Longshoremen & Harbor Workers Compensation Act (LHWA)

Whether you work in South Florida’s biggest and busiest ports such as The Port of Miami, or Port Everglades in Ft. Lauderdale, at The Law Offices of Jason G. Barnett we protect the rights of seamen and longshoremen who are injured on the job and make sure they receive the benefits they deserve!

The Jones Act is a federal law that covers those maritime workers who are injured on the job due to the negligence of a shipowner, captain, or crew member, and allows them to sue their employer. Similar to Worker’s Compensation, covered workers may be entitle to present and future medical expenses, job retraining or physical therapy, lost wages (both present and future), and pain & suffering damages.

In order to be covered under the Jones Act as a seaman or longeshoreman, an employee must spend at least 30% of his/her time in the service of a vessel or on navigable waters. This includes those that work or have worked on:

• Barges
• Ferries
• Cruise Ships
• Fishing Vessels
• Tugs
• Tour Boats
• DrillingPlatforms
• Commercial vessels (so long as the vessel fails to meet federal requirements for seaworthiness)

Even if you have only worked on or near a dock or harbor facility, or work on a vessel while it at port and never go out to sea, you may be entitled to benefits under federal Longshoreman and Harbor Worker’s Compensation laws (LHWC).

If you or a loved one has been injured while at work on a vessel, drilling platform, or simply unloading a ship at a dock or harbor due to the negligence of your employer, you have the legal right to compensation for your injuries. Call the Law Offices of Jason G. Barnett now at (954) 618-1776 for a free, no-hassle consultation and get answers to all of your important questions. You have everything to gain and NOTHING TO LOSE because the call is FREE and there is NEVER a fee until you win or settle your case.