Terrebonne Parish Shipyard Accident Lawyer
Louisiana shipyards can be dangerous places to work as they generally contain heavy machinery, cranes, forklifts, and potentially hazardous materials. Suffering a shipyard injury can happen when loading or unloading materials from vessels, repairing ships, or simply being at the wrong place at the wrong time.
If you have been injured in a Louisiana shipyard, contact a Terrebonne Parish shipyard accident lawyer to review the details of the accident. Your experienced maritime injury attorney can determine who might be responsible for your injuries, and discuss which course of action might be best for you and your family.
Determining Damages for Injured Shipyard Workers
Terrebonne Parish shipyard workers are often placed in dangerous situations that can result in injuries – especially when proper safety precautions are not utilized.
Whether operating a crane which loads and unloads cargo vessels, operating a forklift which carries materials to warehouses or waiting vehicles, or performing maintenance on ships and other vessels, shipyard workers can suffer severe injuries including:
- Back, shoulder, and spinal cord injuries
- Broken and fractured bones
- Lower extremity injuries
- Head injuries including traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Hip injuries
- Lung injuries
- Neck injuries
- Severe burns
Due to the use of heavy machinery in shipyards, crushing injuries can often result in amputation or paralysis such as paraplegia and quadriplegia. Regardless of the type of accident, any injury can lead to lost income and costly medical care. Shipyard workers still need to provide for themselves and their families when they are injured and a Terrebonne Parish shipyard accident lawyer can help them do so by helping them pursue damages.
Acts That Entitle Workers to Compensation
Like workers’ compensation, those who work in Shipyard jobs may be entitled to compensation for lost income and medical bills when they are injured are the Longshore & Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) and Vessel Negligence Claims.
Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act
The Longshore & Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) provides disabled longshore and harbor workers in Terrebonne Parish with medical coverage, compensation, and vocational rehabilitation services.
If the crew members of the vessel negligently injure the shipyard worker aboard the vessel, this is another instance where the shipyard worker can make a claim for damages besides benefits under the LHCA. The vessel can be responsible for injuries if they fail to intervene and prevent activities they recognize are dangerous to the shipyard worker.
Vessel Negligence Claims
Anytime a shipyard worker is injured while working on a vessel, the facts of the accident need to be carefully explored to determine if the vessel was negligent. In that case, the injured shipyard worker may be entitled to bring a claim for vessel negligence in addition to benefits from his employer under the LHCA.
If the vessel owner left a hazard aboard the vessel and did not warn the shipyard worker of the danger, there may be a claim for vessel negligence for injuries suffered.
An experienced Terrebonne Parish shipyard accident lawyer can review the details of the accident, the extent of someone injuries, and determine the best source of receiving compensation.
Consulting a Terrebonne Parish Shipyard Accident Attorney
Anyone who has been injured while working in a Louisiana shipyard can get the help they need from a Terrebonne Parish shipyard accident lawyer who can review your medical records, talk to your doctors, and determine the best and quickest way to obtain the compensation you need to provide for yourself and your family while you are injured.
Find out more about what types of compensation your injury may qualify for by contacting a Terrebonne Parish shipyard accident attorney today.