Working on a ship or dock can be hazardous work. If you get hurt on the job, you should receive benefits. A Snohomish County factory trawler injury lawyer from our firm can advise you about your options, but we want to make sure that you do not miss out on your chance to claim compensation. That’s why we want all workers to know that they should report their injuries right away and see a doctor as soon as they can.
What Kinds of Injuries Should I See a Doctor For?
No injuries should be overlooked or brushed off. If you get hurt at work, you should see your doctor as soon as possible. Maritime workers could claim benefits after:
- Slip and fall injuries
- Machinery accidents
- Accidents involving hazardous materials
- The development of frostbite or hypothermia
- Heavy lifting accidents
- The development of repetitive strain injuries
Your injury is not too small or insignificant. If it affects your ability to work or live your life, you should seek out benefits.
Why Should I See a Doctor Right Away?
Seeing a doctor right away can make it easier to claim benefits. When you get checked out by a medical professional soon after an accident, your injuries can clearly be traced back to a work incident. If you wait too long, your employer or an insurer might try to claim that you got injured elsewhere. Do not give anyone a chance to deny you benefits.
What Kinds of Benefits Can I Apply For After Being Injured?
Even when no one is at fault for a maritime injury, a worker can claim benefits. Maintenance and cure benefits are designed to help a worker recover and get back on their feet. These can help pay for living expenses and medical care, but they stop once a recipient’s injuries are healed or once medical treatment has done all that it can. Sometimes maintenance and cure benefits are not the only compensation that a maritime worker can claim though.
Do I Need a Maritime Injury Lawyer?
Sometimes an accident is just that, an accident. However, if you believe that you were only hurt due to the negligence of someone else, that may be worth investigating. Depending on where you work, you may be eligible to ask for additional compensation through the Jones Act or the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act.
When someone else was negligent and that carelessness contributed to your injuries, that could qualify you to receive benefits aside from the typical maintenance and cure benefits. A Jones Act or LHWCA claim both offer the chance to claim compensation for pain and suffering, for example. These damages are not awarded unless negligence is a factor.
Contact Our Law Firm Today
Every maritime injury case is different, so contact Amy C Brown, PLLC to schedule a consultation and learn more about all of your options. We want to help you fight for the maximum amount of compensation available to you.
