Maryland Lawyer Helps Injured Maritime Workers Get Compensation

Rockville attorney litigates claims for dockworkers and longshoremen

For centuries, commerce in and around Maryland has depended on shipping, but the physically demanding nature of dock work can lead to serious injuries. Though most workers’ compensation programs are operated through states, the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) is a federal law that protects American men and women who load, unload, construct and repair ships. At Beiser Law Firm, I can help explain whether you are eligible for coverage under the LHWCA and whether your workplace injury should be pursued under that statute as opposed to standard workers’ compensation.

Skilled advice for Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act cases

Beiser Law Firm vigorously represents shipping industry workers who have been hurt on the job. If you have questions about whether your injury falls under the LHWCA, I can provide a full explanation of the law, including topics such as:

• Eligible employees — The LHWCA does not apply to everyone who works at a shipping facility or marina. It is intended for longshoremen, ship-breakers and people who build and repair commercial vessels. This can also include individuals who operate trucks or other vehicles at the dock, but not office or clerical employees. Seamen, because they are covered under the Jones Act, are not eligible to seek LHWCA benefits. Likewise, people who build or repair recreational vessels less than 65 feet long are also excluded.
• Location of the injury — To be eligible for benefits under the LHWCA, the workplace injury must have occurred “on, near or adjacent to navigable water.” This would include work performed on piers, on wharves or in terminals. As commercial shipping plants are often based on large sites, a person involved in loading cargo might be several hundred yards away from the water. This usually does not bar an LHWCA claim, but remote operations that occur more than a mile away would more likely fall under standard workers’ compensation rules.
• Medical costs and lost wages — Costs of reasonable medical treatment are paid under the act regardless of fault. Disability benefits for time out of work are set at two-thirds of the injured worker’s pay rate, which exceeds the rate typically paid in standard workers’ compensation. If someone dies due to a maritime accident, death benefits are also available to family members.

No matter the specific circumstances of your workplace injury or illness, I will help you obtain the full benefits you are entitled to under the LHWCA or through the relevant state workers’ compensation system.

Contact a Rockville lawyer for a free initial consultation if you’ve suffered a maritime injury

Beiser Law Firm represents injured harbor workers in Maryland and nationwide, and others in seeking workers’ compensation benefits. Please call 301-298-1088 or contact me online for a free initial consultation at my Rockville office.