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If you are working in a maritime-related job or offshore in Corpus Christi, you can be subject to dangerous conditions that can lead to accidents, causing injury or even death. If you have been hurt working offshore or in maritime circumstances, a Corpus Christi maritime injury lawyer can assist you with navigating complicated legal processes and pursuing optimal compensation. Whether you have been hurt on a dock, oil rig, vessel or other place, we are here to fight for you.
Common Types of Maritime Accidents in Corpus Christi
Unfortunately, maritime accidents are common in Corpus Christi and surrounding areas. As such, jobs have high physical demand and are more dangerous due to working with heavy machinery, exposure to hazardous conditions, and the unpredictability of the ocean. This can result in accidents that cause emotional and physical damage. At Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner, maritime cases our firm commonly observes among clients include:
- Explosions and burns. Workers who are employed on docks, ships, and oil rigs can commonly face exposure to dangerous chemicals and flammable materials. The presence of these materials increases the risk of explosions and fires, which can lead to severe burn injuries, as well as further complications, such as permanent scarring and disfigurement.
- Accidents with heavy equipment. As workers in the maritime industry commonly operate heavy machinery, such as forklifts and cranes, this can lead to tragic accidents, with workers being crushed or pinned under equipment. Such accidents can lead to injuries such as complex fractures, crush injuries, and even amputations.
- Slip and fall accidents. As shipyards, vessels, and docks commonly have wet, slippery surfaces, this means that workers are more prone to slip-and-fall accidents. Such accidents can lead to a variety of injuries, including spinal cord injuries, head injuries, and fractures, which can severely impact the ability of a worker to do their job.
- Exposure to toxins. As maritime workers can commonly be exposed to dangerous materials and chemicals, such as asbestos, toxic substances, and fuels, while they’re working, this can lead to critical health conditions. Conditions commonly seen among maritime workers who have been exposed to toxins for long periods of time include skin problems, respiratory issues, and cancer.
- Injuries from repetitive motion. As maritime workers often have to perform physically demanding and repetitive tasks, such as loading and unloading ships, this can commonly cause the development of repetitive stress injuries. Common repetitive stress injuries include carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis, which slowly develop over time and can be seriously debilitating.
- Drowning incidents. Maritime workers who are near or on the water during work are commonly at risk of experiencing a drowning or near-drowning incident. If boat operators and employers do not follow certain critical rules and regulations, they can be held responsible for drowning incidents caused by their negligence. Drowning incidents can lead to brain damage from lack of oxygen or, tragically, death.
The Complexity of Maritime Injury Law in Corpus Christi
Maritime law, which is also called admiralty law, is a certain part of law that governs injuries and accidents that happen on navigable waters as well as maritime settings. If you have been hurt working in a maritime environment, such as an offshore oil rig, ship, or dock, different laws may apply compared to if you had been hurt working on land. In offshore settings, such workers are protected under federal law, which has provisions that give certain rights and protections.
Critical Federal Laws Governing Maritime Workplace Injuries
An experienced Corpus Christi maritime injury lawyer from Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner deeply understands the complexities of maritime injury law, including federal laws such as the Jones Act and the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, as well as local maritime laws. They can leverage their understanding of these rules and regulations to help you grasp how this may impact your worker injury case.
The Jones Act
The Jones Act applies to seamen who have been hurt while working on boats and other maritime vessels. Under the Jones Act, seamen are able to file claims against their employers for any injuries they may suffer due to their wrongdoing or negligence. The Jones Act provides crucial protections, as it gives injured workers the right to get compensation that goes beyond workers’ compensation.
There are specific provisions that govern what qualifies as a seaman under the Jones Act. Workers must have spent a certain amount of time working on a maritime vessel that is in navigation. An experienced lawyer can help you understand whether the Jones Act could apply to your case. If you have been injured working on a vessel due to employer negligence or unseaworthy conditions, you may be able to get comprehensive compensation for your damages.
Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act
The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, or LHWCA, provides adequate compensation to harbor workers, longshoremen, and other types of maritime employees who are not considered to be seamen under the Jones Act. Workers that are covered by this provision are able to get compensation for injuries they may have suffered while repairing vessels, unloading or loading the vessels, or carrying out other maritime tasks on harbors and docks.
If you are a harbor employee, dock worker, or other type of maritime employee who has been injured working in a maritime setting in Corpus Christi or surrounding areas, you may be able to receive critical benefits under the LHWCA. A Corpus Christi maritime injury lawyer from Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner can help you pursue compensation for lost wages, rehabilitation costs, and medical expenses without having to prove negligence.
Maintenance and Cure
Maintenance and cure means that employers must provide basic living expenses and medical care to seamen who have been injured on the job until they have optimally improved their physical condition. Seamen who have been injured are entitled to these benefits regardless of whether they were at fault for the accident, and file for these benefits separate from those that they may be entitled to under the Jones Act.
