Being a merchant seaman is one of the most dangerous occupations in the country and many merchant seamen suffer serious personal injuries from job related accidents every year. Two serious seaman injuries have resulted in $5 million lawsuits in Louisiana recently.

One of the lawsuits involves a seaman who was injured after he slipped on a stairwell kick plate. The seaman says that the fall happened after he changed an oil and filter on a ship generator. The seaman stepped on the kick plate, slipped, and fell down the stairs. During this terrifying experience the man attempted to stop his fall down the stairwell by grabbing the hand rail. This resulted in injuries to his hand, wrist and shoulder.

The seaman alleges that his employer was negligent because the kick plate was not secured to the deck. The employer also allegedly failed to provide a safe workplace or warn its employees of the dangerous kick plate. The seaman seeks $5 million for lost earnings, physical injuries, pain and suffering, and disfigurement, among other things.

Another seaman sued her employer for $5 million after she fell down a ship's ladder. The woman suffered serious injuries to her face. The degloving laceration left her with permanent nerve damage and mental injury, according to her lawsuit.

The woman says that her employer failed to provide a safe work environment and that the ship was unseaworthy. She seeks damages for her injuries, emotional trauma, medical expenses, attorneys fees, and lost wages, among other things.

Source: Louisiana Record, "Seaman slips on kick plate and sues for $5 million," "Seaman sues for $5 million after falling down ship's ladder," Michelle Keahey, Dec. 27, 2011