Dangers of Commercial Fishing and Crabbing

According to reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, commercial fishing presents one of the most hazardous working environments of any industry or occupation in the United States. Many of the dangers commercial fishermen and crabbers encounter are as a direct result of the treacherous conditions in which they must operate. Extreme weather, heavy labor and grueling hours are part and parcel to the job, however they are also a harsh combination, capable of causing severe injuries and numerous fatalities. Statistics show there are on average 124 fatalities for every 100,000 commercial fishermen as compared to an average of 4 fatalities per 100,000 of all other U.S. workers.

One of the primary reasons commercial fishermen and crabbers continue to work under such conditions is the potentially massive pay involved in these dangerous jobs. The commercial fishing industry is a multi-billion dollar industry, which makes it a very lucrative job for those who are willing and able to take the risk. Some of the most serious dangers individuals in this industry face are hypothermia, loss of a limb, drowning and death. These can occur for a number of reasons including onboard flooding, the ship/boat capsizing, the vessel becoming unstable, the boat being struck by an enormous wave, an individual falling overboard, and other injuries related to equipment malfunctions or human error. There are various safety precautions that are taken by boat captains and the workers themselves. The Jones Act was also enacted to help protect commercial fishermen, seamen and all maritime workers from falling victim to the negligent acts of others while at sea. The fact that this industry conducts most of its business out at sea, however, without easy access to emergency or rescue personnel leaves workers that much more susceptible to sustaining serious, if not fatal, injuries.

If you or a loved one has sustained injuries in a commercial fishing or crabbing accident, we strongly recommend you contact Johnson & Associates, PC and speak with an experienced Alaskan personal injury lawyer at once. Our firm has more than 40 years combined experience helping fishermen, crabbers, and other Alaska residents protect their interests and we stand up for their right to seek compensation for the injuries they have sustained. We have been able to recover millions of dollars on behalf of our clients and we are ready to help you recover the maximum compensation for your case. To seek legal representation from a skilled Alaskan personal injury lawyer, who you can count on to be an aggressive advocate for your rights, contact our firm today.