The Death on the High Seas Act
The Death on the High Seas Act, or DOHSA, applies to cases in which maritime workers die in accidents that happen over three nautical miles offshore. Under this act, surviving loved ones can seek compensation for the damages associated with the maritime worker’s death. DOHSA gives family members the opportunity to recover money lost associated with funeral expenses, financial support, and other damages suffered from losing their loved one.
Why You Should Work With a Corpus Christi Maritime Injury Lawyer
If you have been hurt offshore working or in a maritime setting, an experienced maritime injury lawyer can assist you in multiple ways. By working with them, you can work to optimize the outcome of your case. They can help you by:
Looking into your accident. A maritime injury lawyer will gather the necessary documents to launch a deep investigation into what happened before, during, and after your accident. They will work to understand what caused the accident.
- Determining potentially liable parties. A lawyer can determine all the parties involved in your accident and look into their potential liability. Potential parties that could be liable include the company, parts manufacturers, maintenance companies of structures such as oil rigs, and boat or dock owners. They can gather critical evidence to prove that such parties were liable for the accident.
- Determining compensation you’re entitled to. If you’ve been injured working in a maritime setting, there are specific benefits that you may be entitled to in addition to workers’ compensation. Based on the circumstances surrounding your case, an experienced lawyer can help determine the different benefits you can receive and help you pursue them optimally.
- Negotiating with insurance companies. Your lawyer can assist you with negotiating with your employer’s insurance company to ensure that you receive a fair and reasonable settlement. They can leverage critical negotiation tactics to help you bring home an amount that reflects the damages you have suffered.
- Applying for benefits. A Corpus Christi maritime injury lawyer can help you apply for various benefits, such as Texas workers’ compensation. As such processes can be complex and overwhelming, it can be useful to have experienced legal professionals navigate the process for you and manage your case. This can free up more time for you to focus on your recovery.
- Representing you in court. In some cases, litigation is necessary to recover the compensation you’re entitled to and hold certain parties liable for their actions. An experienced Corpus Christi maritime injury lawyer can present sound legal arguments on your behalf in court, cross examining witnesses and demonstrating robust supporting evidence to justify an optimal compensation amount.
Overall, a Corpus Christi maritime injury lawyer can provide you with critical bureaucratic and legal support to help you pursue maximum compensation amounts. They can ensure that you are adequately compensated for losses including lost wages, pain and suffering, medical expenses, as well as other damages.
Compensation You May Be Entitled to for Your Maritime Injury
Individuals who have been injured in maritime settings or working offshore are entitled to various forms of compensation for both non-economic and economic damages. A Corpus Christi maritime injury lawyer can analyze the details of your case and the losses incurred to help you understand whether you may be entitled to full compensation for the following:
- Lost wages. If you are out of work due to injuries sustained for a temporary period of time, you may be entitled to get a portion of the wages that you otherwise would have been making. You can also get compensation for associated lost benefits.
- Medical costs. Severe injuries can come with extreme medical bills and costs, including hospital bills, surgery fees, medications and medical device costs, clinic visit fees, and diagnostic expenses. Furthermore, rehabilitation can be expensive as well. Maritime workers who have been injured may be entitled to have all their medical costs covered.
- Pain and suffering. If you have suffered physical pain and emotional suffering as a result of your maritime injury, you may be entitled to compensation to address the non-economic consequences of your damages. An experienced maritime injury lawyer can help calculate an amount you may be entitled to.
- Maintenance and cure. Under the maintenance and cure doctrine, seamen are entitled to have their basic living expenses and medical bills covered until they have optimally recovered from their injury or condition. If you are having difficulties procuring the benefits you are entitled to, a maritime injury lawyer can work to hold your employer accountable.
- Permanent disability. If you are permanently impaired or disabled as a result of your maritime injuries, you can be entitled to long-term compensation to cover your basic living expenses. Furthermore, you can be compensated for your diminished earning capacity and receive compensation for specific expenses that are needed in order to compensate for these new impairments.
If you or a loved one is a maritime worker who has died because of an accident at sea, you may be entitled to pursue a wrongful death claim. Your family may be entitled to compensation for loss of financial support, burial and funeral expenses, as well as emotional suffering and loss of companionship.
Get Compensation You’re Entitled to With a Corpus Christi Maritime Injury Lawyer
If you are a maritime worker who has been injured on the job, you have certain rights and protections under the law. A Corpus Christi maritime injury lawyer from Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner can help you understand the benefits you are entitled to and walk you through the process of pursuing compensation. Contact us today to get started fighting for a fair and reasonable settlement that fully covers the damages you have suffered.
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