Representing Maritime and Harbor Workers
Special federal laws exist to protect people who are injured at sea or while working on a harbor. If you or a family member has been injured on a boat, an oil rig platform, or a harbor facility, you will need an experienced maritime lawyer to help you receive all of the compensation you deserve by law.
At the Burghard Law Firm in Hattiesburg and Brookhaven, we represent victims of offshore and harbor injuries along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. We offer a free initial consultation to explain your rights and how to protect them. Maritime law is very complex and it often takes an experienced attorney to help you effectively pursue full compensation.
Jones Act and Maritime Injuries
If you have been injured while working on a vessel, you are entitled to compensation under a federal law known as the Jones Act. Vessels include ships, fishing boats, oil rigs, barges, dredges, trawlers, tugs and other types of maritime crafts.
As an injured seaman, you have a right to receive compensation for lost wages, lost earning capacity, pain and suffering, and other damages. To make a recovery for you under the Jones Act, your lawyer has to prove either that your employer (or a coworker) was negligent or that the vessel was unseaworthy.
Harbor Worker Injuries
Harbors are dangerous places to work and many workers suffer on-the-job injuries while loading, unloading or maintaining a ship at dock. If you are injured while working on a harbor, you may be entitled to benefits under the Longshoremen's and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act.
If you are injured at work, your employer may try to claim that the injury occurred while you were off duty. To protect your rights to full compensation, contact an experienced maritime lawyer as soon as possible.
Free Attorney Consultation
For more information, or to schedule an appointment with lawyer Ivan Burghard concerning the Jones Act and maritime law, call 866-823-7100 or fill out the contact form on this site.
