It is important for injured seamen, oil rig workers and dock workers to be familiar with the remedies available to them if they have been injured in a maritime accident. Injured workers on land have workers’ compensation and personal injury protections not available to workers injured on offshore rigs, vessels, docks and waterways. Different remedies are available to injured seamen, oil rig workers and dock workers that help protect them, their livelihoods and their families.
Workers injured in a maritime accident have important rights and protections through the Jones Act and Longshore Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA), as well as other resources available to them. When a worker has suffered oftentimes serious and disabling injuries in a maritime accident, legal resources can help them obtain medical care and replacement of lost wages, referred to as maintenance and cure; compensation or coverage for future medical care needs and costs; compensation for lost earning capacity; compensation for permanent disability or disfigurement; and damages for pain and suffering.
The remedies available to injured seamen can be complex and there are requirements to apply for their protections. The Jones Act, for instance, has specific definition to qualify as a seaman or vessel so it is helped to have trained guidance through the process of bringing a claim for damages related to the damages suffered in a maritime accident.
When a seaman, oil rig or dock worker has been injured in a maritime accident, it can be devastating for both them and their families physically, financially and emotionally. As a result, it is important for injured seamen, oil rig workers and dock workers to be familiar with their rights and know how to enforce them when necessary.
