A location like Morgan City keeps us in close proximity to countless businesses offshore and keeps many residents and workers busy running supplies or providing maintenance. While we may accept this carries a higher inherent risk, employers are obligated to ensure their staff is appropriately trained and supplied to prevent unnecessary accidents. If your employer fails in this duty, you need an experienced Morgan City maritime injury lawyer fighting for your rights to compensation.
At Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers, we have been committed to Louisiana communities for more than 350 years. When you work with a Morgan City personal injury lawyer, you know you’re getting someone with a commitment to successful and ethical representation. If you have been injured on or near the water, you may benefit from legal representation to recover the compensation you deserve.
The Role of a Maritime Injury Lawyer in Morgan City
Maritime situations are often subject to maritime law, which is a federal standard independent and superseding most state legislation. A maritime injury lawyer in Morgan City, LA, is familiar with the specific laws that govern these situations and how they apply to your injury case. Managing a typical personal injury case can be challenging enough; you do not need the added stress of maneuvering the nuance of maritime law with your future on the line.
Our maritime injury attorney in Morgan City, LA, will work on your behalf to build your case. This may include gathering evidence, securing experts, or creating exhibits. We will dedicate our resources to fighting for your best possible outcome.
Accessibility
In an already challenging situation when you may be at your most vulnerable, Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers wants to make our services as accessible as possible. This means we offer free case consultations and work on a contingency fee. Finances should not get in the way of recovering the compensation you deserve for your injuries and should not take away your ability to hold your employer accountable.
Laborde Earles injury was great for me they took care of me very fast and professional. If for any reason I need legal help they will be who I use.
ClientInjury Claims Through the Jones Act and LHWCA
Common maritime injury topics include the Jones Act, which covers seamen and many positions that work offshore. The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) provides similar protections to the Jones Act but covers those working in the maritime industry from onshore posts. These positions often include dock workers or vessel maintenance and repair workers, who may share the increased risks presented in the field.
The Jones Act
The Jones Act provides avenues of compensation for injured maritime workers who may not have the benefits of traditional workers’ compensation programs. The history of the Jones Act is one focused on protecting this vulnerable and essential workforce by establishing a foundation that allows injured workers to get the medical care they need while still supporting their families.
This act also implemented a level of accountability to employers that dramatically improved working conditions.
The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act
The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, often referred to as the LHWCA, provides protections to workers not otherwise covered under the Jones Act. According to a Congressional Research Service report on the topic, this protects harbor and dock workers, among others, and their ability to recover wages through workers’ compensation, as well as filing a third-party lawsuit if the employer was negligent.
I thank God for Digger & David. I don’t know what we would have done if it hadn’t have been for them.
Rick Smith | ClientThird-Party Claims
While the legislation mentioned above provides workers’ compensation-like benefits, this is a no-fault avenue, and you cannot recover compensation for damages like pain and suffering in most cases. However, if your injuries were caused by employer negligence, you may want to pursue a third-party lawsuit.
You are often required to waive the ability to file a lawsuit when you agree to the terms of workers’ compensation. Therefore, it is critical to discuss all of your options with a Morgan City maritime injury lawyer to prevent accepting less than you should receive. The company responsible for your injuries often has a lawyer on their side, it is only fair that you do too.
The reassurance from Digger and his staff gave me that renewed hope that it’s going to be okay down the road.
ClientCompensation in a Maritime Injury Case
Compensation following a maritime injury varies significantly based on several factors. This includes whether you are injured while working in the maritime industry or whether you are an innocent third party, such as a passenger on a ferry boat. Additionally, the compensation you recover from workers’ compensation varies dramatically from what you can recover in a personal injury lawsuit that claims someone else’s negligence caused your injuries, which may include:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of earning potential
When you pursue workers’ compensation claims, you are typically limited to a percentage of your average weekly wages when considering pay for time out of work. Additionally, you may need preapproval for particular services or procedures from the workers’ compensation program before receiving the care. The benefit to these limitations is largely due to the no-fault foundation, which relieves your obligation to establish negligent acts by the other party.
Important Time Limitations
A limitation you will find, regardless of the path you choose, is some kind of statute of limitations. The general rule in Louisiana, according to Civil Code Articles 3493.11, is that you have two years to take tort action for personal injury. However, this time can vary depending on the circumstance and may be shorter in workers’ compensation cases.
There are various considerations for how long you have to act. Speaking with an attorney provides you the best chance of fully utilizing your time to build your case without missing critical deadlines. An experienced attorney may be able to help regardless of when you reach out, but they will have the best opportunity when you reach out early.
They treated us like no other people would. Whenever we needed something they were there for us. I put my trust in them and I don’t regret it.
ClientCall a Morgan City Maritime Injury Attorney Today
Maritime work is dangerous. The industry has countless regulations and guidelines in place to ensure the safety of all involved, but sometimes these fail. When they do, you may find yourself injured, out of work, and scrambling to determine your next steps.
Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers understands these can be difficult cases, and we have a team dedicated to helping you succeed, which is evident in our verdicts and settlements. Our Morgan City maritime injury attorney will fight for maximum compensation to cover your injuries and provide additional cushion to help you find your way back to normal life.
