Can I File a Lawsuit for a Barge Injury?

Injuries sustained on barges, commercial fishing vessels, offshore oil platforms, and in other maritime-related work environments are protected under maritime law. There are several different ways employees can file lawsuits, depending on the extent of the injury, where it was sustained, and whether or not they were able to return to work. Before you choose to file a lawsuit, it is recommended that you allow an offshore injury lawyer to review your case and specific needs. They could help you receive the maximum amount of compensation.

Injuries result in more damage than just physical harm. Financial and emotional burdens will also result from costly medical expenses, loss of the ability to work, and a change in quality of living. For workers who were injured on vessels like barges or other ships, the Jones Act could allow them to file for compensation. Whether it was due to negligence or the unseaworthiness of the vessel, an injured seaman could receive compensation for maintenance and cure, medical expenses, pain and suffering, loss of wages in the past and future, and future medical costs.

The Death on the High Seas Act protects the families of workers who were killed at sea. If an employer or co-worker was negligent or the vessel they were on was unseaworthy, the family could be entitled to compensation. Often the employee was the primary wage earner in the family and their loss leaves the family in a difficult situation. The Death on the High Seas Act lets families sue for past lost wages as well as future lost wages.

Under general maritime law, workers or their families can sue for maintenance and cure benefits. Maintenance includes rent, food, utilities, transportation, and any other necessary expense for daily living. Cure includes all medical costs and recovery treatments. If the worker is so seriously injured that they are never able to return to work, they could also sue for lost future earnings and pain and suffering.