As with any other workplace, maritime industry employers are required to keep their job sites clean and safe. Doing so in a shipyard around heavy equipment and other hazards is more challenging than in an office setting. Nonetheless, your employer must keep you safe and can be held financially accountable with the help of a New Orleans maritime lawyer if they or another party neglects their duty to you.
At Scott Vicknair Injury Lawyers, we have secured over $100 million in client settlements and are ready to represent the needs of longshoremen, sailors, and shipyard workers like you. We offer free initial consultations and do not take any fees until we win a fair settlement for you. Contact us to speak with a qualified New Orleans shipyard accident lawyer today.
Maritime Law Provides Help for Your Injuries, Even if You Work on Land
Shipyard and dock workers have remedies under maritime law. They can turn to the Longshore Workers and Harbor Workers Act (LHWCA) when they are injured, which works similarly to standard workers’ compensation for people in other industries.
In rare instances, your New Orleans personal injury lawyer may determine that you are eligible for a Jones Act claim instead, although these mostly apply to sailors and others serving onboard vessels. If you do any of the following activities on land, you likely qualify for benefits under the LHWCA:
- Build, repair, or break down ships
- Load and unload cargo
- Perform various harbor operation jobs
- Salvage ships or equipment
- Tow vessels within the harbor or port
You must report your injury within 30 days to your employer and within one year to the Department of Labor for an LHWCA claim. You do not have to demonstrate who was at fault, but if a third party contributed to your accident, such as a vendor or contractor, you could seek damages in a maritime injury claim against them while also receiving benefits. Your lawyer will advise you of your full range of legal options.
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504-500-1111Shipyard Hazards and Injury Statistics
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, shipyard workers have one of the highest injury rate and fatality rates in any work environment. During the study period, as many as 45 fatal accidents occurred, along with almost 62,000 injuries or illnesses. Shipyard employees are hurt at nearly twice the rate of other construction workers.
The business of shipbuilding, shipbreaking, and repairing ships involves electrical work, welding, heavy materials, and toxic gases. Workers in these occupations can get hurt in a variety of ways, such as:
- Respiratory illness from inhaling vapors, smoke, and other gases
- Lung cancer and other illnesses from long-term exposure to asbestos
- Electrocution and burns
- Crushing injuries, broken bones, and organ damage from loose material
- Traumatic brain injuries from slipping or falling from a great height
- Suffocation from being trapped in a confined space
- Drowning while performing underwater tasks, such as welding or maintenance
Any of these injuries can come with a mountain of medical bills and time out of work while you heal. Your shipyard accident lawyer in New Orleans, LA, will help you collect records of your expenses and ensure your LHWCA claim is processed quickly. They will also fight to keep your benefits intact when your employer says you must return to work before you are ready.
Why You Need an Experienced New Orleans Shipyard Accident Attorney on Your Side
Along with the LHWCA, numerous state and federal laws are part of maritime law, which could affect your claim. Understanding these nuances without a formal legal background is confusing enough, but trying to sort it out when you are also injured and need compensation can be too much. When you work with a shipyard accident attorney in New Orleans, LA, with Scott Vicknair Injury Lawyers, you can put those worries aside.
We will provide the following services on your case while you focus on getting better:
- Collect relevant evidence showing what happened.
- Identify any non-employer parties who may be held liable.
- Gather your medical documentation and receipts.
- Help you complete your claim application with appropriate supporting materials.
- Negotiate with the insurance company if they deny or reduce your benefits.
- Connect you with specialists and experts to fully diagnose and treat your injuries.
- Determine the most favorable jurisdiction (state or federal) in the event your case proceeds to court.
Maritime law is complex and changes frequently, and interpreting it to your best advantage takes experience, training, and tenacity. We help you navigate your claim so you get the compensation you need without adding to your stress, concern, or financial debt. We work on contingency, so if we do not win your case, you do not pay us.
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504-500-1111Damages You Can Claim in Your New Orleans Shipyard Injury Case
Under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act FAQs, you are eligible for many benefits, including partial wages (⅔ of what you were making when you were hurt), temporary disability benefits while you heal, and permanent disability benefits if you are deemed unable to work again by your physician. If you pass away from your injuries, your family will receive survivor benefits.
Your medical bills are also covered, including:
- All medical expenses
- Rehabilitation costs
- Medical equipment and devices
- Prescriptions
- Surgeries
- Nursing care
In some instances, you may go to trial when your employer’s insurance provider does not honor your claim fully or if you are suing a third party. For these cases, you can also seek compensation for the remainder of your lost earnings, any disfigurement or permanent disability you experience, your reduced earning capacity, and your pain and suffering.
Your New Orleans shipyard accident lawyer will help you assess the full value of your economic and non-economic damages so you demand every penny you deserve.
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504-500-1111Take Action Today – Call our New Orleans Shipyard Accident Attorney Today
We stand ready to help you untangle the details of your shipyard injury claim with a team that is dedicated to fighting for the win. Reach out to Scott Vicknair Injury Lawyers in New Orleans, LA.
Waiting too long could put your case in jeopardy, and you could lose your right to secure the benefits you need to recover and get back to work.