Workers in offshore businesses include a variety of positions, both off and onshore. While the majority of workers attend to business on the high seas, there are many who remain on land and are in charge of ensuring the vessel meets all inspection standards and all items are appropriately loaded onto the vessel. If you or a loved one have been injured while working as a longshoreman, you may be entitled to receive compensation for your injuries.

A longshoreman, also known as a stevedore, is a waterfront worker who is in charge of loading and unloading vessels. The wording came from the Portuguese word estivador, meaning a man who stuffs – therefore, literally a man who loads the ship. In modern terminology, longshoremen are often the workers who assist in the loading and unloading of containerships, while requires a specialized knowledge of the technology and hazardous materials. This is far removed from the early days of estivadores, but longshoremen still serve roughly the same role as they have for hundreds of years and deserve to be recognized for their difficult jobs.

If you have been injured while performing any act on or offshore while employed by an offshore company, you should be entitled to receive compensation for your injuries. While the majority of workers receive injuries offshore and a variety of federal acts govern these workers’ compensation claims, longshoremen are additionally entitled to receive compensation under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA). According to the United States Department of Labor, the LHWCA provides compensation benefits to approximately 500,000 workers each year while either on the navigable waterways or along shoreside areas.

The LHWCA provides medical compensation for injuries, as well as ongoing salary payments for the duration of the injury. The LHWCA also provides death benefits for a spouse or other eligible survivors, including funeral expenses of up to $3,000.

If you have been injured while working as a longshoreman, you may be able to receive compensation to cover your medical expenses, lost wages, and future earnings. An experienced maritime law attorney will be able to assist you in calculating the amount of damages you are entitled to receive, as well as preparing your maritime claim. It is important that you bring any claim as soon as possible to ensure you bring the claim within the applicable limitations period, as well as ensure that any witnesses are still able to recollect the circumstances of the accident.

If you or a loved one have been injured while working as a longshoreman, do not hesitate to contact the Malley Law Firm. Tony Malley has years of experience in handling maritime injury claims of all types and will assist you in preparing your longshoreman injury claim. Contact our Texas offices today for your initial free consultation.