Offshore
• Vessel Type: Motor Vessel M/V
• Company: Confidential

Learn More About Jones Act Settlements

Our team is experienced at handling Jones Act cases for maritime workers who have been injured in offshore accidents. Contact our office online or call 504-680-4100 with any questions about how to proceed after your offshore injury.

More case results: 

• Vessel Captain with Back Injury Receives Settlement
• Young Deckhand Injured on Golding Barge Gets over $1,000,000
• Client Gets $400,000 for Lower Back Injury
• Client injured while moving a tank of oxygen across the unsafe deck of a barge

Quick Case Facts