Maritime work is physically hard, but it’s also one of the most dangerous occupations you can take on, with high rates of injury and even death. Having a Morse maritime injury lawyer on your side can ease your mind and can walk you through the next steps if you’ve been hurt in a marine accident.
You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and everything you’ve gone through. At Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers, we know the unique difficulties and dangers of working on the water. We’ve handled a wide range of injury claims and know how to successfully navigate our clients through the process.
What Type of Damages Can I Recover?
Maritime employees harmed on the job may be entitled to compensation. Calculating how much your injuries have cost you financially, physically, and psychologically will give you a rough idea of how much money you may want to recuperate.
The following are examples of common forms of damages:
- Medical costs in the past and the future (monetary)
- Lost earning capacity, which includes both lost income in the past and reduced future earning ability (monetary)
- Pain and suffering (non-monetary)
- Wrongful death that resulted in a loss of companionship or consortium (non-monetary)
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.
ClientWith My Financial Situation, How Can I Afford to Hire a Lawyer?
If you’ve been involved in a marine accident, you will most certainly be faced with bills for your medical treatment and day-to-day living expenses even if you’re not working. You might be wondering how you’ll be able to afford an attorney in your current financial circumstances. Fortunately, you don’t have to be concerned about that when choosing Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers.
Hiring a Morse maritime injury lawyer from our law firm comes with no upfront costs or fees. We work based on a contingency fee. A contingency fee implies that we don’t get paid unless and until you obtain money in your case.
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 | ClientHow Do I Make a Claim?
Depending on their job type, injured marine workers usually file a civil case under the Jones Act or the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA).
The Jones Act
The Jones Act is a federal statute enacted in the 1920s to assist injured seamen in recovering damages. This statute, also known as the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, permits eligible sailors who have been injured or fallen ill while doing their duty to sue their employers for compensation.
Under the Jones Act, a seaman is defined as an employee who spends considerable time on a vessel. They must spend at least 30% of their time onboard to qualify. While this 30% is helpful as a guideline, it is by no means conclusive.
The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act
The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) is a federal statute that provides medical and other benefits to dockers, harbor workers, and other marine workers injured in a maritime accident. The worker’s injuries must have occurred on navigable waterways of the United States or in locations adjacent to the water, such as piers, bridges, docks, and shipyards.
The LHWCA generally covers workers who aren’t covered under the Jones Act. These workers, however, must operate in an environment that involves water or maritime transportation for a considerable portion of their time. This means the LHWCA could apply to longshoremen, oil rig workers, shipbuilders, repairers, and others injured in a maritime accident, even if they do not work directly on a seafaring vessel.
The reassurance from Digger and his staff gave me that renewed hope that it’s going to be okay down the road.
ClientIs There a Time Limit for Filing a Maritime Injury Lawsuit?
Understanding the statute of limitations is one of the most crucial components of bringing a marine injury or death claim. The statute of limitations governs the mandatory deadlines for maritime personal injury cases, which claimants must submit within the time frame provided. The time limit that applies to you depends on whether you claim under the Jones Act or LHWCA.
The statute of limitations for the Jones Act is three years, which means that if you were injured, you only have that much time to sue your employer or ship owner for negligence. There is also a time restriction for filing LHWCA claims. You have two years from the date of the injury or death to bring a claim for compensation under the law.
If an employer voluntarily pays compensation and medical benefits after an injury, the two-year statute of limitations begins when the benefits and compensation abruptly end. To put it another way, you have two years from the final date you received compensation and benefits to make a claim if your employer unilaterally stops paying you for your injuries.
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.
ClientLaborde Earles Injury Lawyers
Maritime injury claims can be difficult to understand. Our attorneys at Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers know how to handle your case. If you’ve been hurt, you and your family should concentrate on getting better. Allow us to take care of your claim.
Call Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers at (337) 777-7777 to speak with a marine injury lawyer serving Morse. Our legal team provides a free, confidential consultation.
