Case at a glance
- Recovery: $558,174.66 Settlement
- Injury: Traumatic brain injury and neck and back injuries
- Practice: Maritime injuries
- Representation: Vuk Vujasinovic and the VB Attorneys team
A cable-replacement job ended in a head injury
Carlos was working for Hickcox Brothers Marine when the crane bar fell. The blow caused a deep wound across his forehead and a traumatic brain injury. He also suffered post-concussion syndrome and herniated discs in his neck and lower back.
The injuries continued to affect him after the initial injury. His case included chronic pain and depression, along with the consequences of the brain and spinal injuries.
Establishing where Carlos was working
Vuk Vujasinovic and the VB Attorneys team represented Carlos in his maritime injury case. The legal team questioned a coworker who had been near Carlos when the incident occurred.
The coworker described being about four or five feet from Carlos. Both men had been holding onto the same piling. That account helped establish Carlos’s position during the work and addressed whether he could have been standing off to the side.
The witness also identified the barge leader as the supervisor in charge. His account connected the physical arrangement of the job with the person responsible for directing it.
Experience did not answer the inspection questions
The legal team also questioned the company about its responsibility for a safe workplace and the condition of the equipment. The company emphasized that the supervisor had worked there for 12 years and was experienced.
Under questioning, the company representative agreed that an experienced employee did not remove the company’s responsibility to provide a safe workplace. He also agreed that equipment that was not properly maintained could be dangerous.
The testimony identified no maintenance or inspection procedures beyond looking at the equipment. The barge worked year-round, moving from one job to the next. The legal team used that testimony to develop Carlos’s claim concerning the way the company inspected, maintained and used its equipment.
A settlement for the injuries that followed
VB Attorneys obtained a $558,174.66 settlement in Carlos’s case against Hickcox Brothers Marine. The claim addressed his brain and spinal injuries, continuing treatment needs, lost wages and the lasting effects of the incident.
The investigation developed evidence about both the work Carlos was doing and the company’s approach to equipment safety. Coworker testimony established the position of the workers; the company’s testimony addressed the procedures intended to protect them.
Questions about the case
Related legal help
Learn about maritime injury claims and Jones Act cases, or read about another seaman injured during vessel work.
To speak with VB Attorneys about a maritime injury, call 877-724-7800 for a free consultation.
Every case is different. Prior results depend on the facts of the individual case and do not guarantee a similar outcome.