Working on a container ship can be as adventurous as it is arduous. It is also inherently dangerous and full of everyday hazards. A container vessel accident can cause devastating and life-altering injuries to crew members.

At Pierce Skrabanek, our container ship accident lawyers have helped protect the rights of maritime workers who have sustained serious and catastrophic injuries. Our maritime law attorneys have the skills, experience, and resources to handle complex cargo ship accident claims.

If you have been injured in a container vessel accident, call Pierce Skrabanek to discuss the details of your case. You can schedule a free consultation by clicking here or calling 832-690-7000.

What Are the Most Common Types of Container Ship Accidents?

If you are a maritime worker injured on a container ship, you have the right to recover lost wages and have your medical care expenses covered. You may be entitled to additional benefits if your injuries were caused by negligence on behalf of the captain or crew, or if the vessel you worked on was unseaworthy. An attorney well versed in maritime law can help protect your rights.

At Pierce Skrabanek, we have dedicated our careers to helping hurt maritime workers recover losses and secure compensation for their injuries.

Injuries from cargo ship accidents and container ship accidents are often serious. Cargo ships and freight containers are massive. In fact, container ships are among the biggest ships ever built. They have the potential to cause significant harm to workers.

According to an RMI report on marine casualties and incidents in the last reporting year, the most common types of shipping container ship accidents involve:

• Electrical accidents: Electrical system defects can lead to numerous cargo ship accidents. Electrical equipment can cause electrocutions, fires, and bring down other vital systems.
• Crane accidents: Crane accidents can happen when loading and unloading large cargo vessels. While human error and lack of training have been cited, the majority of crane accidents are due to improper maintenance.
• Slip and fall accidents: Falls can be detrimental in shipping container ship accidents. Large container ships are several stories tall. Falls are the leading cause of worker injuries, accounting for nearly 33% of all maritime fatalities and injuries.
• Machinery explosions and fires: The most investigated incidents on vessels are explosions and fires. Machinery explosions are largely attributed to a lack of maintenance and safety management. Fires are often faulty electrical wiring.
• Hazardous material exposure accidents: Large cargo ships frequently carry hazardous materials and chemicals. When there is a spill, failure to properly contain the hazardous material can cause significant injuries.

• Sliding cargo accidents: Shipping containers on cargo ships must be carefully secured. When shipping containers break loose, they can slide all over the ship, injuring crew members and damaging property. Unsecured shipping containers can destabilize the entire vessel.
• Enclosed space entry: Entry into shipboard enclosed spaces is highly dangerous. Improper entry and rescue was the second leading cause of maritime employee deaths.

• Collisions: There were 61 container vessel collisions in the last reporting year. Container vessel accident collisions happen due to difficulty steering in crowded waterways, lack of training, inclement weather, and equipment failures. Collisions can lead to spinal cord damage, traumatic brain injuries, limb loss, and/or wrongful death.

Safety precautions should be put into place and upheld at all times. When protocols are not followed or when they are overlooked, it endangers everyone involved. The severity of injuries can cause someone irreparable damage.