Maritime Frostbite Injury
Cold, wet, and windy conditions at sea put commercial fishermen and other maritime workers at risk for frostbite. Working in a vessel's freezer holds expose crewmen to below-freezing temperatures.
If you have suffered frostbite while working at sea, you may be able to receive money damages for your injury. To learn if you have a valid frostbite injury claim, please contact a maritime law attorney at Beard Stacey & Jacobsen, LLP for a free initial consultation and case evaluation.
For more than 25 years, we have helped seamen who have suffered maritime frostbite injuries. We will determine what caused your frostbite injury and who is liable for damages. If negligence of a boat owner or other crewmen were involved, or improper shipboard care, we will pursue money damages on your behalf. We are committed to helping you receive the maximum amount of compensation for the full extent of your injuries.
Frostbite occurs when the skin freezes and ice crystals form between cells, causing tissue damage and nerve damage. Frostbite can be superficial—affecting just the top layers of skin—or deep enough to affect skin, muscle, and bone. Severe frostbite can result in the amputation of the injured body part. Fingers, toes, cheeks, nose, and ears are the primary areas affected by frostbite.
In addition to extreme cold, other risk factors for frostbite include:
- Inadequate clothing or wet clothing
- A cold or other disease, such as diabetes, atherosclerosis and hypothyroidism
- Exhaustion or immobilization, especially through injury
- Improper medical treatment
The symptoms of frostbite can include a tingling, stinging, or aching feeling followed by numbness. Initially the frostbitten area appears white and is cold to the touch. This is followed by heat, redness, and swelling.
To learn more about how we can help victims of frostbite, please contact a lawyer at Beard Stacey & Jacobsen today. From our offices in Anchorage and Seattle, we are dedicated to helping people throughout the nation who have been injured at sea.
