Long Island Dock Worker Injury Lawyer

With more than 60 public and private marinas, as well as the four largest commercial fishing ports in the state, Long Island is inarguably the central hub of New York’s maritime industry. However, that industry can only operate in the first place thanks to the tireless work of longshoremen, harbor maintenance crewmembers, and other land-based workers who spend their days ensuring that these marinas and ports can run efficiently and safely.

As you may have unfortunately just learned, dock work can be dangerous in many ways under many different circumstances—but fortunately, you likely have unique rights when it comes to financial recovery for workplace injuries, which a seasoned seaman injury attorney can help you enforce. If you were hurt in the course of your harbor, port, or marina employment recently, contacting our Long Island dock worker injury lawyer for assistance should be among your top priorities.

What Kinds of Dock Accidents Can Justify Legal Action?

The process of seeking financial compensation after a work-related injury on a commercial dock exists to help you cover short-term expenses and reduce long-term harm from the serious physical injuries you suffered on the job. With that in mind, minor injuries that do not require medical care beyond basic first aid may not be severe enough to qualify as grounds for a claim of this nature, although you should still always report all work-related injuries to your employer as soon as possible after they happen, in case they unexpectedly get worse over time.

However, if you suffer a significant injury that requires professional medical care and inhibits your ability to work normal hours and/or perform your normal job duties, you may have grounds for a claim which a Long Island dock worker accident attorney can help you pursue. Our team can likewise work with you to seek restitution for harm caused by various occupational illnesses, especially those stemming directly from exposure to hazardous materials on the job.

Seeking Benefits under the Longshore & Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act

If your daily job tasks are directly related to furthering a commercial maritime operation and you primarily perform that work on a navigable waterway or in a place near one, such as a harbor, you likely have the right to seek benefits under a piece of federal legislation called the Longshore & Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) after a work-related accident. Much like traditional workers’ compensation benefits, LHWCA benefits are available on a fault-free basis, meaning you do not have to prove anyone was specifically to blame for your injuries in order to receive benefits for them.

On that note, LHWCA benefits can include reimbursement for medical expenses related to your injury, as well as temporary or permanent disability benefits to account for lost work income and/or working capacity caused by that same injury. A lawyer from our Long Island office can discuss what you may be able to recover for through a dock worker injury claim under this Act during a private initial meeting.

A Long Island Dock Worker Injury Attorney Can Help

By performing services as a dock worker in New York’s maritime industry, you gain legal rights and protections not available to workers in other industries. Enforcing those rights after a work-related accident, however, often proves difficult, especially if you try to do it alone.

Representation from a dependable Long Island dock worker injury lawyer can make a world of difference in how smoothly your claim goes for you and what amount of money you are able to obtain through it. Contact us today to discuss your recovery options.