Injured at Sea? Retain an Experienced Attorney; Maritime Lawsuit Funding Available
Posted by
Mark BelloSeptember 18, 2009 12:46 PMMaritime laws (the laws of the sea), apply not only to injured workers, but, also to passengers. Passengers on cruise ships, ferries, riverboat casinos, recreational boats, or other vessels may qualify. Ships or boats may be maintained in an unsafe condition; as such, owners may be liable for on-board passengers' injuries caused or contributed to by those unsafe conditions. Operating or maintaining a ship or boat in a negligent or careless manner may also create liability for injuries to passengers. Thus, a passenger injured in a Maritime accident may qualify for financial compensation.
As previously indicated, working on a commercial vessel fishing boat, ocean liner, cruise ship, oil rig, or another type of commercial vessel can result in injury, sometimes even serious injury or death. Maritime laws create a system of compensation for these injured workers or for the survivors of those workers who are killed in the performance of their duties at sea or, even, while the ship or boat is docked. The most common injuries include slip and fall accidents, falling cargo, and loading and unloading incidents, which usually result in back injuries. In some instances, the injured worker must show that he/she was injured as the result of the negligence of his/her employer. Negligence may be proven if the employee can show unsafe work conditions, negligent navigation (collision with another ship, the dock, and iceberg, or other sea object). There are also laws that protect dock workers, i.e. longshoremen and other maritime employees who are considered "land-based".
Maritime laws cover a wide variety of on-the-job injuries. Financial compensation may be available under maritime workers' compensation laws if the employee works on vessels on the Oceans, Intra-coastal waterways, wharfs, docks or piers, or terminals. Injuries occurring in adjoining areas used for loading, unloading, repair, building and/or dismantling also qualify for compensation.
The two main laws that cover or insure most maritime accidents are the Jones Act (aka the Merchant Marine Act of 1920) and the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act. These laws provide for specific rights and protections to workers who are injured while at sea. Injured at sea or injured on the dock workers qualify for compensation for time off work, costs of medical care, medication and/or physical therapy, living expenses, and, if necessary, job training for a new career if they are unable to return to their previous employment. Examples of qualifying occupations are employees on ships, offshore oil rigs and platforms, tugboats, barges, fishing and/or seafood boats, riverboats (including gambling boats), ferries, water taxis, coastguard vessels, and other ocean, intra-coastal or canal vessel.
Classes of "employee" would include crew members, captains, cooks, maintenance employees, and other vessel employees. The main, very plaintiff-friendly, difference between on-land state workers compensation laws and Maritime laws is that the employee can receive intangible damages for "pain and suffering" in Maritime cases, whereas in land based state workers compensation cases, only out of pocket medical, wage loss and retraining expenses are available. Under both systems, transportation costs for medical care are also available.
Whether you are injured as a passenger or an employee at sea, you may need retain the services of an experienced attorney to pursue your Maritime case. Serious injuries usually cause long-term disability, and insurance companies often deny benefits so that you will be desperate to settle for their offer when it finally comes. Companies like Lawsuit Financial may be able to offer lawsuit funding to help pay medical expenses, mortgage or rent payments, car payments, food, utilities or other important expenses. This can bridge the gap between the insurance company's low first offer and a fair settlement at the end of the case.