Maritime injuries happen to workers or crew members when doing their jobs on the water or near it. This can include accidents aboard a ship, such as falling on a slippery deck or being struck by something improperly stowed.
Maritime injuries can also occur while working on ships at port. These injuries could be caused by faulty ship equipment, cargo shifting during loading and unloading, or slips and falls in a ship’s warehouse. If you have been injured when working for a maritime company, you may be eligible for compensation. The procedure of filing a claim and seeking compensation can be complicated. A Carencro Maritime Injury Lawyer can help.
The Most Common Maritime Injuries
The maritime industry is one of the most dangerous to work in. Injury or even death can occur due to massive storms or falling overboard, but many are caused by simple negligence, unsafe working conditions, and not adhering to safety regulations. Some of the most common maritime injuries incurred on the job can include:
- Overexertion injuries from working too long without breaks, or taking on too large of a workload for one person
- Slips and falls, whether from a height off a faulty ladder or simply a slippery deck
- Broken bones
- Burns from onboard fires or machinery failure
- Repetitive motion injuries from the strain of too much pushing, pulling, and loading
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How Can a Maritime Worker Benefit From The LHWCA?
The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) allows employees of maritime companies to seek compensation for an injury they may have sustained at work. The LHWCA covers maritime workers who aren’t considered seamen, such as harbor workers, dock workers, shipping terminal workers, and even oil rig workers, as long as they work in an area nearby or adjacent to navigable waters.
This compensation can cover medical costs and lost wages. A Carencro Maritime Injury Lawyer can help maritime workers assess the full extent of their injuries and help them and their families seek compensation. If a loved one has died as a direct result of a maritime injury while working, the LHWCA provides their families the chance to seek death benefits.
An important feature to be aware of is the statute of limitations regarding the LHWCA. Your claim must be filed within one year of the day that you got injured. You must also report the injury to your employer within 30 days. A Carencro maritime injury lawyer could assist you in filing all of this paperwork and ensuring you know everything you’ll need for your claim.
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What Is the Jones Act?
The Jones Act is a maritime law that grants maritime company employees the chance to seek compensation if they sustain an injury while working. The act was created to protect and provide for these workers injured on duty. While the two may seem similar, there are important differences between the Jones Act and the LHWCA.
The Jones Act covers seamen (crew working onboard a navigable seafaring vessel) who spend at least 30% of their time on board the ship. Under the Jones Act, seamen may file their injury claim up to three years after the accident.
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How a Carencro Maritime Injury Lawyer Can Help
Filing a Jones Act or LHWCA claim is a complex procedure. You must provide medical evidence that you suffered injuries while at work. You should also gather information to support your claim that your injury occurred while working, and document any negligence (take photos at the scene, write down details, etc.).
If you have suffered injuries in a maritime accident, a Maritime Injury Lawyer Carencro can help. The legal process can be challenging to navigate alone, especially if you are injured and feeling vulnerable. An attorney from our firm could assist you in the following ways:
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Help You Seek Compensation
The severity of your injuries and how long they have lingered can affect the amount of compensation you might receive. The time you need to take off work to heal may increase the amount of compensation you receive. This is why it is essential to take down as much information as possible about your injury, including how the accident occurred, where it happened, and whether there was any negligence involved.
Offer Legal Advice
Do you have concerns about your injury claim as a maritime worker? A Maritime Injury Lawyer Carencro can help answer your legal questions and find out more about seeking compensation to help you in your claim. Maritime workers may have rights they don’t realize are available to them, including the right to file a claim with the LHWCA.
Steer You Through Legal Twists and Turns
Advocacy is essential when it comes to working in the maritime industry. Your lawyer can help you navigate the process of filing a claim and ensure that you receive all of the legal support you need.
Make the Way Clear
The procedure of filing for LHWCA or Jones Act benefits can be confusing because of its complexity. The procedure can feel overwhelming when you are dealing with the stress of an injury and maybe even the inability to pay your medical bills. A Carencro maritime injury lawyer can help you understand the system so that you do not miss out on any benefits you may be entitled to.
Call a Laborde Earles Injury Lawyer Today
A Carencro maritime injury attorney could help you make your injury claim. At Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers, we offer legal advice to our clients and could act as your advocate throughout the process. Contact us today at (337) 777-7777.
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