Shipyard Worker Injury

Shipyard workers face more dangers on the job than virtually any other profession. An average shipyard worker has a 1 in 3 chance of suffering a work injury every year – and that same worker has a 1 in 10 chance of suffering an injury severe enough to end his or her ability to work, according to the U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA). Injuries including spine and back trauma, broken bones, eye damage, and even cancer caused by exposure to asbestos can have very serious consequences for the injured worker, family, and future.

Parker Waichman Alonso LLP has been successfully helping maritime injury victims for more than 20 years. Our attorneys have represented many shipyard injury claims, and we believe that when you put your life on the line for your job, you deserve fair treatment and compensation for injuries sustained at work. If you've suffered injury as a shipyard worker, we can help you seek the full compensation mandated by law.

Pease submit our online form or call 1-800-LAW-INFO (1-800-529-4636) for help with your case. We handle maritime law claims from port cities along the U.S. Eastern Seaboard, including New York, Philadelphia, Wilmington DE, Baltimore, Norfolk, Charleston, Savannah, Jacksonville FL, Fort Lauderdale FL and Miami.

Most shipyard workers are protected by the Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act (LHWCA). This act provides compensation benefits for on-the-job injuries or death, similar to worker's compensation, including the following provisions:

• Longshoremen are entitled to collect benefits for on-the-job injuries regardless of fault.
• Employers must pay for lost wages and medical expenses, including rehabilitation.
• Longshoremen may file negligence claims against any third parties responsible for injuries (such as an equipment manufacturer) or they may file a negligence claim against the employer if the employer owned the vessel that played a role in the injuries.
• Longshoremen may not bring Jones Act or General Maritime Law claims against employers, however. The Jones Act and the Longshore and Harbor Worker's Compensation Acts are considered to be mutually exclusive.
  
  

Timeliness is important when filing a shipyard injury claim. If you've been hurt on the job, you must inform your employer within 30 days, and file a formal claim for benefits within the year. While there is a set process in place for awarding benefits, obtaining compensation isn't as easy as it should be. Not all employers want to pay for the maximum medical treatment that your injuries merit. An experienced attorney can help ensure you have the health care you need, as well as wage compensation while you are unable to work.

Whether your injury was caused by a faulty piece of equipment or a dangerous work environment, it's important to contact a lawyer as soon as you can. Prompt action can help secure the benefits you need, particularly in those cases where injuries may have permanent consequences.

At Parker Waichman Alonso LLP, our most important goal is to help you get your life back on track – and we have a 20-year track record of success to help make that happen. Please submit our online form or call 1-800-LAW-INFO (1-800-529-4636) for help with your case.