Riverboat Accident Leads to Wrongful Death Lawsuit

Cincinnati, Ohio Personal Injury Attorney filing riverboat accident lawsuits and investigating Jones Act violations on behalf of plaintiffs nationwide

The Lyon Firm has filed a lawsuit against BB Riverboats, Inc., seeking compensatory damages for an alleged preventable riverboat accident on the Ohio River. The family of a deceased employee of BB Riverboats filed the wrongful death claim after the crew member, aboard the cruise boat Belle of Cincinnati, was crossing between the boat and the dock when he fell in between the Belle of Cincinnati and BB Barge and drowned.

The man, a Cincinnati resident, was employed by BB as a Jones Act seaman. He served as a steward on the Belle of Cincinnati and other vessels in the BB fleets and delivered food between the dock and the Belle of Cincinnati.

The defendant, BB Riverboats, owns, controls and maintains both the Belle of Cincinnati and the BB Barge. Plaintiffs claim the company has a duty to protect employees to the best of their ability, staff their vessels adequately, monitor employees, and follow strict maritime laws.

Joe Lyon is an experienced Cincinnati, Ohio lawyer reviewing Jones Act and maritime violations, and filing riverboat accident lawsuits following injury and wrongful death.

Riverboat Accident Claims Crewmember’s Life

Attorneys say BB was further responsible for maintaining the safety of the ship to prevent the presence of unsecured ropes that could present a hazard and entangle crew members onboard or in “overboard” scenarios.

The company is also responsible for properly training, providing, and requiring the use of life jackets for crew members when performing routine work that would require the crossing between the Belle of Cincinnati and the BB Barge.

The deceased BB employee and victim fell in between the ship and dock, went missing for two days and it was ultimately determined that he had died from drowning. Plaintiff attorneys say BB did not have proper monitoring policies in place to recognize that their crewmember had fallen into the waterway, and failed to act promptly in the “man overboard” situation.

Jones Act Violations & Ohio River Negligence

The family of the deceased BB Riverboat employee is seeking damages in relation to pain and suffering, loss of future earnings, funeral-related costs, and other permissible damages.

Crewmembers working on Ohio riverboats, and on other vessels throughout the nation, are protected under the Jones Act. Companies that operate on America’s waterways have a duty to provide the following to their employees:

• A safe workplace
• A safe, seaworthy vessel
• Proper training for seamen, captain, staff, and the crew
• Adequate staffing and proper supervision
• Emergency lifesaving equipment

If you or a loved one has suffered an injury related to an unsafe work environment or employer negligence, you may contact a work injury attorney to weigh your legal options. Call The Lyon Firm at (800) 513-2403 for a free and confidential case review.