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Illness at Sea

Working at sea or on an oil rig offshore can be a difficult job. Most people would focus on the more obvious aspects such as the heavy lifting, the extreme hours and lack of a decent night’s sleep as the worst threats of working these kind of jobs. But like most jobs, there’s all sorts of terrifying surprises that could be lurking beneath the surface. People working hard at sea are at risk for all sorts of terrible illnesses that go beyond the average sea sickness. The results could not only be devastating, but fatal as well.

Have you or someone you know suffered an illness while at sea? If so, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact a maritime lawyer to discuss your case today.

The most commonly known disease in terms of the ocean is sea sickness. But this is a generally non-threatening form of dizziness and nausea that could be treated rather easily. There are, however, a variety of horrible illnesses that could be obtained at sea, such as:

• Hepatitis A
• Enteric Bacteria
• Legionnaires Disease
• Chronic Airway Disease
• Oil Spill Diseases
• Swimmers Ear
• Viral Gastroenteritis
• Swimmers Itch
• Conjunctivitis
• MRSA

So how does one actually get any of these diseases? Well, that’s where it gets even scarier. While some of the diseases above usually require exposure to broken skin or wounds, some of these diseases are simply in the air. That is, some of these diseases can be inhaled through contaminated mist or contaminated water. Some of the diseases above may not even have a cure and could require an extensive amount of expensive medical equipment to treat.

Aside from the physical and emotional pain that comes with having any of these diseases, the financial strain that they cause could be immense. The cost of new treatments and lost time at work could add up to make even paying bills a very difficult task. There are maritime laws that help protect sea workers from these kind of issues. Laws that ensure that those injured may receive compensation. But it is important to act quickly in these situations.

If you or someone you know has got a disease while at sea or at an offshore site, one of our experienced attorneys may be able to help. Contact a maritime lawyer in your area today.