Man Loses Parts of Both Legs in Cape Canaveral Dredging Accident

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on December 2, 2015

A man was seriously injured in Cape Canaveral, Florida on November 11th, while he was working as on a channel dredging barge. The man fell from a barge and was injured underwater by a pair of spinning propellers that caused him to lose one leg below the knee, as well as the foot on the other leg. The victim was able to cling to a rope and was rescued by fellow crew members. He was immediately taken to Holmes Regional Medical Center. His name has not been released, and the Coast Guard is investigating the incident.

Channel dredging is done 24 hours a day in the Cape Canaveral area. Crew members are shuttled in from land several times a day on a crew boat that is usually tied to a dredge. It was during one of those crew exchanges that this accident occurred, officials said. The crew boat backs up to a dock or another vessel, stern first, then crew members get on and off over the stern, where the boat’s two propellers are spinning, holding the boat steady. The victim somehow slipped while going from the crew boat to the dredge, falling into the churning propellers, officials said.

Dangerous working conditions, as well as boating accidents, are two areas of expertise at our firm. Even in the event that something may seem like "just an accident," there are typically areas of negligence on behalf of the employer that invite unsafe conditions on a job site, such as in this case. If you were injured while on the job, you could be entitled to compensation for your injuries, medical expenses, lost wages, and much more.

Since 1977, personal injury attorney James Cunningham has provided representation to people who have been injured in boating accidents, and while on the job at construction, factory, and other dangerous job sites. Our firm represents people who are injured on a variety of watercraft through a variety of negligent actions. We seek justice on behalf of injured people, taking into account the future implications of their current injuries as we pursue compensation.

If you have been injured in a job related or boating accident, contact our firm at 877-FL-INJURY (877-354-6587) to see how we can help you obtain the justice you deserve.

James O. Cunningham

Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.