Injured While Working on a Yacht? Your Rights as a Crewmember After an Onboard Accident

Life at sea demands resilience, precision, and adaptability. For yacht crewmembers, the work moves quickly and often continues long after guests turn in.

In an environment where the pace rarely slows, an unexpected injury can leave you unsure how to pause, speak up, or get the support you need. This guide offers clear, practical steps to help you understand your next steps and the rights you may have under maritime law.

What Daily Yacht Work Looks Like (and How Injuries Happen)

The pace of the vessel sets the tone, and you’re always adjusting to it.

Risk shows up in the familiar things you handle every day: a patch of wet teak, a line that loads faster than expected, a door that swings with the swell, a tender coming alongside in choppy water. Onboard, injuries commonly result from:

• Losing footing on slick or shifting surfaces
• Strain from lifting or carrying heavy or uneven loads
• Unexpected line movement during docking or anchoring
• Heat, sharp tools, and tight turns in the galley
• Quick transitions on and off tenders or water toys

Even the most careful, seasoned staff can find themselves injured in an unexpected accident. It might feel like it can “never happen to you,” but when it does, knowing what to do next is powerful information.

What to Do After You’re Hurt Onboard

Some may downplay what happened or try to finish the shift, but the steps you take in the first hours matter.

• Get checked out as soon as possible. If you’re in pain, dizzy, shaken, or unsure what’s wrong, tell someone you trust and get medical attention onboard or at the nearest port. Early care protects your health and creates a clear record of the injury.
• Let the captain or designated officer know. Reporting helps ensure there is a clear and accurate record of what happened. Even a short, direct explanation helps ensure the injury is recognized and logged.
• Make sure the report reflects what happened. Ask that the incident be entered into the vessel’s log or safety system. If a detail is missing or inaccurate, say so. 
• Capture the details while they’re fresh. Take photos, note who was nearby, and save any messages about the incident. 

Taking these steps doesn’t make you difficult. It simply ensures your health and your future at sea stay protected.

Your Rights as a Maritime Worker (and Why Many Crew Don’t Know Them)

Maritime law grants injured crewmembers important protections, but many people working in the yacht industry, especially newer crew, aren’t aware of how these rights show up in real situations.

• Your employer must cover your medical care and basic living needs while you recover. This includes treatment costs and a daily allowance for essentials until you’re fit for duty.
• If the vessel wasn’t safe, you may have a claim. Faulty gear, worn lines, understaffing, or poor training can all contribute to an unsafe environment.
• If someone acted carelessly, that matters too. Injuries caused by mistakes or preventable actions may qualify for additional compensation.
• If your employer retaliated against you, you may still have protections. Being sent home, removed from rotation, or treated unfairly after reporting an injury does not erase your rights or prevent you from seeking the support the law provides.

If you believe any of these rights were ignored or violated, an attorney can step in to help protect your interests and guide you through the next steps.

Protecting Your Case When You Live Where You Work

Yachts are unique workplaces because they’re also your home. Close quarters, limited privacy, and rapid turnover between charters can make it hard to hold onto details or evidence. Still, there are ways to protect your case.

Keep copies of your medical reports, treatment notes, and any receipts related to your care. Write down a clear account of what happened, including the time, location, and tasks you were handling when you got hurt. It also helps to record how your symptoms change over the next few days.

If you were able to take photos or save messages that relate to the incident, keep them in a secure place. These small pieces of information often become important later.

If equipment was changed out or cleaned before you could document it, or if anyone discouraged you from taking notes or photos, include that in your records. Those details matter too, as they could be used as evidence of interference in your claim.

A Firm That Stands With Injured Crewmembers

An injury onboard can force decisions before you’ve had a chance to catch your breath. You may be balancing pain, pressure, and uncertainty while still living in the same space where the injury happened. In that kind of moment, support from someone outside the crew structure helps steady the situation and gives you a clearer path forward.

When a yacht owner, management company, or employer controls the narrative onboard, you deserve a firm that can meet that power with equal strength, like Morgan & Morgan, America’s Largest Personal Injury Firm.

We’re here to explain your options, outline the protections available to you, and stand with you as you decide what comes next. Get started today with a free, no-risk case evaluation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is “maintenance and cure,” and am I eligible for it when hurt onboard?

Most crewmembers injured in service of the vessel qualify for maintenance (basic daily expenses) and cure (medical treatment) until they reach maximum recovery.

Can I file a claim if the vessel was unsafe or poorly maintained?

Yes. Faulty equipment, inadequate training, worn lines, or unsafe working conditions may support a claim, depending on the situation.

If I was partly at fault for the injury, can I still recover?

Maritime law may still allow compensation even if your actions contributed to the incident. An attorney can help clarify how fault is evaluated.

How soon must I report an injury on a yacht, and why does timing matter?

Most crewmembers are expected to report an onboard injury immediately or as soon as practical, often the same day. For legal claims, many maritime cases must be filed within three years, but internal reporting timelines are much shorter, so prompt reporting helps protect your rights.

What happens if I’m sent home or removed from rotation after an injury?

Repatriation doesn’t cancel your rights. You may still be entitled to medical coverage, maintenance, and other compensation.

Do different rules apply if the yacht is foreign‑flagged or outside U.S. waters?

Maritime protections often still apply, but the details depend on where the vessel operates and how your employment is structured.