Posts tagged Maritime Accidents

• Holland America--More Risks at Sea

  Michael Myers | August 05, 2006 9:50 AM | 0 CommentsSeattle, WA Category: Miscellaneous
  

  A Princess cruise ship listed heavily while at sea on its way to New York Tuesday, injuring some of the passengers aboard. The Crown Princess, owned by Princess Cruises, had just departed from Port Canaveral at when it experienced problems with its steering equipment and rolled heavily to one side. The ship, which began sailing a month ago, listed to the portside of the vessel. Princess Cruises...

• Florida Cruise Ship Accident Injures Dozens, Some Seriously

  Staff Writer | July 19, 2006 12:02 PM | 0 CommentsSeattle, WA Category: Miscellaneous
  

  The Crown Princess cruise ship listed severely to one side Tuesday afternoon about 11 miles east of the Florida city of Port Canaveral. Officials say a rudder issue caused problems with the steering which resulted in the ship rolling sharply before slowly righting itself.The ship, run by Carnival Cruise Lines out of Miami, was bound for New York after cruising the Western Caribbean for nine days...

• First Crabbing Season With New Rules

  Michael Myers | June 12, 2006 6:40 PM | 0 CommentsSeattle, WA Category: Miscellaneous
  

  The Seattle Times recently ran an article about the first crab season completed under a new harvest system intended to create a more profitable, less wasteful and safer crab fleet. According to the Times, the results are mixed. Perils still remain in harvesting crab in some of the world's most treacherous waters. And some crews were upset by a lower pay scale.Between 1980 and the winter of...

• Child Dies--Mother Did Not Use Car Seat

  Michael Myers | June 11, 2006 6:49 PM | 0 CommentsSeattle, WA Category: Miscellaneous
  

  I read a story in the Seattle times about a child who died because her mother didn't use a car seat. The storymade me think right away about the recent entries in this blog about injuries to children. While there isn't a wealth of caselaw, I think that a child injured because his or her mom did not use a carseat has a claim against the mother. And what this really translates to is having a...

• Defibrillators Onboard Vessels

  Michael Myers | May 30, 2006 1:31 PM | 0 CommentsSeattle, WA Category: Miscellaneous
  

  Cruise ships and floating casinos should have defibrillators onboard. They should also have crew members trained in CPR. Passengers who have heart attacks are entitled to reasonable medical care. If they don't receive it, they likely have a claim for damages against the cruise line or the owner of the floating casino. For more information about defibrillators, please click on the following...

• Holland America--Short Fuse for Cruise Ship Claims

  Michael Myers | May 30, 2006 7:23 AM | 0 CommentsSeattle, WA Category: Miscellaneous
  

  Holland America has a very harsh set of rules for injured passengers. There is a six month deadline for submitting a written claim to Holland America--otherwise the claim is barred. There is a one year deadline for filing suit. Otherwise the claim is barred. And there is a forum selection clause. The forum selection clause requires suit to be brought in a specific city: Seatle,...

• Fishermen's Wages

  Michael Myers | May 29, 2006 12:32 PM | 0 CommentsSeattle, WA Category: Miscellaneous
  

  When fishermen are hurt, they are entitled to maintenance and cure. Part of the maintenance and cure remedy includes the right to unearned wages. Unearned wages are what the fisherman would have earned for the rest of the season if he had not been injured. Employers have tried to limit the right to unearned wages. They have done so by having fishermen sign employment contracts for relatively...

• Occupational Exposure

  Michael Myers | May 27, 2006 3:39 PM | 0 CommentsSeattle, WA Category: Miscellaneous
  

  Seamen are not limited to workers compensation (Labor and Industries) remedies like their on-shore counterparts. They may bring claims against their employers based on occupational injuries and illnesses caused by their work. But they need to act as soon as possible after they realize they have suffered injuries or disease as a result of their working conditions. Repetitive motion injuries often...

• Cruise Ship May be Liable for On-Board Doctor's Negligence

  Michael Myers | April 02, 2006 12:47 PM | 0 CommentsSeattle, WA Category: Miscellaneous
  

  Traditionally, maritime rule provides that a cruise line should not be held liable for the negligence of its on board doctor. However, the Illinois Appellate Court disagreed with the rule. In a recent case, a passenger cut his foot and was treated by the ship's doctor. He then sued the cruise line for the doctor's negligence. The court reasoned that a passenger has no choice but to seek...

• Lifeboat Safety Drill Ends in 1 Dead, 1 Injured

  Michael Myers | March 16, 2006 5:36 AM | 0 CommentsSeattle, WA Category: Miscellaneous
  

  On March 5, a Hong Kong-based container ship crew was practicing a routine lifeboat-safety drill when the lifeboat flipped as it was being lowered. Of the four crew members in the lifeboat, one suffered a broken leg and one died as a result of his critical injuries. The other two members were rescued and returned to the ship.Maritime cases are generally brought in federal court and are...