Serving as a deckhand can be a dangerous profession. Even during calm weather or seas, a sudden accident could occur that results in harsh physical injuries. These incidents may require extensive medical care, damage your quality of life, and leave you unable to support your family.
Sadly, it may be impossible to collect payments or receive healthcare for these injuries without filing a fault-based claim or lawsuit. This is because the maritime and cargo shipping industries are generally exempt from workers’ compensation laws. Workers in these industries typically must pursue their employers for their losses directly. It is not surprising that many people like you feel frightened or confused by this process.
Thankfully, a New Orleans deckhand injury lawyer from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers may be able to help you protect your legal rights after a workplace accident. Our services include explaining the legal processes involved in seeking payment, gathering evidence concerning your accident while working as a deckhand, measuring your losses, and demanding fair payments in and out of court.
Give us a call today at (504) 777-7777 for your free consultation with a member of our staff.
The Jones Act and Injuries That Affect Deckhands
Injuries among deckhands are common. They may slip and fall on a wet surface, become crushed by shifting cargo containers, suffer harm in mechanical failures, or fall overboard. Each of these incidents may require intensive medical intervention. Necessary medical care can include:
- Emergency room treatment
- Surgery
- Hospitalization
- Physical rehabilitation
Normally, people who suffer injuries while on the job can receive medical care coverage through a workers’ compensation insurance program. Additionally, these plans can provide income assistance in the form of cash payments for time missed at work.
Unfortunately, the maritime industry is exempt from these requirements. This means that an injured deckhand must pursue compensation for their losses from a different source.
The federal Jones Act provides a path forward. 46 United States Code § 30104 gives hurt maritime workers the right to bring a lawsuit against their employer for negligence. These lawsuits may cover damages such as medical bills, lost wages, and other damages.
For a free legal consultation with a deckhand injury lawyer serving New Orleans, call (504) 777-7777
Federal Law Places a Strict Time Limit on Jones Act Lawsuits
Lawsuits for deckhand injuries resemble personal injury lawsuits that result from any other accident. The injured party must show that their employer’s failure to keep them safe resulted in their injury. This may involve proving a failure to provide proper safety gear, inadequate security measures, a lack of training, or even that a vessel was unseaworthy.
In addition, the law places a time limit on when these lawsuits are appropriate. Also known as the statute of limitations, courts may refuse to hear a case if this time limit has expired. According to 46 United States Code § 30106, the general time limit on lawsuits under the Jones Act is three years from the date of the incident.
The legal team at Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers could provide more information about how deckhand injury cases closely resemble lawsuits that allege personal injury. We can also work to ensure that a case is not dismissed because of an inability to file a lawsuit within the legally prescribed time limits.
Reach out to us today at (504) 777-7777 to learn more in a free case review from our maritime injury team.
New Orleans Deckhand Injury Lawyer Near Me (504) 777-7777
Potential Forms of Compensation Following an Injury
Because a deckhand injury case is similar to other personal injury claims, the goal is also the same. People who demand compensation in these lawsuits are looking to collect the payments they need to be made whole again. This process requires injured deckhands to evaluate every way in which an incident has impacted their lives.
The core of the case is always the physical injury. An employer who is responsible for an injury may be required to provide compensation to cover the costs of all necessary care. Your injuries may require you to:
- Visit an emergency room
- Call in a medical evacuation
- Undergo surgery
- Participate in lengthy rehabilitation
In addition, an injury may jeopardize your ability to make a living in the future. If an injury forces you to miss work for a few weeks, you may be able to recover wage reimbursement for this time off the job. In more serious situations, an incident can leave you with a permanent disability. This may allow you to collect compensation for reduced earning capacity and/or disability.
Finally, many people find that the emotional traumas that result from workplace injuries are just as severe as the physical ones. People who experience pain, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or other emotional losses may receive compensation for this lost quality of life.
A New Orleans deckhand injury lawyer from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers can assist you in placing an accurate value on your case.
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Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers Provides Free Case Reviews to Injured Deckhands
A New Orleans deckhand injury lawyer from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers is ready to assist you with your insurance claim or lawsuit. We can explain your rights under the law, evaluate how the incident has affected your life, and demand compensation from the at-fault parties.
Reach out to us today at (504) 777-7777 for your free consultation with a representative of our firm.
We work for a contingent fee, meaning our clients pay us a percentage of the compensation they win via a court award or settlement. If they don’t win their case, they don’t owe us attorney fees, and there are no out-of-pocket payments required to begin.
Call or text (504) 777-7777 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
