An amputation injury can change your life forever, making it harder to earn a living for your family and enjoy activities you once loved. If you are a maritime worker who suffered such an injury on the job, we want to hear from you. You could be owed compensation and a commercial fishing injury lawyer from our firm may be able to help you get it.
What Can Cause an Amputation Injury?
There are plenty of potential dangers that can cause amputation injuries when you are working at sea. Common safety hazards include:
- Defective equipment
- Ship collisions
- A lack of safety guards
- Poorly maintained equipment
- A lack of safety training for employees
- Navigation errors and collisions
If you are the victim of an amputation injury, you should receive benefits while you are receiving medical care and unable to work. It can take a long time to recover from an injury like this though, and you may not ever be able to return to work in the same capacity. If you think that your employer was responsible for your injury, then it may be time to seriously think about suing for damages.
When Can an Employer Be Blamed for an Injury?
In most cases, when a seaman gets injured on the job they are entitled to “maintenance and cure” benefits. Maintenance benefits help you with living expenses, like the cost of housing and food. Cure benefits are for your medical care. They last for as long as you need to reach maximum medical improvement.
The great thing about these benefits is that fault does not really matter. You should receive these benefits without having to prove that someone was negligent. However, if you believe that your employer’s negligence was to blame for your injuries, then it may be time to sue for damages.
What Kinds of Damages Can I Sue For After an Amputation Injury?
Seamen and maritime workers can sue for additional damages under the Jones Act. If you believe that your amputation injury only occurred due to the negligence of your employer, you should receive more than maintenance and cure benefits. Your compensation can cover many other costs associated with your accident, including:
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning potential
- Vocational training
- Mental anguish
- Pain from disability and disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
An amputation injury can upend your life and all of your well-laid plans. If someone’s negligence caused that, they must be held accountable.
Talk to a Maritime Injury Lawyer
If you decide to sue for damages, don’t go to just any lawyer. Contact Amy C Brown Law, PLLC to schedule a consultation with an attorney who has plenty of experience helping workers just like you. We are ready to help you fight for the compensation that you deserve.
