Maritime commerce is essential to our nation and it couldn’t happen without you. As a longshoreman, you routinely and carefully put cargo on and off ships so that the goods can get to their final destination. Your work is essential and appreciated, but it is also risky.
How Longshoremen Get Hurt
Every accident is unique. What happened to you might not be what happened to your co-worker.
However, there are some common types of longshoremen accidents, include:
- Heavy machine, equipment, or motor vehicle accidents. Forklifts, cranes, front-end loaders, motor vehicles, and other pieces of large equipment are often necessary to move heavy cargo. These machines can hit workers, crush workers, or land on workers if they malfunction or are not used safely.
- Fires and explosions. When a piece of equipment, an engine, or something else catches fire or explodes, there may be no chance to escape the danger without suffering a significant injury.
- Falls from heights, such as scaffolding. You need to work above sea level to get cargo off of ships. Scaffolding accidents can result in catastrophic falls onto the dock, onto the ship, or into the water.
- Slip and falls. As a longshoreman, you work near water and in all types of weather. The ground is often wet and slippery.
- Trip and falls. Docks and ports are often crowded as cargo comes on and off ships. As you move around quickly, you may trip over something or someone in your path.
- Falling objects. Falling cargo or equipment can cause brain injuries, broken bones, internal injuries, amputations, and other kinds of injuries.
- Repetitive use injuries. Physical labor is often required to move heavy cargo. Over time, this can result in back, knee, joint, or other injuries.
- Repeated exposure to dangerous substances. Chemicals may cause dangerous illnesses, including cancer.
- Repeated exposure to loud sounds. Without proper protection, repeated exposure to loud sounds may cause hearing problems.
Often, accidents happen because of:
- Lack of safety training
- Lack of safety equipment
- Machinery problems
- Equipment malfunctioning
- Repeated motions or exposures
- Fires or explosions
- Slippery conditions
- Tired co-workers
- Distracted co-workers
- Negligence
- Bad luck
Regardless of the cause, severe injuries may occur.
Longshoremen Accident Injuries
Your injuries may develop immediately after a sudden accident or gradually after years on the job. Some of the specific injuries you may suffer include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Crush injuries
- Amputations
- Broken bones
- Back injuries
- Hand, arm, or shoulder injuries
- Foot, leg, or knee injuries
- Ligament and tendon injuries
- Repetitive stress injuries
- Drowning
- Burns
- Occupational illnesses such as cancer
- Hearing loss
Some injuries may be fatal.
Protect Your Legal Recovery After a Longshoreman Accident Injury
As a New York or New Jersey longshoreman, you may be able to recover compensation for your work-related injuries through the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act. This federal law has been protecting United States longshoremen for nearly a century. The law allows you to recover the following types of compensation without proving that anyone was negligent or at fault for your injuries:
- Medical expenses
- A portion of your lost wages
- Disability compensation for specific injuries
- Attorney’s fees, in some cases
Typically, insurance companies pay longshore workers’ compensation claims. However, insurance companies usually don’t want to provide you with fair damages for your injuries. Instead, insurance companies want to maximize their profits by paying you as little as possible for your injuries.
If someone other than your employer caused your accident injury, then you may also be able to recover for your pain and suffering if you pursue a third-party lawsuit. For these reasons, pursuing a longshoreman accident injury recovery is often complicated, but you still deserve full and fair compensation.
Contact Our Experienced NYC Longshore Injury Attorneys
Our experienced New York longshore injury lawyers want you to get the recovery that you deserve. You may have a very short amount of time to file a claim, and we don’t want you to miss your chance to make a legal recovery. Call us or fill out our contact form to have us reach out to you for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.
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