What Does a Maritime Injury Lawyer Do?

If you have been in the maritime industry for at least a little while now, you are aware that there is a process you have to follow to recover compensation after a work injury. You may even know the process differs based on whether you are a seaman, longshoreman, or harbor or dock worker.

You are now hearing that you should contact a maritime injury lawyer if you have been injured on the job. But what does a maritime injury lawyer do? How can such an attorney help an employee like you?

The trusted maritime accident attorneys at The Krist Law Firm, P.C. have helped maritime workers in Houston, Texas, recover compensation for decades. Below, we discuss our job as maritime injury lawyers in more detail. If you have any questions or think you may have a claim, contact our firm at (281) 283-8500 for a 100% free, no-obligation consultation.

Building Your Case

To put it simply, a maritime injury lawyer helps injured maritime workers recover compensation after they have been hurt on the job. But this line of work is not simple. When a client comes to us to ask for help, we determine what kind of case they have.

For instance, if a harbor worker were hurt in a crane accident, they would likely be covered under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act. That means we are dealing with what amounts to a federal workers’ comp claim rather than a lawsuit. This changes our approach. Instead of building a case that highlights the employer’s negligence, we focus on showing the severity of the victim’s injuries to ensure full compensation.

On the other hand, if a seaman who was injured on an unseaworthy vessel comes to us, we will likely build a case under the Jones Act. This means we will file a lawsuit against the victim’s employer to recover compensation. Our approach will then focus on the employer’s negligence and how it caused our client’s injuries.

Proving Your Maritime Claim

You know you were hurt. You know what happened. But do you know how to prove it?

An experienced maritime injury lawyer does. That is a big part of what the Krist Law Firm does for clients every day. For instance, we seek maritime settlements for clients by:

• Gathering evidence that shows the accident, such as photos and videos
• Presenting evidence that shows the unseaworthy vessel or other negligent conditions
• Handling all legal paperwork to completion and on time
• Drafting documents to present to the court or opposing party
• Negotiating fair and full settlement agreements
• Fight for what you deserve in court if necessary

Your maritime injury attorney will know which evidence to gather to show that improper training or an unseaworthy vessel caused your injuries. And we know how to maximize the compensation you receive.

Pursuing Maximum Compensation

Keep in mind that, while land-based regulations for personal injury lawsuits mostly apply in Jones Act and admiralty claims, a maritime injury trial can look quite different than a land-based personal injury claim. Namely, maritime lawsuits are likely to call for some other forms of compensation.

Here are a few common forms of maritime compensation:

• Maintenance and Cure: These are older maritime rights that all injured seamen are entitled to from the moment they are hurt. Maintenance refers to your daily housing and living costs. Cure refers to your medical bills until you reach maximum medical recovery.
• Income Replacement: You can sue for this damage under the Jones Act, but you are also entitled to it under the LHWCA. Specifically, you are owed two-thirds of your income if you are injured and qualify as a harbor, port, or dock worker.
• Disability: If you are unable to work in the future because of your injuries, you can pursue compensation for this under both the LHWCA and Jones Act.

Other damages you can request in maritime lawsuits against a negligent vessel owner are quite similar to those allowed by land-based regulations. These include medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, scarring and disfigurement, and more.

Contact a Maritime Injury Attorney

When our team gets asked what maritime injury lawyers do, we prefer to give the short answer: We help injured seamen recover maritime compensation. We are prepared to do what it takes to make that happen. We do it all the time.

Discuss your case with a Houston maritime injury lawyer at The Krist Law Firm, P.C. today. Give us a call at (281) 283-8500 or contact us online for a free consultation. There’s no risk because there’s no cost to you unless we recover compensation.