When fishermen are hurt, they are entitled to maintenance and cure. Part of the maintenance and cure remedy includes the right to unearned wages. Unearned wages are what the fisherman would have earned for the rest of the season if he had not been injured.
Employers have tried to limit the right to unearned wages. They have done so by having fishermen sign employment contracts for relatively short durations (e.g., 30 days) in the hopes of limiting the amount of unearned wages they have to pay.
If you have been injured on a fishing vessel and your employer has not volunteered to pay your wages for the full season it is important that you speak with a maritime personal injury attorney who can help you protect your rights.
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