Did you know that maritime workers have a higher fatality, injury, and illness rate than other categories of workers in the United States? Maritime-related injuries and accidents occur on and off vessels for various reasons, such as owners and operators failing to maintain a safe and seaworthy vessel, slips and falls from oily deck surfaces, falling off defective ladders, and exposures to toxic chemicals, among other things.
Some maritime workers are even injured while working aboard a vessel in untraditional manners. For example, several years ago, a crew member was wounded by a bread trolley in the galley of Celebrity Cruises’ Eclipse (a subsidiary of Royal Caribbean Cruises). The ship’s sudden movement caused the trolley to roll, fall over, and then strike the worker in the back. The worker was awarded several million dollars for spinal injuries. There are many more stories out there where vessel workers were seriously injured. The Willis Law Firm is here to help you or a loved one obtain compensation for the damages you sustained while at work.
What Laws Protect Maritime Workers?
Maritime law is a niche area of law that protects maritime workers injured on the job. The protections and compensation available depends on several factors, such as the type of worker injured, where the injury occurred, and the specific details of the accident and injuries sustained. Some of the more common laws that protect maritime workers include:
- Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA): This applies to maritime workers injured near navigable waters, such as dock workers, workers repairing ships, and cargo workers.
- Death on the High Seas Act (DOHSA): This law applies to maritime workers who are injured in an accident occurring at least three miles from U.S. shores or territories. It provides death benefits to a surviving spouse, child, dependent, or representative when a wrongful act or neglect causes a worker’s death.
- Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA): This extends the rights afforded by the LHWCA to those employees working aboard vessels on the outer continental shelf area of the United States.
- Jones Act: This applies to seamen whose injuries result from the negligence of their employer.
These laws help injured maritime workers obtain the compensation they deserve for their injuries while on the clock.
Possible Compensation for Injured Maritime Workers
Maritime workers may be entitled to compensation for the following:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Future rehabilitation
- Maintenance and cure
An experienced Jones Act lawyer can help fight for the compensation you deserve. We have decades of combined experience in maritime law and have helped many clients obtain a favorable outcome.
Were You Hurt Working on a Vessel? Contact the Maritime Lawyers at Willis Law Firm Today!
Were you seriously injured while working aboard a vessel? If so, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. The maritime accident attorneys at Willis Law Firm can answer your questions about maritime law and possible damages. Don’t wait! Contact an experienced attorney at Willis Law Firm today at 1-800-468-4878 or email us through our online webform to find out more about your legal rights and options.
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