Yacht owners typically need to employ numerous people to operate their vessels and provide services. Each of those employees is potentially vulnerable to injuries sustained on the job.
Issues with equipment, inclement weather and even incidents involving other vessels could result in serious injuries for yacht workers. The three types of injuries below are among the most common, and all of them could prevent a yacht worker from performing key job functions for weeks if not longer.
1. Brain injuries
Slipping and falling due to violent vessel motions could cause a concussion or a more serious traumatic brain injury. Workers who end up going overboard and nearly drowning can develop anoxic brain injuries due to oxygen deprivation. Brain injury symptoms can affect balance, motor function and cognitive capabilities, making it unsafe for professionals to continue working in a maritime environment.
2. Broken bones
Falls and accidental contact with heavy equipment can break bones and leave workers unable to perform key functions until they make a full recovery. Fractures typically take a minimum of eight weeks to heal, and those employed on vessels may not be able to return to their jobs until they regain full use of all their limbs and extremities.
3. Overexertion injuries
Heavy lifting and rushing around a vessel can both lead to serious injuries for the professionals staffing a yacht. Sprains, strains and other soft tissue injuries typically require weeks of rest before a worker regains full functionality.
Yacht workers injured in a maritime environment are typically not eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. Instead, they must file a claim for maintenance and cure under the Jones Act. Reviewing the circumstances leading to a yacht worker’s injuries with a specialized maritime injury attorney can potentially help professionals pay for their treatment and recover the income they’ve lost due to their employment-related injuries.