Commercial fishing has a reputation for being strenuous and dangerous. Protecting yourself at work requires vigilance, compliance and experience. Falling overboard can have detrimental consequences. Serious, catastrophic injuries might prevent you from ever working...
Memphis Personal Injury Law Blog
What causes anchor chains to twist?
If you work as a bosun or skilled shipman, you undoubtedly have assisted with hundreds of anchor drops and retractions. Depending on the size of your ship, its anchor chains may weigh thousands of tons. Keeping your hands and other limbs far from the chain helps to...
A spinal implant brings hope for patients dealing with paralysis
Because of the violent impact, a car crash is one of the top causes of spinal cord injury (SCI), which can result in paralysis for many victims. So far, SCI has been irreversible, but research by Swiss scientists has produced a spinal implant that enables a paralyzed...
Cruise safety lessons learned from the Costa Concordia disaster
In 2012, the cruise ship Costa Concordia sank in shallow water off the coast of an Italian island. As a group, cruise ships are incredibly safe vessels, yet the Costa Concordia incident brings up the need for passengers to keep safety in mind and prepare for the...
Where are the most dangerous places on a river cruise ship?
If you are thinking about taking a cruise on the Mississippi river or another inland waterway, you are part of a growing number of adventure seekers. In fact, according to USA Today, river trip purchases have doubled in the last year alone. While river cruise ships...
Understanding the Jones Act
Maritime laws can differ from those on land. The Jones Act came into effect in 1920 after World War I, and it provides protections for those who work on maritime vessels. There are certain eligibility requirements that a vessel needs to meet in order to qualify as a...
What are the employee reporting requirements under the LHWCA?
The Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act is the maritime option for injured workers. It is the alternative to the traditional workers' compensation program that does not cover this industry. The US Department of Labor explains the LHWCA is a federal law...
Skull and spinal fractures can be catastrophic
In most cases, the fracture of a bone is not a catastrophic injury. Bones usually require setting to return to anatomic alignment and immobilization to maintain it but usually heal completely. However, there are two types of fractures that can turn into catastrophic...
When can you file a FELA claim?
As a railroad worker, you likely already know that the Federal Employers Liability Act, commonly referred to as FELA, coves you in the event you sustain an on-the-job injury. What you may not know, however, is that you can file a FELA claim even if your primary duties...
Can you return to work after a catastrophic injury?
Maritime careers in Tennessee can expose you to a number of safety risks including fires, chemicals and inclement weather. An accident at work under extreme working conditions could jeopardize your career. It may take months or even years to recover from a...

