Paducah River Work Injury Attorneys
Supporting River Workers for Nearly 25 Years
Thousands of people make their living working on the Mississippi River, the Ohio River, the Tennessee River, the Cumberland River, and other area rivers. They work long days on towboats, tugboats, barges, and other vessels, or on the docks and shipyards to keep the river industry running. This work can be dangerous, and on-the-job injuries are common.
However, when those who labor so hard to do this important and dangerous work get hurt and seek benefits, all too often they are ignored, denied, or treated unfairly. You can call our Paducah river injury attorneys to provide you with counsel during this time and to fight for your rights to benefits after you’ve been injured. For decades, Katz Law has been on the side of individuals and families in need.
Contact us online or by phone at (270) 778-0020 to speak with an attorney who can aggressively advocate for you and your injury case. We strive to work directly with our clients for optimal results.
Is This A Workers’ Compensation Claim?
Many river workers believe that if they are hurt on the job, they have a workers’ compensation claim. In reality, these cases fall under a completely different set of laws than state-based workers’ compensation claims. Most injured river workers will have claims under the Jones Act. In some cases, the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) will apply. When a third party caused the injuries, a maritime tort claim may also be appropriate.
In these cases, it is important to work with a lawyer who knows the laws that apply in river work injury cases and understands that these cases cannot be handled like typical workers’ comp claims. For example, injured workers should be granted maintenance and cure payments, which is a unique benefit available for river and maritime employees. It is vitally important that you hire an attorney that truly has experience handling injury cases for river workers, as not all lawyers that claim to handle these cases actually do!
In deciding which lawyer to hire, interview the lawyer and ask for specific case examples to make sure the lawyer you are talking to is truly a river injury lawyer. Handling river work injury cases, we have helped many river workers nationwide get the benefits to move forward with their lives. We have experience and skill specific to these matters, so you can be confident that nothing will be overlooked, and you will get the strong legal representation you deserve.
Who We Represent
At Katz Law, our lawyers stand up for the rights of injured river workers. Because the work is performed on navigable waters, a unique set of federal laws apply. If you have been hurt while working on the river, our goal is to get you all the benefits to which you are entitled. We haveover 25 years’ history of standing up to towboat companies and river-based employers to get meaningful results for people who work in the inland river and related industries.
From our law office in Paducah, Kentucky, we help people from throughout the United States who work on the Mississippi River, the Ohio River, the Tennessee River, the Cumberland River, and other major rivers. We represent mates, deckhands, leadmen, captains, pilots, masters, engineers, cooks, and anyone else who works on a river vessel, as well as anyone else involved in the river industry in any capacity.
Compensation in All River Worker Injury Claims
Our lawyers represent anyone who has been hurt in any way while working in the river industry.
We handle claims involving:
- Ship collision injuries
- Sinking vessel injuries or drownings
- Ship explosion and fire injuries
- Cargo loading or unloading injuries
- Fall and falling objects injuries
- Repetitive stress injuries
- Occupational illnesses
- Toxic exposures
- Lifting injuries
- Injuries due to broken wires, lines and other faulty equipment
- Injuries getting on and off vessels
- Injuries getting to and from vessels
We frequently serve victims of head injuries, back injuries, broken bones, burn injuries. and other serious river work-related injuries. We also represent families of drowning victims and other river workers who lost their lives on the job.
What Benefits Are Injured River Workers Entitled To?
River workers who work near or on the water, but not on a boat, are protected by the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA). The LHWCA pays out workers’ compensation benefits if a worker is injured. The main difference between the LHWCA and traditional workers’ compensation is the benefits are slightly better. An injured longshoreman receives 66.66 percent of his or her pay from the LHWCA, while other workers’ comp benefits usually pay only about 60 percent. The LHWCA also provides coverage for workers that suffer from permanent partial disabilities.
Employees that work on vessels are usually considered seamen. Seamen spend most of their time working on ships that are considered navigable. A navigable vessel can be out on the river or just in operation. The Jones Act allows provides protection for injured maritime workers. Under the act, a seaman can sue an employer for damages related to negligence. To prove your case, you must show your employer committed negligence that caused your injury.
Maritime law also provides protection against unseaworthy vessels. An unseaworthy vessel is any ship that is unsafe or provides unsafe conditions to work in. In this case, an injured worker does not need to prove negligence. You must only show the vessel’s conditions were dangerous for the employee. If your employer was not negligent in your injury, you can still pursue compensation.
You can apply for maintenance and cure. Your employer must provide money to pay for your room and board, as well as your medical expenses until you get well. Injured river workers have a variety of benefits available for their recovery. An experienced maritime attorney can explain the options and help ensure you get what you need to heal.
Free Consultations for Injured River Workers
Our law firm handles river injury claims on a contingency fee basis, so you do not have to worry about the cost of hiring an experienced attorney. You will not be required to pay any fee unless we get you compensation. Furthermore, you can reach out to us and discuss your case for free to find out more about what we can do for you.
Call our Paducah river work injury attorneys for representation at (270) 778-0020 today. Initial consultations are free.
