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Seattle Fish Processor Injury Attorneys

Kraft Palmer Davies, PLLC, is well-known and respected for advocacy on behalf of fish processors injured in Alaska, the Bering Sea, the Gulf of Alaska, Puget Sound and other fishing grounds. We have successfully represented fish processors who were injured or became ill upon processing vessels.

We have handled a variety of claims for fish processors injured on factory trawlers, during offloading the vessel, and on processing barges in the Bering Sea and the Gulf of Alaska. Because of the long hours, heavy work, and unsafe conditions, processors often sustained back injuries, injuries to their knees and shoulders, and other severe injuries that may limit their ability to continue in heavy work. Having handled many cases against fish processing companies, we understand that nature of the work and how to best prosecute these claims.

Workers on fish-processing factory trawlers may fall into one of the following categories:

  • Deck boss
  • Deckhand
  • "Combie": combination factory worker and deckhand
  • Factory foreman
  • Seafood quality controller
  • Packer
  • Cleanup crew
  • Machine operator
  • Fishmaster
  • Mate
  • Freezer Worker

Jobs in the fish processing industry require long hours (16 hour days, seven days a week) with little sleep and under unsafe conditions with moving vessels, moving equipment, and heavy lifting on slippery decks. When an injury occurs, the circumstances of the injury must be evaluated by an experienced maritime injury lawyer to determine whether a claim exists under the Jones Act for negligence against the employer or whether an unseaworthy condition caused the injury. Many factory trawlers are not properly set up to limit injuries to fish processing workers and unsafe conditions are allowed to persist so that the company can maximize profits.

You may have arrived at this Web page because you were seriously injured or a family member was catastrophically injured or killed on a factory trawler or fish processing barge. The injured person requires medical care, therapy and rehabilitation. He or she may not be able to work again for a long time, if ever. Whether the injury victim suffered a catastrophic injury or was killed, a family may be deprived of income that the worker previously contributed. Kraft Palmer Davies, PLLC, in Seattle pursues fair compensation for injured fish processors and their families.

Jones Act Claims Against American Seafoods Company

American Seafoods is one of the largest seafood companies in the United States and reportedly has a 45% share of the catcher-processor market share in the Bering Sea fishery. It operates a number of factory trawlers in the Pollock, cod, hake, and yellowfin sole fisheries operating in Alaska, the Gulf of Alaska and the Bering Sea.

Over the years, our lawyers have successfully represented a number of processors and crew from American Seafoods Company vessels who were seriously injured in deck operations, during processing, working in the freezer, or during offloading in Dutch Harbor, Alaska. Because our lawyers have decades of experience representing injured seamen, fishermen, and processors in maritime injury claims, we know the fishing industry and how to prepare a case like few law firms in the country. Let us put our expertise to work for you and your family.

American Seafoods Company operates the following factory trawlers:

  • F/T AMERICAN DYNASTY
  • F/T AMERICAN TRIUMPH
  • F/T NORTHERN JAEGER
  • F/T NORTHERN EAGLE
  • F/T OCEAN ROVER
  • F/T KATIE ANN

Case Example: Our law firm represented a fish processor who sustained a serious knee injury during off-loading operations in Dutch Harbor when a heavy box of frozen product fell off at the transfer point between two conveyor belts. Although American Seafoods was aware that boxes fell off at the transfer point, it took no action to warn employees or otherwise protect employees from falling boxes during their long 16-hour shifts offloading product. When the company refused to make a reasonable offer on the claim, our lawyers took the case to trial and a King County Superior Court judge in Seattle issued a verdict in excess of $300,000 for the fish processor's knee injury claim. The trial judge also ruled that American Seafoods violated its good faith obligation to pay maintenance and cure to our client and awarded compensatory damages to her for pain and suffering caused by the failure to satisfy its maritime obligation to its employee.

If you or a family member was injured while working for America Seafoods Company, let us put our experience to work for your family.

