SLAP Tear Maritime Injury: Jones Act Recovery for Injured Seamen

A SLAP tear (Superior Labrum Anterior to Posterior tear) is a serious shoulder injury that occurs when the cartilage ring (labrum) at the top of your shoulder socket is torn. For maritime workers—deckhands, engineers, fishermen, tug workers, and other seamen—SLAP tears are among the most common occupational injuries. They occur when workers repeatedly throw lines, haul cargo, operate equipment in awkward positions, or fall and brace themselves with outstretched arms.

If you’ve sustained a SLAP tear while working aboard a fishing vessel, commercial ship, tugboat, ferry, or other maritime vessel, you likely have a strong Jones Act claim. Under federal maritime law, your employer is liable for injuries caused by negligent working conditions, inadequate equipment, or failure to provide proper safety practices.

At Kraft Davies Olsson PLLC, we’ve recovered substantial compensation for injured seamen with SLAP tears across Washington, Oregon, and Alaska. We understand the maritime industry, the mechanics of SLAP tear injuries, and how to prove vessel owner negligence. If you’ve been injured, contact us for a free consultation to discuss your rights.

What Is a SLAP Tear? The Anatomy of Shoulder Injury at Sea

Your shoulder joint is remarkably complex. The labrum is a cartilage ring that surrounds and stabilizes the shoulder socket. The biceps tendon attaches at the top of the labrum (the superior portion), at a point called the biceps anchor. When you perform repetitive overhead motions, throw heavy objects, or fall hard onto an outstretched arm, the labrum can tear—particularly where the biceps tendon attaches.

A SLAP tear is classified by severity:

• Type I SLAP Tear (Fraying) – The cartilage is frayed and the biceps anchor is intact. This is the least severe type.
• Type II SLAP Tear (Most Common) – The biceps anchor is torn and the labrum is detached from the glenoid (socket). This type requires surgery in most cases.
• Type III SLAP Tear – A bucket-handle tear of the labrum with an intact biceps anchor.
• Type IV SLAP Tear – A bucket-handle tear that extends into the biceps tendon, which is also torn.

For seamen and maritime workers, Type II and Type IV SLAP tears are most common because they result from traumatic events (falls, heavy lifting, sudden jolts) rather than gradual degeneration.

How SLAP Tears Occur in Maritime Work

Maritime work demands repetitive, forceful shoulder movements in unpredictable environments. Deckhands throw lines in heavy seas. Fishermen work at heights and in confined spaces. Engineers maintain equipment that requires awkward arm positioning. Tugboat crews pull and position massive cables. Ferry workers secure vehicles and manage cargo on moving vessels.

SLAP tears in maritime workers are caused by:

• Repetitive Throwing or Line Handling – Deckhands and fishermen throw lines hundreds of times per shift. The repetitive overhead motion strains the labrum and biceps anchor.
• Falls Aboard Vessel – Slippery decks, inadequate railings, and rough seas cause workers to fall. When falling, workers instinctively brace themselves with outstretched arms, causing the shoulder to hyperextend and the labrum to tear.
• Heavy Lifting in Poor Conditions – Inadequate equipment, poor training, or understaffing forces workers to lift cargo or equipment beyond safe limits, straining the shoulder.
• Sudden Vessel Movement – Unexpected pitching, rolling, or jarring motions can cause workers to lose balance and catch themselves with outstretched arms, tearing the labrum.
• Inadequate Safety Equipment – Missing or broken railings, lack of handholds, or defective lifting equipment contributes to accidents that cause SLAP tears.

Symptoms and Diagnosis of SLAP Tears

Immediately after a SLAP tear injury, you may experience sharp shoulder pain, weakness when lifting or throwing, a clicking or popping sensation, instability (feeling like your shoulder may dislocate), and reduced range of motion. Some seamen try to continue working through these symptoms—a mistake that often worsens the tear.

Diagnosis requires imaging and physical examination. An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is the gold standard for diagnosing SLAP tears. A skilled radiologist and orthopedic surgeon will confirm the tear’s location and severity.

