Dealing with injuries, hospital visits, medication, and rehabilitation is hard after an accident. If you get injured at work in a maritime accident, your employer may legally be responsible for your medical bills. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries.
A Crowley maritime injury lawyer can help dock and harbor workers, as well as other seamen, seek compensation. A lawyer can help prove your case, and ensure you are safely guided through the legal process of a maritime accident claim. Let’s take a look at the laws protecting maritime workers and learn about the type of injury compensation they can seek.
Common Causes of Maritime Injuries
The maritime industry is one of the most dangerous a person can work in. Out on a vessel, storm systems with rain, high winds, and perilous waves can make any ship a magnet for injuries. Shipping yards where workers deal with repetitive lifting, pulling, loading, and unloading can also be full of personal injury. Add in any sort of negligence, improper training, poorly maintained equipment, or unfollowed safety regulations, and injuries on the job can be a very real, hazardous possibility.
Another common cause of maritime workplace injury is simple human error. However, this too can be traced back to negligence if employees are made to work long hours without proper breaks, take on too heavy and intense a workload for one person, or attempt to do their job in unsafe conditions. If you’re a maritime worker and have been injured on the job, a Crowley maritime injury lawyer can help.
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Maritime Injury Laws
Maritime accidents follow a different pattern than other common workplace accidents and have a whole separate set of laws and rules which apply only to these injuries. A Crowley maritime injury lawyer from our firm can help you with those specific to your case. Some of these maritime laws include:
The Jones Act
This is a federal law enabling vessel employees to sue their employer for injuries when working. The injured party must be a seaman, which means a crewmember onboard a navigable ship or vessel. The sailor must also have been hurt while performing duties and spend at least 30% of their time on board the ship. The compensation can cover things like physical pain, medical costs (both past and future), mental anguish, disfigurement, and physical limitations resulting from the accident.
The Jones Act also covers workers’ claims working in a marine setting. The compensation covers them regardless of whether they were on the vessel or not when the accident happens. It also gives them the right to trial by jury should the case proceed to court.
Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA)
The LHWCA law gives maritime employees who would not normally be covered under the Jones Act a chance for compensation after a work accident. This could apply to harbor workers, oil rig workers, shipping loaders, and got injured while working dockside or on American waters the right to receive compensation. The injuries they get need to have happened in relation to vessel activities.
Employees meeting set requirements can get temporary or permanent disability settlements, based on the severity of their injuries. The act also allows the injured workers or the deceased’s family members to sue for owner or employer negligence resulting in an injury or death.
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Recoverable Damages
The sea vessel owner or employer may be legally liable to pay for medical care, lost pay, or even pain and suffering if their employee is injured on the job (and in some cases, proves negligence). If won, the damages are paid to a seaman or maritime worker who gets ill or injured while working. Damages may also be paid to family members if the accident resulted in the worker’s death and the family is entitled to death benefits.
These damages compensate the injured seaman or maritime worker for costs relating to their injuries. These can be filed under a personal injury claim. A personal injury claim can cover the following damages:
- Past and future medical costs
- Pain and suffering
- Lost earning capacity (this covers past lost wages and a reduced future earning capacity)
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Why Get a Maritime Injury Lawyer
Getting a Crowley maritime injury lawyer helps you protect your rights as an injured seaman. A maritime injury lawyer knows how to navigate the Admiralty law and get you compensation. The lawyer also can give you advice, explaining to you the legal procedures and the statutes of limitations specific to your case.
Other things a maritime lawyer can help you with include:
- Gathering evidence to prove your case
- Calculating the monetary value of your damages
- Negotiating a possible settlement
- Defending your case in court if a settlement is not reached
- Handling all legal claims and other documentation
A Crowley maritime injury lawyer puts your needs first, ensuring your interests are taken care of and you follow the correct legal procedures. The lawyer takes the burden of the case off your shoulders, letting you focus on recovery.
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Talk to a Maritime Injury Lawyer Today
At Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers, we would be more than happy to handle your maritime case for you. We will connect you with one of our Crowley maritime injury lawyers to take care of your case. Our lawyers have experience and are ready to work side by side with you, keeping you apprised of the situation. We have prior case victories, and we use the same passion and dedication with all of our clients. Call us at (337) 777-7777 for a free consultation today!
Get The HelpYou Need(337) 777-7777To Schedule a FREE CONSULTATION
24 hours a day • 7 days a week