Jones Act Claims Against Icicle Seafoods Company

With its headquarters in Seattle, Washington, Icicle Seafoods, Inc. is one of the largest seafood processing companies in Alaska with a focus on processing salmon, pollock, crab, halibut, cod, sablefish, and herring in most major fisheries throughout Alaska. It operates both plants on-shore and floating processing barges that travel to locations in various parts of Alaska to process fish. Fish processors working on these barges work 16-hour shifts processing fish. Because these processing barges qualify as vessels under the Jones Act, employees and fish processors working on floating barges are entitled to benefits under general maritime law and the Jones Act. These processing barges include:

  • ARCTIC STAR
  • BERING STAR
  • DISCOVERY STAR.
  • M/V NORTHERN VICTOR

Along with its processing barges, Icicle Seafoods operates a number of support vessels, including tenders, crabbers, trawlers, and other support vessels.

Our lawyers have successfully handled a variety of claims against Icicle Seafoods Company for injuries to processors on processing barges, including shoulder injuries, neck injuries, back injuries, knee injuries, and other serious injuries. While working on these processing barges and vessels, fish processors are subject to injury from falling pans of fish product, heavy lifting, getting their hands caught in processing equipment, falling on slippery decks, and other types of serious incidents. Because our lawyers have decades of experience representing injured seamen, fishermen, and processors in maritime injury claims, we know the fishing industry and how to prepare a case like few law firms in the country. Let us put our expertise to work for you and your family. If you or a family member was injured working for Icicle Seafoods Company, we can help.

Jones Act Claims Against Trident Seafoods Company

Trident Seafoods Company was founded in 1973 and harvests, processes, and distributes hundreds of millions of pounds of seafood products each year, including cod, pollock, halibut, surimi seafoods, and salmon products. Based in Seattle, the company owns a number of factory trawlers, processors, trawl catchers, crab catchers, and freighters where it employees seamen and fish processors who are covered under the Jones Act and general maritime law. Operating in the waters of Alaska, the Bering Sea, and the Gulf of Alaska, Trident Seafoods' vessels include the following:

  • F/T ISLAND ENTERPRISE
  • F/T KODIAK ENTERPRISE
  • F/T SEATTLE ENTERPRISE
  • ALASKA PACKER
  • ARCTIC V
  • PRIBILOF
  • ALEUTIAN FALCON
  • BOUNTIFUL
  • ARTIC ENTERPRISE
  • INDEPENDENCE
  • ALDEBARAN
  • ARCTURUS
  • COLUMBIA
  • DOMINATOR
  • GLADIATOR
  • GOLDEN DAWN
  • MAJESTY
  • NORTHERN PATRIOT
  • PACIFIC VIKING
  • SOVERIGNTY
  • VIKING EXPLORER
  • BARABRA J
  • BILLIKIN
  • FARWEST LEADER
  • ROYAL VIKING
  • SOUTHERN WIND
  • BOWFIN
  • DOLPHIN
  • EASTERN WIND

As experts in maritime injuries, our lawyers have handled a number of claims against Trident Seafoods Company for injuries to seamen, deckhands, crew, and processors injured in a variety of contexts. We know the type of work that you do, the equipment used, and how hard you work. While working for Trident Seafoods Company, seamen and processors are subject to a variety of injuries, including neck and back injuries, fractures, shoulder injuries, head and brain injuries from moving objects and product, knee injuries, and other serious injuries.

Because our lawyers have decades of experience representing injured seamen, fishermen, and processors in maritime injury claims, we know the fishing industry and how to prepare a case like few law firms in the country. Let us put our expertise to work for you and your family. We have the experience necessary to prosecute claims against Trident Seafoods Company and obtain fair compensation for your injuries. We offer a free case evaluation without obligation to explain your rights under the Jones Act and general maritime law when you sustain an injury working for Trident Seafoods Company.

Jones Act Claims Against Fishing Company of Alaska

The Fishing Company of Alaska is one of the largest fishing companies operating in Alaska and the Bering Sea. It has a long history of safety violations and made headlines across the country for the sinking of the fishing vessel ALASKA RANGER on March 23, 2008, which resulted in the death of four crew members and the rest of the crew having to abandon ship into the frigid Bering Sea waters west of Dutch Harbor, Alaska.

