If you work offshore, as a shipbuilder or in any other maritime occupation, you need to be careful if you’ve been injured on the job. It is easy to make mistakes, and making mistakes could leave you without the compensation you deserve. To protect yourself, you need to rely on the advice of an experienced Mississippi maritime injury attorney, and you should contact an attorney as soon as possible.
Mistakes to Avoid When Seeking Compensation for a Maritime Injury in Mississippi
At Willis Law Firm, our practice is devoted to helping maritime workers collect maximum benefits for their job-related injuries. Here are five costly mistakes our Mississippi maritime injury attorneys can help you avoid:
1. Waiting to Report Your Injury at Work
In order to seek benefits, you need to report your injury at work as soon as possible. You need to make sure you do this correctly in order to protect your legal rights. If you leave out important information, or if you accidentally report information that isn’t accurate, this could lead to a denial of benefits. We can report your injury for you, and we can conduct a thorough investigation to make sure we have all of the information we need to help you collect payment.
2. Waiting to Seek Medical Treatment
After getting injured on the job, it is also important that you seek medical treatment as soon as possible. In some cases, this will mean seeing a ship doctor or other “company doctor.” However, maritime laws give workers the right to choose their medical providers, and you should let your employer tell you where to go for treatment.
3. Only Seeking “No-Fault” Benefits
The Jones Act, the Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act (LHWCA) and the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) all provide maritime workers with access to “no-fault” benefits. While you should seek these benefits, it is also very important that you pursue any other claims you may have available. “No-fault” benefits are limited, and in many cases, injured maritime workers can recover additional compensation through other means.
4. Accepting What the Insurance Company Gives You
Under no circumstances should you simply accept what the insurance company gives you—it will almost certainly be less than the amount you deserve. A Mississippi maritime injury attorney can accurately calculate your benefits and fight for full coverage on your behalf.
5. Signing Anything Without Legal Advice
Finally, you should not sign anything without legal advice. If you do, you could waive your legal rights. While you may eventually sign something if you accept a settlement, you need to be very careful to avoid giving up your rights too soon.
Talk to a Mississippi Maritime Injury Attorney for Free
Do you have a maritime injury claim? Learn more about protecting your legal rights from an experienced Mississippi maritime injury attorney. Call 800-468-4878 or contact us online 24/7 for a free consultation at Willis Law Firm.
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