Suction Dredge Vessel Accidents and The Injuries They Cause to Maritime Workers
Dredging work is one of the larger sources of maritime employment along the inland waters of America today; massive dredging machines are a common sight along many of our major bodies of water like the Gulf of Mexico.
This profession involves the usage of specialized ships called suction dredge vessels that are specifically designed to excavate sediment from the bottom of a waterway to make them safer to navigate and halt the spread and speed of erosion.
As with many other professions, however, dredging is no stranger to accident and injury severe enough to maim workers–or far worse. Should this happen, count on the dredger accident attorneys of Lapeze & Johns to win the fair and full compensation for your injuries.
Typical Causes of a Suction Dredge Vessel Accident
Quite a few things can prove dangerous, if not fatal, especially during a suction dredge vessel operation. A few examples of how a suction dredge vessel operation can go wrong include:
- Blockage in dredging pipelines – A suction dredge vessel often employs the use of high-pressure water jets to slice out out a path in a river’s sediments rivers to allow safer passage for smaller boats. The water jets in question can cause serious injury to workers (or the vessel itself) if the water is not correctly rerouted or shut down.
- Burst pipe – The pipes of a dredging unit are under intense pressure. If a pipe bursts, or if a valve fails, the force of the water coming forth from the pipe would prove dangerous, possibly even deadly.
- Worker error – Improperly trained workers account for the greatest amount of on-the-job injuries. Those improperly trained and unfamiliar with the equipment can cause untold chaos on the job site, like crush injuries, accidental lacerations, broken bones, and possibly death.
What Kind of Injuries Can Occur in a Suction Dredge Vessel Accident?
Numerous injuries can take place on a suction dredger, often incurring significant medical costs to a worker at no fault of his or her own:
- Separated joints
- Spinal cord injuries from twisting or falls
- Drowning from falling overboard
- Amputations from heavy machinery
- Ligament or tendon tearing
Many of these incidents can be the basis for a personal injury lawsuit under the Jones Act. These lawsuits cover compensation for the medical costs associated with making a recovery. In addition, you may be eligible for reimbursement for any economic losses and emotional trauma.
The policy also protects employers by halting any lawsuit for compensation from being filed directly against them after an on-the-job incident.
If you’ve ever suffered an on-the-job injury while working on a suction dredger or any other dredging vessel, contact the helpful Houston dredger accident attorneys of Lapeze & Johns to represent you in civil court.
Our experienced attorneys have the legal resources and strategies you need to win the compensation you deserve. Contact us at (713) 766-4855 to schedule your FREE legal consultation today.
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