The severity of workplace injuries often depends on the industry, the equipment they used, and whether proper protective gear was in place. Maritime jobs, which tend to be some of the most dangerous of any industry, can have some of the highest rates of injury, especially when equipment is faulty or proper gear or training is not provided. If you are a maritime worker and have been injured on the job, a Eunice maritime injury lawyer can help.
How Can a Eunice Maritime Injury Lawyer Help?
Maritime injuries can be quite severe. The days, weeks, and even months after the accident may be a flurry of doctor visits and medical tests, keeping you out of work while your medical bills and personal expenses keep adding up. The disruption to your daily life may be severe as well. If you’re the main breadwinner, your family’s day-to-day lives could be significantly impacted. Who will pay your mounting medical bills? Who will cover you and your family’s daily expenses?
A Eunice maritime injury attorney can help. While you might be entitled to compensation from your employer after a maritime injury, pursuing this compensation all by yourself can be overwhelming.
An attorney from our firm can use their knowledge and experience to build you a solid maritime injury case, determine the amount of compensation you could seek, and negotiate a settlement on your behalf. Here are some of the policies a lawyer may use to help you pursue compensation:
The Jones Act
The Jones Act provides a way to seek compensation for seamen who sustain injuries on the job. Under this federal law, seamen who are injured due to negligence can sue their employers. A ‘seaman’ is any employee who works as a crew member or captain on a maritime vessel. This means that you don’t have to be directly involved in the navigation and overall operation to be eligible for coverage under the Jones Act. Anyone who works on a navigable vessel, contributes to the purpose of the ship, and spends at least 30% of their time onboard can qualify for coverage as a Jones Act seaman.
Under the Jones Act, you must file your injury claim within three years of the accident, and you must be able to prove that some sort of negligence resulted in your injury.
The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act
An attorney from our firm may help you seek compensation through the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) if you sustain an injury in a maritime accident. This compensation can cover the treatment costs and any vocational rehabilitation necessary. Unlike the Jones Act, you can seek damages through the LHWCA even if you’re only involved in building, maintaining, loading, and unloading maritime vessels.
Generally, the LHWCA provides coverage for anyone working on U.S. waters or adjoining areas like piers, docks, wharves, terminals, or areas where cargo is loaded and unloaded. The Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act can also provide survivor benefits to maritime workers’ dependents if the injuries result in death.
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What You Should Do After a Maritime Accident
Here are some of the things you should do immediately following a maritime accident:
- Seek emergency treatment. Whether you’re seen by a ship’s physician or a local hospital, get medical attention as soon as possible. Putting this off for any length of time can make injuries worse. Also, make sure you stick to your treatment plan after you receive medical care.
- Report your injuries. Federal maritime law grants you seven days to report your injuries, but you should do it as soon as possible.
- Gather evidence. In many cases, especially if you are filing under the Jones Act, proof of negligence may be necessary for your case. Photos of the scene, descriptions of the incident written in a notebook, or eyewitness accounts could all be helpful. If you are physically unable, a lawyer could do this for you.
- Give a statement. You’ll be asked to fill in a report by either the insurance provider or your employer after the maritime accident. The report contains a section about who was at fault for the accident, so you should put plenty of thought into the report. You can have a lawyer fill in this report if you choose to hire a Eunice maritime injury lawyer to handle your claim.
- File under the Jones Act or the LHWCA. An attorney can advise you on which would be best for your specific case, depending on your maritime position.
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Damages You Can Pursue After a Maritime Accident
Since a Eunice maritime accident can disrupt your life for months or even years, your employer may be required to provide various damages. Here are some of the forms of compensation you could be entitled to receive after a maritime accident:
- Present and future medical expenses
- Physical pain and emotional anguish
- Scarring, disfigurement, and loss of limb
- Therapy and rehabilitation
- Wrongful death
- Loss of wages
- Lost earning potential
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Contact Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers Today
Have you been injured or lost a loved one in a maritime accident? Contact Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers to file your maritime injury case. We work on a contingency basis, which means that you don’t pay legal fees unless we obtain your settlement. Our Eunice injury lawyers can handle the hard work of your claim so that you can focus on recovering from your injuries. Call us today for a free case review and legal support.
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