What to Do If You Are Injured at Sea: The First 8 Steps

You already know that you work in one of the most dangerous industries in the world. When something goes wrong, the decisions you make in the first hours and days after an injury can determine whether you receive the full compensation you are entitled to or whether you walk away with far less than you deserve.

Maritime law and the Jones Act exist to protect you. Here is how to protect yourself.

1. Report any Accident Immediately

Tell your captain or supervisor the moment you are injured. Jones Act law requires you to report a work-related injury within seven days, but do not wait. The longer you wait, the easier it becomes for an insurance company to argue your injury was not serious or that it did not happen the way you said it did. Report it now, even if you think you can push through.

2. Get Medical Attention

Your employer is legally required to provide you with medical treatment. If your injuries are serious and you are at sea, the vessel can request a U.S. Coast Guard medevac. If you are in a foreign port, your employer must arrange treatment and get you home at their expense. Do not downplay your symptoms to get back to work faster. What feels minor today can become serious tomorrow.

3. Document Everything

Before anything is cleaned up or moved, photograph the scene, the equipment involved, and your injuries. Today’s phones have excellent cameras, use yours if you have one. Ask your crewmates to use theirs. Modern smartphone photos automatically embed metadata such as the date, time, and GPS location directly into the image file. That information can be critically important if your case goes to trial. Write down exactly what happened while it is fresh in your mind; the time, location, what you were doing, and what failed. Write down the names of all witnesses. If there is a vessel logbook entry about the incident, note that it exists. If you can photograph the entry, even better. Your memory and your photos may become your most important evidence. Document everything.

4. Choose Your Own Doctor

Your employer may suggest a doctor. Their insurance company may have one on speed dial. You have the right to choose your own physician, and we strongly recommend you exercise that right. An employer-referred doctor has a relationship with the people who are paying them. Your doctor’s job is to document your condition accurately and completely, not to minimize it. Make sure every symptom, every limitation, and every follow-up need is in writing.

5. Follow Your Doctor’s Orders Completely

Never miss a follow-up appointment as the insurance company may argue that you have recovered. If you push yourself too hard too soon, the insurance company may use that against you as well. Follow your treatment plan exactly. This is not just about your health, it is about your claim. Insurers routinely hire investigators to photograph or video claimants during recovery. Be consistent between what you tell your doctor and how you live your day.

6. Do Not Post on Social Media

It is very tempting to post about an incident on social media. Don’t do it. Do not post about your injury, your recovery, your activities, or your feelings about an incident on social media. A single photo of you working in the yard, attending a barbecue, or lifting anything heavier than a coffee mug may be used out of context to undermine your claim.

7. Do Not Give a Recorded Statement

The insurance company may call. They will be friendly and sympathetic. They may tell you it is just routine. It is not. A recorded statement is a tool designed to lock you into a version of events that may later be used to limit your claim. You are not required to give one. Politely decline and speak with an attorney first.

8. Contact a Maritime Lawyer

Maritime law is not general personal injury law. The Jones Act, maintenance and cure, and unseaworthiness claims each have specific rules, deadlines, and employer obligations that most workers do not know about. Maintenance and cure alone, your employer’s obligation to pay your medical expenses and a daily living allowance while you recover, is a right that employers sometimes delay or deny, hoping injured workers won’t push back.

You should not have to navigate this alone. The attorneys at Stacey & Jacobsen, PLLC have more than 80 years of combined experience in Jones Act and maritime injury law, with offices in Seattle and Anchorage. Call 1-877-DECKLAW today for a free consultation.