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Lafayette Dock Worker Accident Lawyer

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Attorney David Laborde | Attorney Digger Earles
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  2. Lafayette Personal Injury Lawyer
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  4. Dock Worker Accident
On This Page
  1. Injury Benefits for Dock Workers
  2. Qualifying Injuries Under the Jones Act
  3. Iberia Parish Dock Worker Accident Lawyer
  4. Ally with a Lafayette Dock Worker Accident Attorney
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Your personal injury lawyer can help you calculate your recoverable damages, which may include:

  • Medical Bills
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  • Pain & Suffering
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Lafayette Dock Worker Accident Lawyer

Injuries at work can be demoralizing and have a tremendous impact on your life and financial well-being. Such an injury may require extensive medical treatment and leave you unable to return to work for several weeks or months.

Fortunately, injured employees are typically protected by workers’ compensation policies. However, different rules apply to dock and wharf employees. Unlike traditional workers’ compensation, claims are filed with the federal government.

For this reason, it may be beneficial to discuss your injuries with a Lafayette dock worker accident lawyer. A skilled personal injury attorney may be able to help you understand the applicable laws surrounding dock workers’ compensation and what steps to take before filing a claim.

Injury Benefits for Dock Workers

Employees who work primarily on navigable vessels are usually excluded from traditional workers’ compensation laws. For this reason, many states have grouped dock workers together in this regard with other maritime employees, whom the federal Jones Act provides with a route to collect compensation after a workplace accident. This Act enables maritime employees to sue their employer directly for work-related injuries.

The Jones Act also created a federally-controlled workers’ compensation program to protect people with shipping-related jobs, including dock workers. Filing a claim under this act allows injured employees to receive benefits for medical costs and lost income.

However, Jones Act claims can be complex, and injured dock workers may benefit from additional legal insight. A Lafayette dock worker accident attorney could help gather evidence of an injury and file a claim for benefits through the Department of Labor. You can speak with a Lafayette personal injury lawyer to help you pursue compensation.

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Qualifying Injuries Under the Jones Act

The Jones Act does not specify the injuries that qualify for claims. As such, eligible claimants may file for any injury suffered during employment, including:

  • Slipping, tripping, and falling accidents
  • Forklift accidents
  • Trauma from being struck by dropped tools
  • Machinery injuries

Whether an accident results in broken bones or long-lasting pain, any injury that requires a worker to miss work and seek medical treatment can qualify for benefits under the Jones Act. A longshoreman accident lawyer in Lafayette could help an injured person document their injuries, seek appropriate treatment, and prepare a claim.

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Iberia Parish Dock Worker Accident Lawyer

Federal Laws Support Injured Dock Workers

The Jones Act

The Jones Act, also known as the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, provides support to maritime employees who are hurt on the job. Under 46 U.S.C. § 30104, injured dock workers have the right to file an injury lawsuit against their employers.

Dock workers have the option to file their claim in Louisiana state court or in the federal district court. Unlike maritime law, the Jones Act gives these workers the right to a jury trial. Consulting with a qualified dock worker accident lawyer in Iberia Parish can help injured employees decide their best course of legal action.

The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act

The federal Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) is another law that may apply to injured dock workers. This act provides for medical treatment, disability payments, transportation, and rehabilitation costs.

A knowledgeable Iberia Parish dock worker accident attorney may be able to help an injury victim identify the coverage available to them. If a portion of the employee’s duties involves maritime work, the employee may be eligible for coverage under this workers’ compensation law. If a dock worker does not meet the requirements for the Jones Act, they may be able to meet the requirements for LHWCA.

Compensation for Damages

Dock workers who were injured on the job deserve compensation. However, the types of compensation and how they will receive it depends on which federal act applies to them. In general, dock workers can seek compensation for the following damages:

  • Past, present, and future medical bills
  • Reduced/lost capacity to work in the future
  • Re-education/retraining and reassignment costs
  • Lost wages and disability
  • Pain and suffering
  • Physical disfigurement
  • Mental anguish

For help with recovering damages, reach out to a dedicated personal injury lawyer.

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The reassurance from Digger and his staff gave me that renewed hope that it’s going to be okay down the road.

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Ally with a Lafayette Dock Worker Accident Attorney

A dock injury may permanently alter your future. Even after fully recovering and returning to work, you may face mounting medical bills and lost wages. Fortunately, it is possible to financially recover for the damages you have sustained—the Jones Act can provide workers’ compensation benefits to help protect your financial interests after a dock accident.

While filing a claim with the federal government can be confusing, a Lafayette dock worker accident lawyer could help you properly prepare and file a case with the Department of Labor. An experienced workers’ compensation attorney could also provide valuable advice and support at every stage of the Jones Act claims process. Reach out today to discuss your accident, the resulting injuries, and the next steps you should take.

Lafayette Dock Worker Accident Blog Posts:
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Now that Louisiana has set a new two-year statute of limitations on tort claims, injury victims will have more time to take legal action for their suffering and financial losses. If you've been hurt...

Laborde Earles Wins Multi-Million Dollar Verdict for Medical Van Crash Victim

Laborde Earles Wins Multi-Million Dollar Verdict for Medical Van Crash Victim

Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers helped our client, a victim of multiple related personal injuries, get a $3.8 million award. After interest and costs, the amount will be close to $4.8 million to help...

Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers to Give Away Bikes and Helmets to Local Children During Bike It Forward Event

Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers to Give Away Bikes and Helmets to Local Children During Bike It Forward Event

Over the past seven years, Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers has given away bikes and helmets to deserving children throughout Louisiana communities at its “Bike It Forward’ event.  This...

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Lafayette Maritime Injury FAQ:
What Are the Most Common Maritime Accidents? What Are the Most Common Maritime Accidents?

The maritime industry is known for its inherent dangers, with seamen and sailors facing various potential accidents during their work on vessels, but what are the most common maritime accidents?

What Are Maintenance and Cure Benefits? What Are Maintenance and Cure Benefits?

Maintenance and cure benefits are two types of compensation that an injured seaman can receive after being hurt on the job under the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, which is more commonly known as

What Is a Maritime Injury? What Is a Maritime Injury?

A maritime injury occurs when a worker on a ship is injured while the vessel is in U.S. navigable water. Maritime workers do not qualify for traditional workers' compensation coverage, but they do

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Lafayette Maritime Injury Practice Areas
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Additional Locations
  • Alexandria Dock Worker Accident Lawyer
  • New Orleans Dock Worker Accident Lawyer

 

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