In 1996, a fire on another Fishing Company of Alaska vessel killed one person and the National Transportation Safety Board concluded that the company had not taken proper fire-safety precautions. In response to its investigation, the safety agency revised its fire safety policies for more than 200 fishing and processing vessels operating in Alaska.

The leading cause of death in commercial fishing is drowning due to loss or sinking of fishing vessels. According to a 2006 report by the Office of Investigation and Analysis at the U.S. Coast Guard, 641 commercial fishermen died in the United States from 1994 to 2004. On average, the fishing industry loses 127 vessels due to sinking each year.

In 2006, The Fishing Company of Alaska was also hit with a $254,500 civil penalty and permit sanctions in connection with its operation of the fishing vessel ALASKA JURIS after the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Fisheries Service determined that the company had committed numerous violations, such as tampering with or destroying equipment used by fisheries observers and failing to provide observes a safe work area.

Our lawyers have successfully handled a variety of claims against the Fishing Company of Alaska for injuries to seamen and processors, including shoulder injuries, neck injuries, back injuries, knee injuries, and other serious injuries. While working for the Fishing Company of Alaska, fish processors and crew are subject to injury from falling pans of fish product, heavy lifting, getting their hands caught in processing equipment, falling on slippery decks, and other types of serious incidents. Because our lawyers have decades of experience representing injured seamen, fishermen, and processors in maritime injury claims, we know the fishing industry and how to prepare a case like few law firms in the country. Let us put our expertise to work for you and your family. If you or a family member was injured working for the Fishing Company of Alaska, we can help.

Washington and Alaska Fisherman Injury Claim Law Firm

At Kraft Palmer Davies, PLLC, we know the fishing industry. Our Seattle fish processor injury lawyers are well-prepared to act as your strong advocate before your employer, your employer's insurer, equipment manufacturers and their insurers or any liable party. Most cases settle, but we have found over the years that the best compensation is paid on claims when the lawyers and their clients are prepared and willing to go to trial. It is only when a case is well prepared and a high verdict is likely, that a fishing company will pay a substantial settlement.

Contact Our Tacoma Factory Trawler Accident Lawyers

For more information or to schedule an appointment with an experienced attorney regarding a case involving commercial fishing vessels, crab boats or fish-processing trawlers, please contact us.

