Compensation for Injuries or Illnesses to Longshoremen and Harbor Workers
At Murphy Law Firm LLC in Louisiana, we help injured longshoremen and harbor workers obtain the compensation they need to recover from serious on-the-job injuries. Our Baton Rouge longshoreman injury attorneys take pride in offering aggressive representation that is personally tailored to each injured client's unique needs. We will listen to your story, help you understand your options for compensation, and then, if you hire us, fight for your rights.
The Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act
The Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA) is filed under workers' compensation. It provides compensation to those covered by the act for job-related injuries and occupational diseases, paid directly by the employers, their qualified insurance carriers, or a government fund.
Is Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Available to You?
One of the first and most important considerations with every new claim of this kind is to determine whether the injury worker is covered by the act. Generally, Longshoremen work on loading and unloading cargo from ships on the docks. Harbor workers generally handle building, repair and other similar work.
More specifically, the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act provides employment-injury and occupational disease compensation for "employees" under the act, which includes any person engaged in maritime employment, including any longshoreman or other person engaged in longshoring operations and harbor work including:
- Ship repairmen
- Shipbuilders
- Ship-breakers
The act does not cover:
- People doing clerical or secretarial work
- Individuals employed by a club, camp, recreational operation, restaurant, museum, or retail outlet
- Individuals employed by a marina who are not engaged in construction, replacement, or expansion of the marina (except routine maintenance)
- Employees working on a boat less than 65 feet in length
The injuries sustained or illnesses contracted must occur upon navigable waters of the United States, (including any adjoining pier, wharf, dry dock, terminal, building way, marine railway, or other adjoining area customarily used by an employer in loading, unloading, repairing, dismantling, or building a vessel). There are some limitations on compensation under this act for people engaged in the business of building, repairing, or dismantling exclusively small vessels.
This is just the beginning of the complications involved with Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act claims.
"There are many complicated factors involved in any work-related injuries occurring on or near the water. Regardless of the situation, you will certainly have to fight for the compensation you deserve. Don't be a victim twice by settling for less than what your case is truly worth. Let me help you get the full compensation available in your case, to help you continue providing for your family even if you can't go back to work." ∙ Attorney Peyton Murphy ∙ Contact Murphy Law Firm
Civil Liability ∙ Third-Party Liability
Another option is a third-party liability claim. If your injury was a result of the negligence of someone other than your employer or a co-worker, you might be eligible to bring a third-party claim.
Contact Us ∙ Get the Information You Need
After a commercial fishing accident, a platform/oil rig injury, diver accident or other maritime accident, it is important to talk with a lawyer to learn about the options available to you. We offer free confidential consultations, and we work on contingency fee, so you will not pay attorney fees until we win compensation for you. Call 225-928-8800 in Louisiana, 800-734-6545 toll free, or contact Murphy Law Firm online to schedule your free initial consultation with an attorney from our firm.
