Hitchcock Dock Worker Accident Lawyer

Hitchcock is in an area with many docks and ports, where ships and terminals pass through daily, carrying various types of cargo. Dock workers help maintain order by quickly and efficiently unloading and loading freight onto ships. Unfortunately, they perform dangerous work every day that exposes them to numerous risks for suffering injuries.

If you or your loved one suffered harm due to your job as a dock worker, you could talk to our knowledgeable maritime injury attorneys to pursue damages in a civil claim against your employer. A Hitchcock dock worker accident lawyer could help you understand the legal process.

Types of Injuries Sustained by Dock Workers

Dock workers operate every day around large vessels, machinery, and equipment, regularly moving and unloading large shipping containers filled with various cargo. They often perform difficult work with dangerous equipment and heavy cargo, while standing on slippery, uneven surfaces. A slight misstep or misuse of a crane could cause a worker to suffer catastrophic harm. In addition, changing weather conditions can increase the likelihood of injuries.

Some of the most common types of injuries experienced by dock workers are as follows:

• Heavy lifting injuries including lower back injuries, such as herniated or compressed discs
• Spinal injuries
• Broken bones
• Crush injuries
• Limb injuries, sometimes leading to amputations
• Burns from explosions and fires
• Brain injuries
• Respiratory problems and other injuries from exposure to hazardous and toxic chemicals and gases
• Near drownings
• Disfiguring scars due to lacerations

Sadly, some dockers suffer fatal injuries due to the hazardous nature of their jobs. A compassionate legal team could help their surviving family members seek justice through a wrongful death suit.

Sources of Compensation After a Dock Accident

Injured dock workers have different types of compensation sources available. Due to the nature of their jobs, most dock workers are not eligible to collect traditional workers’ compensation benefits. However, federal law provides alternate options for recovery for maritime employees who work on docks and ships.

Jones Act

The Jones Act is a federal statute that allows injured seamen to sue their employers if they suffer injuries due to their jobs. To recover damages, an injured worker must show that their employer was somehow negligent. However, the employer’s negligence does not need to be the sole cause of the accident.

Under the Jones Act, an injured worker could pursue recovery for their medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses. In most cases, the Jones Act only covers maritime workers who are stationed on one specific vessel. Unless a dock worker spends the majority of their workday on a single craft, this law might not apply.

Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA)

The LHWCA covers sea workers who are not stationed on one craft. It allows dock workers who work most of the time near or on vessels to recover benefits when they suffer on-the-job injuries. Like traditional workers’ compensation plans, the LHWCA allows injured workers to collect benefits without requiring them to prove fault. This law lets workers collect benefits to cover their medical expenses, rehabilitation expenses, and a portion of their lost wages. If a dock worker loses their life, their family could collect death and funeral benefits.

Third-Party Claims

If the workplace injury happens because of a third-party’s actions, the injured Hitchcock dock worker might be able to sue them in a civil claim. For instance, if a defective piece of machinery caused the injury, a dock worker could sue the manufacturer of the machinery.

Speak with a Hitchcock Dock Worker Accident Attorney

Injuries to maritime employees can be devastating, not just because of the physical harm, but also the financial repercussions. Speak with a Hitchcock dock worker accident lawyer today to learn what you can do to account for your losses. We might be able to help you sue your employer, a third party, or collect benefits under federal programs that were created for dock workers like you.