Maritime and Admiralty Rights You Should Know About!!

Posted by Sullivan & Co on February 4th, 2020

There are several costs, such as medical bills and rehabilitation, involved when you are injured or harmed in a maritime accident. Besides, there are also other consequences, for instance, lost wages and lost earning capacity which makes paying medical and other bills very difficult. No matter if you are a seaman, oil rig worker, shipyard worker, longshoreman, harbor worker, or other worker employed by a maritime company, you have certain rights in case of maritime accidents. 

Hiring an attorney specialized in admiralty law and maritime law can help you recover the compensation you are entitled to. In this blog, we are going to share important information that you, as being a maritime or oil rig worker, must know about. 

Rights of Maritime Workers:

There is no denying that maritime work is itself highly dangerous. However, with negligence of others, it can get even worse. By using the Jones Act, maritime attorneys can help the qualifying workers to get compensation for injuries inflicted or caused by the negligence of other crew members, their employers, ship owners, and others. Not only do they help workers in getting justice and compensated but they also help the families of deceased maritime workers to recover compensation for the losses they are suffering. 

Some of the typical benefits that admiralty law provides to maritime workers are:

• Recover medical expenses
• Recover lost wages and benefits
• Recover loss of future earnings
• Compensation for permanent injuries
• Compensation for pain and suffering

Rights of Oil Rig Workers:

Offshore drilling is also one of the most dangerous works that often result in injuries and accidents. If you are an oil platform worker, there are several state and federal laws including wrongful death law and Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) to recover and be compensated from the responsible parties. Through these laws, maritime attorneys can help injured oil rig workers and obtain benefits, such as worker’s compensation benefits from the oil company insurers or the oil company itself. 

Some of the important benefits that laws provide to oil rig workers are as follows:

• Recover medical expenses
• Recover work stipends
• Compensation for permanent injuries
• Benefits to surviving spouse and/or children

There are several benefits that workers may get if the claim is filed and facts are stated correctly. 

Apart from claiming compensation and suing your employer, you can also sue other parties responsible for your injuries. However, in some cases, you may be required to repay your employer’s insurance carrier if you receive sufficient compensation from the third party without retaining worker’s compensation benefits. 

The third parties you can sue for injuries include contractors and subcontractors, oil and gas companies or maritime companies, landowner, oil rig owners and manufacturers, trucking companies, shipping companies, and vessel and vehicle manufacturers.                

Contact an Experienced Attorney to Protect Your Rights:

If you are also a victim of injury or accident at maritime or oil rig site and looking for compensation and recovering your medical expenses, it is better to hire an attorney with in-depth knowledge of maritime and admiralty laws as early as possible. Gathering evidence before it gets too late and filing the claim within stipulated time is extremely necessary to avail benefits and compensation.