The Port of Savannah is the second-largest shipping port in the country. It employs hundreds of thousands of workers onshore and offshore, including thousands of longshoremen and dockworkers. Longshoremen are a critical part of the shipping and receiving industry. Unfortunately, shipping docks and ports can be dangerous workplace environments.
If you or a loved one was injured while working as a longshoreman in Savannah, Georgia or the coastal regions of South Carolina or Florida, Bowen Painter Injury Lawyers can help you stand up for your legal rights. Our Savannah personal injury attorneys have more than 20 years of experience representing longshoremen and litigating Jones Act claims. Contact us today to request your free case evaluation.
What Are Common Longshoreman Accidents and Injuries?
The job of a longshoreman is to load and unload cargo onto ships at a port or dock. Longshoremen and other dockworkers work outside, in all types of weather, and in dangerous environments that involve large equipment and heavy machinery. There is also a great deal of vehicle traffic, including powered industrial equipment and tractor-trailers transporting cargo.
Some of the most common types of accidents that injure and kill longshoremen include:
- Transportation and motor vehicle accidents
- Slip, trip, and fall accidents
- Falls from heights
- Struck-by falling objects
- Heavy machinery and equipment malfunctions
- Accidental drownings
- Repetitive motion injuries
- Back strains from heavy lifting
- Fire and explosion injuries
- Traumatic amputations
Under federal and state law, longshoremen and dockworkers have legal rights after accidents. If someone could have prevented your accident, such as an employer, you may have the right to file a personal injury lawsuit. Even if no one was at fault, a workers’ compensation claim could still reimburse you for your losses.
What Are Your Rights as an Injured Longshoreman Under the Jones Act?
The Jones Act is a federal law that, among other things, extended the Federal Employer’s Liability Act to include seamen. It enabled workers who are injured at sea while performing occupational activities to bring personal injury lawsuits against their employers in certain circumstances. The Jones Act states that if a seaman is injured in the course of employment or dies from an injury, the victim or a personal representative has the right to bring a civil action against the employer.
A civil action – a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit – aims to hold one or more parties financially responsible (liable) for causing a preventable workplace injury. The purpose of a civil action is to make an accident victim whole again by reimbursing him or her for related losses, including medical expenses and lost wages. It does this by holding the person who caused the injury or death legally accountable.
What Financial Compensation Is Available in Savannah, Georgia?
You may be eligible for financial compensation as an injured longshoreman in Savannah if one or more parties caused or contributed to your injury. If your employer failed to properly train you or provide personal protective equipment, for example, you may have grounds to file a lawsuit against your employer for causing your injuries.
As a longshoreman, you are also protected by the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act. This act guarantees financial compensation for medical bills and lost wages for employees who have disabilities from injuries that occurred at work. It also provides death benefits to family members after the loss of a worker’s life at a port, dock or shipyard.
Consult With an Experienced Longshoreman Injury Lawyer in Savannah Today
After an accident at work, an occupational injury, or the death of a loved one as a longshoreman, it is important to hire an attorney in Savannah with experience with these types of cases. Our Savannah longshoreman injury attorneys have years of experience with Jones Act litigation, general maritime law, workers’ compensation, and more. We understand what it takes to successfully resolve these cases and achieve the best possible results for our clients.
Discuss how we can help you and your family after a Port of Savannah accident or longshoreman injury. Call (912) 335-1909 or contact us online today to request a free initial consultation.