Working as a seaman or maritime worker can be a dangerous job. Working on or near the water comes with its own set of risks. Accidents can happen frequently and result in serious injuries or even death. If you’re an Iota maritime worker and have been injured on the job, an Iota maritime injury lawyer can help you seek compensation.
Common Causes of Maritime Accidents
The high fatality and accident rate of the maritime industry is due largely to the dangerous nature of the work. However, accidents can also come from the negligence of your supervisors, maritime company, or coworkers.
Maritime injuries can occur from a multitude of factors, including:
- Hazardous machinery that may not have been properly maintained
- Unsecured cargo that wasn’t properly stowed
- Improper use of hazardous chemicals
- Working excessive hours without breaks
- Exhausting workload without an adequate number of crew members
- Massive storm systems causing dangerous onboard environments
For a free legal consultation with a maritime injury lawyer serving Iota, call (337) 777-7777
Common Maritime Injuries
If you have suffered an injury while working on a vessel or in a water-adjacent area, you can seek the help of an Iota maritime injury lawyer. Our lawyers can help seamen and maritime workers who suffered injuries while working on boats, docks, shipping terminals, and more.
Due to the inherent personal risk involved in the industry, maritime injuries are unfortunately common. These can include:
- Back and neck injuries
- Burns
- Head injuries, including traumatic brain injury and concussion
- Hernias
- Repetitive motion injuries
- Knee and ankle injuries
- Shoulder injuries
- Broken bones
Healing from any of these injuries can be painful and fraught with stress. The thought of taking on your own legal claim can be overwhelming, especially if you’re staring at a pile of medical bills and wondering how you can afford a lawyer to help you.
Iota Maritime Injury Lawyer Near Me (337) 777-7777
Costs of Hiring an Iota Maritime Injury Lawyer
At Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers, our attorneys work on a contingency basis. A contingency basis means we will not charge you any legal fees unless we win your case, and you receive a settlement. If we do not win your case, you will not have to pay us anything.
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Filing a Maritime Injury Claim in Iota
Understanding the basics of a maritime injury claim can be a huge help when filing. Such claims include all types of accidents that occur during a maritime worker’s daily job duties, including:
- Accidents caused by faulty equipment
- On-the-job injuries
- Crewmate or supervisor negligence
If you have undergone physical trauma at a maritime job, seeking compensation could alleviate some of the financial and physical burdens you may face. After a maritime accident, you could pursue compensation for:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Disability
Maritime workers and seamen can seek compensation under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) and the Jones Act, which are federal laws meant to help pursue reimbursement for damages.
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The Jones Act
The Jones Act (also known as the Merchant Marine Act of 1920) was created to give injured seaman a chance to pursue compensation. A seaman refers to a sailor, captain, or any member of the crew aboard a navigable vessel, contributing to the work of the ship and spending more than 30% of their time on the vessel in question.
Under the Jones Act, a seaman must prove that negligence was present and a determining factor of the accident, whether it was the negligence of your employer, the shipowner, or a fellow crew member.
The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act
The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) was created to provide an avenue for compensation to marine workers who aren’t considered seamen and therefore would not qualify under the Jones Act. This means the LHWCA covers dock workers, shipbuilders and ship-breakers, harbor workers, shipping terminal employees, and any maritime worker working on or adjacent to navigable U.S. waters.
There are special rules that govern injury claims for both the Jones Act and the LHWCA and how maritime workers are to go about them. A maritime injury lawyer can explain all of them and point out which ones apply to your case in particular.
Statute of Limitations
Under the Jones Act, an injured seaman has up to three years from the date of the accident (or date your injuries surface) to file a claim. The Jones Act follows general maritime law when it comes to reporting the accident to your employer, which means you have seven days to do so.
Under the LHWCA, you have just one year from the date of the incident to file a claim, and you can take up to 30 days to report the accident to your employer (though it’s best to do so as soon as possible).
Contact an Iota Maritime Injury Lawyer Today
Call Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers today for a free consultation and more information about how we can help you with your case. Our lawyers can review your situation and explain your legal rights and options. An Iota maritime injury lawyer can help make sense of anything confusing. We can answer all of your questions and get you started on the right legal path.
Maritime law is complex, and understanding all of the applicable laws surrounding your claim can be complicated, to say the least. Maritime injuries can be severe and life-altering. When you are injured, in pain, and under stress, the idea of taking on your own legal claim can be overwhelming. Let our attorneys handle the hard work of your case so you can rest and fully recover.
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