Wednesday, December 25, 2013

New Orleans Maritime Lawyers: Cases They Take Care Of

By Beatris Clusky


New Orleans Maritime Lawyers handle a specific case set that other lawyers do not. They are experienced in cases involving maritime (sometimes called admiralty) law.

They deal with cases involving navigable waterways, such as canals, seas, oceans, or rivers. Accidents that involve commercial, pleasure, or recreational vehicles fall under maritime law, as do offshore oil and gas rigs, and accidents in the nation's ports. Many cases covered by these attorneys involve boating accidents or injuries sustained in the course of maritime work.

Jones Act

One of the primary laws New Orleans maritime lawyers file claims under is the Jones Act. Also known as the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, the Jones Act pertains to seamen who are injured while working aboard a vessel because of negligence.

Another type of claim that falls under the Jones act is a maintenance and cure claim, which involves serious injury or illness while working aboard a ship. Maintenance refers to money paid to the injured seaman for the daily costs of living while recovering, and cure refers to payment for medical expenses associated with the injury or illness.

LHWCA - Longshore and Harbor Worker's Comp Act

The Longshore and Harbor Worker's Comp Act, called LHWCA for short, is an act that protects anyone injured or killed during maritime work at a port. These workers often include longshoremen, dockworkers, stevedores, and more.

Families of workers killed on the job may receive benefits, but for the most part the LHWCA covers medical costs and disability payments. It also covers any costs associated with rehabilitation due to an injury.

Death on the High Seas Act (DOHSA)

New Orleans maritime lawyers are trained to handle claims under a maritime law often known as the DOHSA. The Death on the High Seas Act protects maritime workers who have died at sea, including aviation accidents more than 12 nautical miles offshore, as a result of negligence by another.

The benefits available under this act are paid out to individuals who were dependent upon the deceased; spouse, children, and other dependent relatives. It provides benefits based on cost of living, giving the families a total benefit based on the amount of time the seaman would have lived multiplied by his hourly wage.

Claims that do not fall under the Jones Act, the LHWCA, or DOHSA may still be filed under general maritime law.

Get Help Today

New Orleans maritime lawyers protect the lives and families of maritime workers. It's unfortunate, but there are a large number of these cases as accidents and injury are a common occurrence for workers in the maritime industry.




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