Maritime Attorney 
The Longhshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act
If you have been injured while working at a dock facility, on a fixed platform, or even near the water on land, you may qualify for benefits regardless of fault under the Longshore Act. The Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act is a Federal workers' compensation statute that applies to workers to who work on or near navigable waters as well as on fixed platforms over navigable waters. The Longshore Act is a compensation statute that provides for medical and compensation benefits to an injured employee. The amount of compensation benefits to which you are entitled will depend upon the type of injury you suffered, as well as your average weekly wage.
Many employers automatically pay their employees under a state compensation law, which typically provides less compensation benefits. Almost always, the employee will receive greater benefits under the Longshore Act and for this reason many employers fight paying under the Longshore Act. Many times, in addition to a claim under the Longshore Act, you can also file suit against a third party that may be responsible for your accident wherein you can seek damages including pain and suffering and lost wages from this party. Many platform workers are injured while offloading boats and even though they may be limited to collecting benefits under the Longshore Act from their employers, they can file separate suits against the boat owner if the captain or deckhands were at fault in causing the accident.
Our Attorney’s fees are awarded by the Court if we are successful and are paid by the Employer, not by you. Our fee is not a percentage of your recovery and will not reduce in any way the amount of money that you may recover or are entitled to under the Longshore & Harbor Workers' Compensation Act. In order to ensure that your rights are fully protected under the Longshore & Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, call us today.