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Verdicts & Settlements
  • $12,327,883 Verdict for scalping injury in a premises liability case. Another $1,000,000 in pre-trial settlements.
  • $10,720,077 Verdict in premises liability case. Another $4,300,000 in pre-trial settlements.
  • $7,500,000 Settlement for cardiopulmonary injury resulting in product liability claim.
  • $4,580,000 Settlement for quadriplegia from a Jones Act / maritime injury.
  • $4,000,000 Settlement for cardiopulmonary injury resulting in product liability claim.
  • $2,400,000 Settlement after two days of trial for the family of a chief mate who drowned after falling into an unmarked opening on a barge.
  • $2,372,323 Verdict in favor of Washington State Ferry vessel oiler who developed fibromyalgia as a result of injuries suffered while attempting to transfer bags of sand up a vertical ladder out of the vessel's bilge. It is believed to be the largest fibromyalgia verdict in the nation.
  • $1,600,000 Settlement in maritime case involving loss of arm below elbow.
  • $1,600,000 Settlement for commercial truck driver who sustained a below-the-knee amputation of his leg at a port when a load of pipe collapsed on him as his truck was being unloaded.
  • $1,415,743 Verdict in maritime personal injury case for loss of eyesight in one eye.
  • $1,156,000 Settlement for stroke resulting in product liability claim.
  • $1,100,000 Verdict in favor of three Washington State Ferry employees who had suffered occupational asthma as a result exposure to chlorine gas. This is believed to be one of the largest verdicts in the country for occupational asthma.
  • $1,000,000 Settlement for cardiac injury resulting in product liability claim.
  • $1,000,000 Settlement in construction negligence case involving electrocution.
  • $900,000 Settlement of bad faith claim against insurance company for failing to pay policy limits on behalf of its insured who had negligently injured clients in automobile collision.
  • $825,000 Settlement for injured tug seaman who sustained a career-ending injury to both wrists after the tug ran aground.
  • $806,361 Settlement for cardiac injury in product liability claim.
  • $800,000 Settlement in construction equipment failure case involving femur fracture and spinal compression fractures.
  • $780,991 Verdict in favor of Washington State Ferry ordinary seaman who suffered disabling back injury as a result of a defective buffer she was required to operate.
  • $750,000 Brain injury to an iron worker when a steel truss fell from overhead due to unsafe erection techniques.
  • $750,000 Settlement in pedestrian injury case involving closed head injury.
  • $740,000 Settlement in favor of fishing processor who had cargo fall onto in cargo hold resulting in pelvic fractures and other serious injuries.
  • $705,000 Settlement for tug seaman who injured back while attempting to untangle boom chains while working on a log raft.
  • $675,000 Settlement in favor of tugboat engineer injured as a result of defective cable and work methods used aboard a barge.
  • $656,786 Settlement for cardiac injury in product liability claim.
  • $650,000 Settlement in construction site negligence case involving cervical discectomy, rotator cuff repair, and post-traumatic stress disorder
  • $611,243 Settlement for cardiac injury in product liability claim.
  • $580,759 Settlement for cardiac injury in product liability claim.
  • $572,692 Settlement for cardiac injury in product liability claim.
  • $570,000 Settlement on behalf of tugboat deckhand who had developed psychogenic tremors as a result of traumatic shoulder and neck injuries while hauling in trailing line on a barge.
  • $567,000 Settlement in favor of a crab fisherman who suffered serious leg fractures as a result of an 800 crab pot falling on him.
  • $558,654 Verdict in favor of tugboat chief mate who had fallen between two barges into Puget Sound as a result of vessel owner and employer's violation of 46 U.S.C. § 8104(h)(12-hour rule) and developed post-traumatic stress disorder
  • $551,721 Settlement for cardiac injury in product liability claim.
  • $550,000 Settlement for shoulder injury and collar bone fracture after a motorcycle injury in a crash on Interstate 5.
  • $550,000 Shoulder injury to iron worker when the worker fell through a roof due to improper procedures and lack of adequate fall protection.
  • $500,000 Injury to shoulder of Washington State ferry employee from slipping on ice on stairs.
  • $500,000 Settlement in favor of Alaska Marine Highway assistant engineer who had fallen into an unmarked opening on a city dock and suffered a knee injury which prevented his return to marine employment.
  • $500,000 Settlement in favor of a Washington State Ferry quartermaster who suffered disabling injuries after falling into an open hatch. A lawsuit had been filed against the Washington State Ferry system and the vendor who was working in the hatch.
  • $500,000 Settlement for woman who sustained mild traumatic brain injury in a motor vehicle collision.
  • $477,000 Injury to seaman after falling from an unsafe ladder resulting in urethral transection, scrotal contusion, and erectile dysfunction.
  • $450,000 Shoulder injury and multiple fractures caused by head-on motor vehicle collision.
  • $450,000 Settlement in construction equipment failure case involving cervical burst fracture.
  • $450,000 Settlement in favor of construction worker who fell off roof and sustained back and ankle fractures.
