After a ship collision occurs, it can be overwhelming deciding how to respond. By taking the right steps and acting swiftly, lives could be saved while making maritime injury claims filing easier.

Check for injuries immediately, and seek medical attention as soon as possible – this will establish a direct connection between your accident and injuries, and their insurance claims purposes.

Seek Medical Attention

If you or one of your colleagues has been seriously injured in a maritime accident, seek medical care immediately. Early treatment could prevent or limit long-term complications and serve as evidence in any legal proceedings that might follow.

Ship accidents often result in serious back and neck injuries due to cargo being dropped on top of them or struck by moving equipment, often crushing their spine or inducing paralysis if not treated immediately. Without medical intervention, these serious injuries could even prove fatal.

No matter how minor they may seem, any injuries should be promptly sought medical attention in order to reduce long-term complications and ease treatment. It is also vitally important that injured maritime workers notify their employers as they may qualify for no-fault maintenance and cure benefits – this covers medical costs as well as a daily stipend until they return to work.

Contact the Coast Guard

The Coast Guard must create a report of an incident, gathering as much information as possible from witnesses, taking pictures and inspecting both vessels involved. You should remain calm when answering their questions truthfully as any statements you provide could later be used against you in court proceedings; prior to giving an official statement it would be prudent to consult a maritime accident lawyer first.

Seeking medical assistance promptly following a ship accident is also essential, and can form the foundation for insurance and legal proceedings. Doing so quickly establishes a direct correlation between your injuries and the accident itself, providing vital proof for insurance claims or legal actions that follow.

Keep records of all medical appointments to support a compensation claim or pursue legal action against negligent employers. Medical records that document an incident can also help establish its severity and support a case for damages against them.

Gather Evidence

Prioritizing safety after ship collisions is of course paramount; but collecting evidence will also play a vital role. This information and data may form the basis of future disputes/claims or defense cases whether civil or criminal.

Documenting any injuries sustained, particularly head traumas, is vitally important. Such injuries can be life-threatening and require extended hospital stays – the records will also serve as key evidence in any legal disputes that may arise as a result.

After any serious accident, it’s wise to contact a maritime injury attorney immediately. They can explain your legal rights and how best to pursue a claim for losses, working closely with both employers and you in obtaining all relevant documentation including reports from independent experts that will allow for fair compensation for your damages and investigators or auditors attempting to uncover what led up the casualty.

Take Photos

Photo documentation of an accident scene is one of the most essential steps you can take after any ship incident. Insurance companies and investigators rely on these images to assess what caused an incident and who is at fault; images also help establish where an incident took place and what weather conditions prevailed at that time; photos should ideally capture photos from multiple angles and distances, with many cameras or smartphones offering date/time stamp capabilities that can demonstrate when and where images were captured if location services are enabled on them.

If you’re unable to take pictures yourself, ask someone present at the scene such as a friend or family member to do it for you. Take photos of any important details such as skid marks, damaged vehicles, surrounding landscapes and traffic signs as well as injuries sustained such as lacerations or bruises sustained.