Houston Longshoreman Injury Attorneys

Standing Up for Longshoremen Nationwide. Offices in Texas & Louisiana.

In addition to loading and unloading cargo, a longshoreman must be able to complete a variety of tasks that range in difficulty. These tasks include operating equipment, transferring loaded trailers, rigging cargo, and more. 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's crucial for an attorney to be involved early enough to investigate. 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 of skill and experience to operate safely and effectively. Due to the high potential for 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, 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 our firm.

Receiving Disability for Breathing Problems Developed in a Shipyard

Under the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act, you may be entitled to benefits for a work-related injury or disease, including asbestos-related lung diseases such as mesothelioma. Your employer's duty to provide disability compensation arises out of the employment relationship itself, so there is no need to show that the employer was at fault for exposing you to whatever caused your disability. Just because you did not work on a commercial vessel enough to be classified as a seaman, there are provisions other than under the Jones Act.

If it can be proved that your illness was developed as a direct result of your service to your employer and can be linked to the workplace, you may be entitled to benefits under the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA).

Shipyards are known for carrying hazardous chemicals that, if ingested over long periods of time, can cause breathing deficiencies that require medical treatment. The severity of your breathing problem will depend on the amount of hazardous chemicals and substances in your shipyard as well as the amount of time you spent with them. As a shipyard worker, you are entitled to benefits under maritime law even though your work was not directly on a vessel. If you have developed a breathing problem, it would be best to contact your doctor immediately to ascertain the extent of your illness so that adequate treatment can be applied. Your illness may be mild, but it could also be severe.

Your employer is obligated to pay your medical bills if your illness can be connected to your work at your shipyard workplace. Ask your employer if you are unsure whether you can be covered.

Longshoremen's Rights FAQ