Can I Seek Compensation for Commercial Fishing Accidents?
The American commercial fishing industry caught over eight billion pounds of seafood worth more than 4.4 billion dollars in 2008. There are about 115,000 harvesters catching this bounty. There is no doubt, however, that commercial fishing accidents are too common and that they can be deadly; falling overboard is the second leading cause of death among commercial fishermen. Between 2000 and 2013, 191 commercial fishermen drowned; none of them was wearing a personal flotation device (PFD). A workplace injury lawyer who specializes in maritime law can help you navigate the system after an injury or a family member’s untimely death.
The U.S. Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010 only requires the Coast Guard to inspect fishing vessel safety equipment every two years. The law does not require dockside inspections of the boats themselves. This leaves a lot of vessel safety up to vessel owners and therefore puts employees at risk.
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