Rights of Longshoremen
Injured while loading or unloading a vessel?
In addition to loading and unloading cargo by hand, a longshoreman must be able to complete a variety of tasks that range in difficulty and involve operating equipment, transferring loaded trailers, rigging cargo and more. Longshoremen are also referred to as stevedores and jobs of this nature are concentrated on the west coast in the major port cities of Seattle, Los Angeles and Long Beach.
The terminal areas in which longshoremen work have many safety regulations that govern the high traffic areas and heavy-weight equipment. Even with these regulations, the possibility of a serious accident is high. When a longshoreman is seriously injured, it is important for a personal injury attorney to be involved early enough to conduct an investigation of the accident. With professional legal help, you may be able to prove that your accident qualifies for compensation under
maritime law.
Longshoremen's Rights under Maritime Law
Most of the machinery used in a marine terminal requires a fair amount skill and experience to operate safely and effectively. Due to the high potential for danger and injury, the National Maritime Safety Administration was formed to protect the rights of those working in the marine cargo handling industry in the United States. This administration works in conjunction with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to provide longshoremen and others in the marine cargo handling industry with information, counsel and access to health and safety training resources.
The U.S. Department of Labor also created the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA) to provide employment-injury and occupational-disease protection to those who work as longshoremen on the navigable waters of the United States. This act provides for compensation and medical care, and may also provide benefits to the survivors if a longshoreman's injury results in death. To find out if you or your loved one will qualify for coverage under the LHWCA or other maritime law, consult an
offshore injury lawyer at our firm.
Maritime Injury Attorney for LHWCA Claims
The experienced lawyers at Arnold & Itkin, LLP will take the necessary steps to protect your legal rights, beginning with a free consultation. After we thoroughly understand the circumstances that led to your injury, we will use our experience with LHWCA claims and other maritime laws to help you recover compensation for your injuries. We understand the physical and emotional trauma that is associated with
offshore injuries, and we are committed to helping you recover to the fullest extent.
The LHWCA does not require that a worker's employer be found at fault for the worker's injury. We have helped countless of injured longshoremen recover medical and disability payments, wrongful death benefits for survivors of maritime workers, vocational rehabilitation compensation and more. We genuinely care about the future of our clients, and we dedicated personalized attention to each and every case. Contact our firm immediately after your injuries so that you can file your claim before it's too late. Under the LHWCA, an injured employee only has 30 days after the injury or illness occurred to notify his or her employer. We can provide you with this necessary information and much more, and we will stick by your side every step of the way until you receive the compensation you deserve.
Contact a maritime injury attorney at Arnold & Itkin, LLP today!