Not every employee who works to keep cargo moving near Ocean Springs performs their job on a boat. Indeed, thousands of workers help to maintain waterways and to ensure that these vessels can perform their tasks without incident.
A prime example of these employees is dredge workers. These individuals operate heavy machinery and manipulate locks to clear the bottoms of waterways. As a consequence of this job, hundreds of workers suffer serious injuries every year. These workers have the right to demand compensation for their losses.
An Ocean Springs dredge worker injury lawyer may be able to help when a claim for compensation meets roadblocks. A diligent maritime injury attorney can work to identify why a claim has met resistance and what additional steps may be necessary to bring appropriate compensation.
Dredge workers and other employees who help with maintaining vessels in the shipping industry fall under a special categorization within federal labor laws. Instead of the typical local laws that require employers to provide employees with workers’ compensation insurance, dredge workers fall under the category of longshore and harbor workers.
As a result, the federal Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) provides protection when injuries occur at the workplace. This law functions in a similar manner to typical workers’ compensation laws. An injured dredge worker does not need to show that their employer was negligent in allowing an injury to happen or that the injury was not their fault. Instead, the law provides medical benefits and wage reimbursement whenever an on-the-job injury or illness affects dredge workers. An experienced Ocean Springs dredge worker injury attorney could provide more information about the federal laws that protect these employees.
Sadly, many injured dredge workers find that they are experiencing difficulty in collecting proper payments. Even though the LHWCA is an open-ended statute that covers most workplace accidents, the agencies that issue benefits still examine every claim for compensation to determine if it fits the relevant criteria.
A claim for benefits may fails for a variety of reasons. These include:
No matter the reason for a denial, all workers have the right to pursue an appeal. A skilled Ocean Springs dredge worker injury attorney could help to pinpoint the reason for a denial, to identify new evidence to help pursue an appeal, and take all necessary steps to help employees to obtain the payments needed to set things right.
Working to help maintain the waterways around Ocean Springs is a dangerous profession. You may use heavy machinery on a daily basis, and a single slip of the hand or a momentary lapse in concentration can result in life-altering injuries. Fortunately, the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act can provide benefits to cover the costs of medical care and lost wages.
Unfortunately, it is not unusual for injured workers to meet resistance when filing their claims. A benefits office may not believe that your condition is related to your job, or you may disagree as to a proposed benefits package. Either way, you have the right to pursue an appeal.
An Ocean Springs dredge worker injury lawyer may be able to help you. They can take the necessary steps to evaluate your claim, identify a realistic goal, and act to make that goal a reality. Contact an Ocean Springs dredge worker injury lawyer today to get started.