  • $450,000 Settlement for injured chief engineer on tug after fell down defective tug ladder and sustained injuries that led to a cervical fusion.
  • $420,000 Knee injury to barge tankerman after slipping on a oily mat.
  • $420,000 Settlement for injured barge tankerman who slipped on oil and injured his knee and lower back.
  • $400,000 Injury to the shoulder of a tug deckhand when a towing line was pulled in an unsafe manner.
  • $400,000 Wrongful death of truck driver caused by accidental overdose of pain medication.
  • $400,000 Settlement for woman injured in the produce section of a large grocery retailer when a defective produce sprinkler sprayed water on the floor. Plaintiff sustained severe knee injury that led to multiple surgeries.
  • $400,000 Settlement for severe ankle and foot fractures from a fall off an unsecured ladder while attempting to board a fishing vessel in dry dock.
  • $400,000 Settlement for injury to cruise ship passenger when cruise line failed to monitor sauna and passenger lost consciousness.
  • $399,496 Verdict in favor of a construction worker in Eastern Washington for knee injury that resulted from the unsafe operation of a forklift.
  • $380,799 Verdict for chief engineer on tug following lower back injury while repairing an unseaworthy appliance on the tug.
  • $380,000 Settlement in favor of injured Washington State Ferry employee who was hit in the chest with a mooring line.
  • $350,000 Injury on a tug boat caused by an unsafe fixed ladder resulting in hip replacement.
  • $305,000 Verdict in favor of fish processor for knee injury sustained when a box fell off a conveyor belt in Dutch Harbor.
  • $300,000 Settlement in unguarded ladder claim involving cervical and thoracic burst fractures.
  • $300,000 Settlement in maritime / Jones Act injury claim involving loss of three toes.
  • $300,000 Verdict in favor of an oil barge tankerman who suffered injury as a result of barge owner's failure to adequately mark an angle iron which supported spill rail on the oil barge.
  • $295,226 Verdict in favor of Washington State Ferry concessionaire who suffered lumbar spine injury with resulting fusion as a result of attempting to loosen beer keg tap which was frozen in closed position.
  • $290,000 Settlement for injured construction worker who fell through an unmarked hole in the floor that was covered with an unsecured piece of plywood.
  • $289,000 Verdict against American Seafoods Company for knee injury to fish processor caused by unsafe conveyor belt.
  • $280,621 Verdict in premises liability case involving meniscus tear in the knee.
  • $260,000 Settlement for electrical death caused to concrete pump truck driver on a construction site.
  • $255,000 Back injury to tug worker attempting to correct an unsafe condition caused by a hydraulic fluid leak.
  • $255,000 Injury to shoulder of Washington State ferry employee from unsafe tie-up line.
  • $250,000 Arm fracture to deckhand working on factory trawler in the Bering Sea.
  • $250,000 Head and neck injury to a cruise ship employee hit by an object falling from an upper deck.
  • $250,000 Back injury to fish processor when he slipped and fell down defective stairs on vessel.
  • $250,000 Settlement with Washington State ferries for injury to able- bodied seaman's shoulder, neck, and upper back while attempting to pull a stuck car block out from a vehicle on the car deck.
  • $230,000 Settlement for driver who sustained a mild traumatic brain injury following a head-on collision
  • $225,000 Shoulder injury to ferry worker after slipping on oil.
  • $220,000 Settlement for injured tug chief engineer who was hit with a parted tow wire and sustained a mild traumatic brain injury.
  • $200,000 Settlement against U.S. Navy for injury to welder who stepped into an unguarded hole in the flight deck of a naval destroyer.
  • $200,000 Fractures to the foot of a deckhand working on a factory trawler when object fell on foot.
  • $200,000 Settlement for bicycle rider who sustained pelvic fractures when dog knocked him off bicycle.
  • $200,000 Settlement for tug mate who sustained a lower back injury while attempting to pull a line stuck in a bow pud.
  • $200,000 Settlement for combi on a fishing vessel who sustained severe foot fractures when a large engine part was negligently dropped on his foot by co-workers.
  • $186,514 Verdict in favor of Washington State Ferry ordinary seaman who suffered knee injury tripping on a mat which had corner curled upward resulting in trip hazard.
  • $175,000 Settlement for wrist fracture caused by head-on motor vehicle collision.
  • $175,000 Settlement for a passenger on a cruise ship who sustained a serious knee and neck injury when she fell on broken plates that were not properly secured in bad weather.
  • $162,500 Settlement in favor of fisherman injured when he was stabbed by another member of the crew.
  • $150,000 Settlement for engineer on a tender vessel who sustained eye injury when a marine battery exploded in his face.
  • $135,000 Settlement for ankle fracture in motor vehicle collision.
  • $125,000 Settlement with Washington State Ferries following right shoulder injury while attempting to secure a rescue boat.
  • $100,000 Multiple rib fractures sustained by motorcyclist in a motor vehicle collision.
  • $88,000 Settlement for leg fracture involving an unguarded conveyor belt.
Contact Us

Kraft Palmer Davies, PLLC
1001 Fourth Avenue
Suite 4131
Seattle, WA 98154
Phone: 206-624-8844
Toll Free: 800-448-8008
Fax: 206-624-2912
Seattle Law Office