Another Louisiana man has been injured after he says that his employer failed to create a safe maritime workplace. The man worked for Montco Offshore Inc. and was participating in a safety drill when he was knocked unconscious and seriously injured. Now, he has filed a maritime workplace accident lawsuit against his employer in New Orleans.
The defendant is asking for compensation for his pain and suffering, both physical and mental. As an employee, he is entitled to a job in which he does not have to worry about serious injury, especially during a safety drill. The man is also asking for compensation for lost wages and loss of earning capacity, his medical expenses, disability, and disfigurement, among other things.
The maritime worker says that while he was in a rescue boat for a man overboard drill, a line from the crane that lifted the boat off of the ship’s deck snapped. This understandably jolted the rescue boat and sent him overboard. Sadly, that was not the end of the accident. As the man was in the water, the rescue boat ended up falling on top of him, knocking him unconscious and hitting him in the back, neck and head.
The man’s lawsuit alleges that his employer was negligent in maintaining the ship, its lines and rescue boats.
Following a serious maritime accident, many people may not know what to do. If an employer is denying its responsibility or alleging that the injured worker will not be receiving any compensation, it can be difficult to know how to move forward. This is why it is extremely important to seek answers from an experienced maritime workplace injury attorney.
Source: The Louisiana Record, “Safety drill results in man overboard, suit claims,” Michelle Keahey, Aug. 31, 2012