Treatment depends on the tear’s severity and your age. Conservative treatment (rest, physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications) may work for minor tears. Most Type II SLAP tears in working-age seamen require arthroscopic surgery (a minimally invasive surgical approach where a surgeon uses a small camera and instruments to repair the tear).

Jones Act Rights for Seamen with SLAP Tears

As a seaman, you have powerful Jones Act protections. Under 46 U.S.C. § 688 (the Jones Act), you can sue your employer directly for negligence when a work-related injury occurs. This is distinct from workers’ compensation—you can recover full damages, including pain and suffering, permanent disability, and lost earning capacity.

Additionally, you have a right to maintenance and cure benefits: the vessel owner must pay your living expenses and medical treatment until you reach maximum medical improvement or recover.

To recover damages for a SLAP tear, you must prove that the vessel owner (or the employer) was negligent. This means showing that the owner failed to:

• Maintain the vessel and equipment in safe working condition
• Provide adequate safety training and supervision
• Warn workers of known hazards
• Comply with federal maritime safety regulations (46 CFR)

We investigate SLAP tear cases thoroughly: we obtain maintenance records, interview crew members, hire maritime safety experts, and document negligence. Then we build a factual case for maximum compensation.

SLAP Tear Surgery, Recovery, and Medical Damages

Most seamen with Type II SLAP tears require arthroscopic repair surgery. The surgery involves anchoring the torn labrum back to the bone using sutures and anchors. Recovery from arthroscopic SLAP repair typically takes 4–6 months, with gradual return to full activity over 12 months or longer.

Medical damages in a SLAP tear case include:

• Imaging (MRI, X-rays)
• Surgical repair (arthroscopic SLAP repair)
• Hospital and anesthesia costs
• Physical therapy (6–12 months of rehabilitation)
• Occupational therapy and rehabilitation
• Pain management and medications
• Future medical care (if arthritis develops or ongoing treatment is needed)

Medical expenses for a SLAP tear injury can be substantial, particularly when surgery and extended rehabilitation are required. We document all treatment costs and hold the vessel owner accountable for these expenses.

Damages Recoverable in SLAP Tear Maritime Injury Claims

Seamen with SLAP tear maritime injuries can recover compensation for several categories of harm:

• Past Medical Expenses – All treatment costs incurred as a result of the injury.
• Lost Wages – Wages lost during recovery and rehabilitation, as well as wages lost if you cannot return to your prior maritime position.
• Pain and Suffering – Physical pain, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of activities and hobbies you previously engaged in, and reduced quality of life.
• Lost Earning Capacity – If the SLAP tear reduces your ability to work at sea or causes permanent weakness, you can recover for the difference between what you would have earned in your maritime career and what you’re likely to earn in your reduced capacity.
• Permanent Disability – If the tear results in chronic weakness, reduced range of motion, or permanent shoulder instability that limits your work or personal activities.
• Maintenance and Cure Benefits – The vessel owner must provide living expenses and necessary medical care until you reach maximum medical improvement.

The total value of your SLAP tear claim depends on your age, pre-injury earning capacity, the severity of permanent effects, required medical treatment, and the strength of negligence evidence. Contact us for a free consultation to discuss the potential value of your specific case.

Why Choose Kraft Davies Olsson for Your SLAP Tear Maritime Injury Claim?

We understand maritime work and the injuries it causes. We’ve represented injured deckhands, fishermen, engineers, and other seamen across the Pacific Northwest. We know the maritime industry’s safety standards and when employers cut corners. We hire orthopedic experts to explain SLAP tear mechanics and causation. We work with vocational experts to calculate lost earning capacity. And we’re not intimidated by vessel owner lawyers or insurance companies.

We fight for full compensation and communicate directly with you about your case’s strengths and weaknesses.

Contact Kraft Davies Olsson PLLC

Phone: 206-624-8844
1700 7th Avenue, Suite 2100, Seattle, WA 98101

Frequently Asked Questions: SLAP Tears and Maritime Injury Claims