Injuries on the water happen fast. One moment a deckhand is securing a line, and the next a cable snaps or a deck gives way. What happens in the days and weeks that follow can shape the entire outcome of a claim, and we see the same avoidable missteps come up again and again.
Our friends at Goldstein and Price, L.C. discuss how maritime injury cases often follow different rules than a typical car accident or slip and fall. Many injured workers and boaters don’t realize how much a personal injury lawyer can help them sidestep problems that quietly reduce the value of a case or end it altogether. Below, we walk through the mistakes we’d most like people to avoid.
Waiting to Report the Injury
Many people try to tough it out. They finish the shift, sleep on it, and figure the pain will fade. Sometimes it does. Often it doesn’t.
Delayed reporting gives an employer or insurer room to argue the injury happened somewhere else or wasn’t serious. For dock and harbor workers, federal rules also set specific notice requirements, and the Department of Labor’s federal guidance for harbor workers explains that late written notice can put benefits at risk. Tell a supervisor right away, and put it in writing.
Assuming Ordinary Injury Rules Apply
Not every injury on the water is treated the same way. A crew member on a towboat may have rights that a land-based worker doesn’t, while a dock worker may fall under a separate federal compensation system. Passengers on a recreational boat face yet another set of rules.
This matters because the type of claim affects deadlines, where a case can be filed, and what losses can be recovered. Guessing wrong can cost you options you didn’t know you had.
Giving a Recorded Statement Too Soon
It’s common for an insurance adjuster or company representative to call within days of an accident. They’re usually polite. They may say they just need your side of the story to process things.
But a recorded statement given while you are still in pain, on medication, or unsure of exactly what happened can be used later to challenge your claim. You aren’t required to give one on the spot, and it’s perfectly reasonable to wait until you’ve had a chance to get advice.
Signing Paperwork Without Reading It
After a serious accident, people are handed a stack of documents. Some are routine. Others may include releases, statements of fact, or agreements that limit what you can recover later.
Before signing anything, ask yourself:
- Do I fully understand what this document says?
- Does it describe the accident accurately?
- Am I giving up any rights by signing it?
- Has someone on my side reviewed it?
If the answer to any of these is no, hold off.
Skipping Medical Appointments
We understand the pressure to get back to work. Bills don’t stop, and many people in the maritime industry take real pride in being tough. Still, missed appointments and gaps in treatment are among the first things an insurer looks for. The argument is simple: if you were really hurt, you would have followed through.
Keep every appointment. Follow the treatment plan. Save copies of everything, from discharge papers to prescription receipts.
Failing to Preserve Evidence
Vessels move. Equipment gets repaired. Witnesses ship out on other jobs and become hard to reach. If you’re able, take photos of the area and the equipment involved, write down the names of coworkers who saw what happened, and record your own memory of events while it’s fresh. Small details fade faster than people expect.
Getting Guidance Before Small Problems Grow
Most of these mistakes come from good intentions. People want to be cooperative, get back to work, and move on. That’s understandable. But injuries on the water carry their own rules, and a misstep early on can be hard to undo. If you’ve been hurt on a barge, boat, or dock and have questions about your situation, we encourage you to connect with an attorney who can review the details and help you understand your options.