Injuries at sea or in maritime work environments are governed by a complex set of overlapping regulations and laws. Determining which law applies if you are hurt requires a knowledgeable and experienced maritime lawyer. The admiralty lawyers at the law firm of Kalfus & Nachman have been helping maritime workers injured at sea, on docks and on shore for more than 20 years with offices centrally located to each of the (4) Port of Hampton Roads locations: Norfolk International Terminal, Portsmouth Marine Terminal, Newport News Marine Terminal and APM Terminals the sixth largest container port in the US.
If you've suffered an injury while working on a maritime vessel, we can help you determine if you're liable for compensation and coverage. Contact our Roanoke maritime lawyers by calling (800) 361-0430.
How to Determine if You Can File a Maritime Lawsuit
Because there are so many different ways to determine which maritime law to file your case under, our attorneys will need to get the following information from you:
- Were you injured on the vessel as a passenger, worker, or business invitee?
- Were you injured aboard the ship or on the dock?
- Is the ship privately owned or owned by the government?
- Which body of water did the injury occur in?
- Where is the home port of the vessel and where was it traveling to and from?
- What type of vessel is it?
- What is your position aboard the vessel and the type of work you were performing?
- What are the particulars of how your accident happened, what equipment or crew members may have been involved, any other vessels that were involved, etc.
Once we have the necessary information, we help you determine which maritime laws apply to your situation and how we can best help you obtain full compensation for your injuries.
Types of Maritime Compensation
Unlike typical workmen's compensation, maritime compensation falls under multiple categories and can be somewhat confusing, which is why it's always best to hire a Virginia maritime attorney to help you with your claims.
In addition to having intimate knowledge of the multitude of maritime compensation acts, our attorneys know how to get you coverage under the following:
- Maintenance & Cure -- these damages are awarded regardless of fault for the injury and covers living expenses and payment for medical expenses
- Jones Act Negligence -- covers all crew members working aboard any type of watercraft and allows you to file an injury claim against your employer
- Unseaworthiness -- file lawsuits against a vessel owner if it was not maintained well-enough
- Blue Water Seamen -- special rules apply to those injured while in international waters
- Limitation of Liability Act -- allows ship owners to limit the amounts they pay out. Our attorneys can help you combat it
- Fishing accidents
- Tug and barge accidents
- Dredging accidents
- Pleasure boat and ferry accidents
There are specific rules for each and every type of maritime claim, so ensure that you contact us as soon as possible after an accident. We will do our best to get you the most compensation from the proper sources as possible. In addition to help you get compensation for injuries that you sustained while working on a maritime vessel, our attorneys have experience with third-party claims as well.
Third-Party Claims for Longshoreman, Stevedores, and Shipyard Workers
Even though you may be employed as a longshoreman or other worker receiving workers’ compensation benefits under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act or state Workers’ Compensation Act, you may have a maritime claim as well. If your accident occurred aboard a vessel and it was the result of the negligence of the vessel’s crew or a dangerous condition on the vessel, you may be able to file a third-party maritime claim for the damages you suffered in addition to your workers’ compensation claim. Under maritime law, you may be entitled to payment of lost wages, loss of earning capacity, pain and suffering, disability, and other losses over and above your workers’ compensation benefits.
If you have been injured in a maritime accident in Norfolk, Hampton, Newport News, Portsmouth, Roanoke, or Virginia Beach, Virginia, please contact our admiralty lawyers at Kalfus & Nachman today to schedule your confidential consultation. Call us at (800) 361-0430.
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