Aggressive Lawyer Who Can Explain Complexities Of Admiralty And Maritime Law
Workplace injuries that occur on navigable water fall under the federal maritime (admiralty) laws. Maritime is a highly niche area of the law and not all personal injury attorneys are equipped to address its complexities. But the legal team at The Townsley Law Firm is. We have a comprehensive knowledge of the various laws that govern this practice area. We also understand how to best use them in order to help individual clients.
Several Acts, Statutes And Laws Affect Injured Maritime Workers
If you were injured as a maritime worker, or if a loved one was killed while working in the maritime industry, contact our law firm to learn how the following laws may apply to you. Our attorneys can help you understand your legal rights and options, and will build a solid claim for compensation on your behalf.
- The Jones Act: This federal act protects seamen who were injured on the job and provides for injury compensation. The injured worker must prove that the employer or vessel operator was negligent in safety obligations or that the vessel was unseaworthy.
- Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA): The LHWCA protects injured maritime workers who do not meet the Jones Act definition of a seaman. Such employees may include those who work on docks, wharves, piers or other areas designated for vessel work and repair.
- Maintenance, cure and unearned wages: While not a specific act, federal laws provide for the maintenance (onshore room and board while recovering), cure (room and board while receiving medical treatment onshore) and unearned wages (wages a worker would have earned if he or she had not been injured) of injured maritime workers.
- Death on the High Seas Act: If a maritime worker is killed beyond 3 nautical miles from the shores of the United States, his or her family is eligible to bring a wrongful death claim through the Death on the High Seas Act. Compensation may be recovered for loss of financial support, loss of consortium, pre-death medical expenses and funeral costs. In some cases, families may be able to use the Jones Act to receive additional compensation.
- Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA): Under this federal statute, maritime workers who were injured while working on any portion of the outer continental shelf are eligible to claim compensation for their injuries.
Get A Free Consultation With A Maritime Law Lawyer
With any severe injury, it is important not to face the insurance companies alone. Email our Lake Charles admiralty and maritime attorneys at 337-377-0584. We are ready to help.