Was injured mariner prevented from getting medical treatment?

A seaman alleges he was prevented from leaving his vessel to seek medical care for six days even though he was in obvious severe pain after an accident.

Bernice Frierson filed a lawsuit against Comar Marine in New Orleans federal court.

According to the suit, Frierson, who was working for Comar as an unlicensed engineer out of Port Fourchon, La., was removing and replacing engine room deck plates on Oct. 28, 2010, when he slipped on an unsecured plate, fell into an aluminum bulkhead, and smashed his forehead and the right side of his body.

Frierson charges the defendant with failure to secure the plates to the floor with proper hardware.

Comar Marine is accused of failure to: provide a seaworthy vessel, warn of dangerous conditions, allow Frierson medical treatment, provide adequate crew and equipment, and provide proper training and supervision of the plaintiff.

Additionally, the defendant allowed unsafe and negligent conditions on the vessel, the lawsuit states.

Frierson asks damages for: medical cure and expenses, physical pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, partial physical disability, mental and emotional pain and suffering, economic loss, and attorney's fees. He also asks for punitive damages.

Source: Louisiana Record