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New Jersey Injury Lawyers for Dockworkers
Dockworker Injury Attorneys in Clark, NJ Defending the Rights of Injured Workers in Essex County, Hudson County, Middlesex County, Union County, and Throughout NJ
Life as a dockworker can be physically demanding and potentially hazardous. Injuries in this line of work can lead to physical limitations, financial hardships, and a lot of questions about what to do next. Dockworkers are eligible for benefits under federal law, but getting those benefits isn’t as simple as putting in a request. There are numerous forms to file, documentation you must provide, and deadlines you must meet, all while you’re dealing with the impact of serious injuries. When you need help for a workplace accident, turn to Team Law’s New Jersey injury lawyers for dockworkers.
We’re ready to assist you throughout the claims process, beginning with a free consultation. Contact us today to get started.
Dockworker Injury Claims in New Jersey
Many of the 15,670 maritime industry workers employed in New Jersey (per the American Maritime Partnership) spend their days in dockyards, performing the necessary yet risky work of loading and unloading vessels. When these workers suffer serious injuries on the job, their only recourse in many cases is a claim for compensation under the federal Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA).
This federal law provides for medical benefits, compensation for temporary or permanent disability, and, in instances of fatal accidents, death benefits paid to the deceased worker’s surviving dependents.
Claims for compensation under the LHWCA are often complex matters that can frustrate injured workers and their families during already stressful times. Having experienced New Jersey injury lawyers for dockworkers guiding you through the system and handling the logistics of your claim can make the claims process easier while ensuring you receive the full benefits you’re entitled to.
Dangers NJ Dockworkers Face on the Job
In this profession, work injuries are common due to occupational hazards. The numerous and varied risks dockworkers in New Jersey encounter each day on the job can include:
- Handling hazardous cargo, including toxic chemicals
- Operating or working around heavy machinery such as cranes and forklifts
- Lifting heavy objects repeatedly throughout their shift while loading and unloading vessels
- Being vulnerable to injuries due to falling cargo, crane collapses, fires, and explosions
- Risking injuries from collisions with the many types of moving vehicles in a dock environment
- Working in proximity to the water and in all weather conditions, which can create slip and fall hazards
Dockworkers and other employees who qualify for benefits under the LHWCA are generally entitled to compensation regardless of who is at fault for the accident, but the cause of your injury still matters. Because you can only collect benefits if your injury was work-related, you must document how the damage occurred in the course of your employment.
In certain instances, an investigation of the cause of the accident can reveal negligence on the part of third parties. Through a third-party work injury claim, injured dockworkers may be able to recover compensation not available to them under the LHWCA.
Having seasoned dockworker injury attorneys in Clark, NJ, can help you fully document the cause of your work injury and ensure all potential third-party claimants are considered.
How Team Law Can Help Injured Dockworkers
The New Jersey injury lawyers for dockworkers at Team Law take a comprehensive approach to LHWCA work injury claims. We aim to get you maximum benefits by:
- Using our extensive knowledge of the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act to determine how the nuances of this federal law apply to your claim
- Investigating the specifics of your accident to gather evidence documenting that your injury is work-related
- Identifying and assisting you with claims against any third-party defendants
- Helping you file claims paperwork for LHWCA benefits
- Gathering all documentation of your injuries, medical care, and disability
- Representing you throughout your claim for compensation, including handling interactions with the employer or their insurance company and, if needed, representing you in a hearing
- Advocating for you in the event of disputes, claim denials, or settlement offers that don’t reflect the full benefits you deserve
From start to finish, we’re here to guide you and protect your rights under federal law. You deserve maximum benefits for the injuries you have suffered, and our New Jersey injury lawyers for dockworkers are prepared to secure these benefits for you.
Why Choose Team Law as Your Dockworker Injury Attorneys in Clark, NJ
When you’re looking for attorneys experienced in LHWCA work injury claims, you want Team Law to fight for you. We’ll bring to your claim:
- Decades of experience: For 60+ years, Team Law has assisted the injured across New Jersey.
- A commitment to securing your full benefits: We know you deserve nothing less than the maximum benefits you’re entitled to under federal law, and we’re dedicated to securing these benefits for you.
- Legal services that won’t add to your financial burden: At Team Law, we never charge upfront fees for handling work injury claims under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, ensuring you can get the legal assistance you need despite the hardships caused by your injury.
Let us take up your cause while you focus on recovery.
Contact New Jersey Injury Lawyers for Dockworkers at Team Law Today for a Free Consultation
You need qualified legal assistance to navigate the nuances of a Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act claim. Team Law is standing by to provide advice, support, and skilled legal services.
For help from dockworker injury attorneys in Clark, NJ, contact Team Law online or call us today.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dockworker Injury Claims in New Jersey
Any injuries dockworkers sustain on the job or in the course of their employment can lead to claims under the LHWCA, including injuries arising out of accidents, work-related overexertion, repetitive stress injuries, and occupational illnesses. Certain injuries, such as the loss of specific body parts, may entitle you to additional benefits under federal law.
Examples of the types of injuries our New Jersey injury lawyers for dockworkers assist employees with include:
–Head injuries, such as concussions and traumatic brain injuries
–Limb loss, including amputation arising out of crush injuries
-Spinal cord injuries, which may cause paralysis (partial or complete)
–Broken bones
-Disfiguring lacerations
Whatever injuries you sustained, we’re here to help you receive all the benefits available to you.
Like other maritime workers, injured dockworkers in New Jersey are typically covered under the federal Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act rather than the state workers’ comp system. The benefits they’re entitled to are similar, including medical expenses, partial compensation for lost wages due to disability, and death benefits awarded to survivors. However, there are important differences in the specifics of these benefits as well as the process of securing them. Team Law’s knowledgeable dockworker injury attorneys in Clark, NJ, can help you understand exactly what you’re entitled to under the LHWCA.
Given the physical demands of dockworker duties, injuries can often keep you out of work. Under the LHWCA, you’re entitled to compensation for disability. Depending on the circumstances, you may receive one or more of the following:
-Temporary total disability payments of two-thirds of your average weekly wage while you can’t work temporarily following an accident
-Temporary partial disability payments, amounting to two-thirds of the difference between your average weekly wage before the accident and your average wage now if you can work but not in your usual role or capacity
-Permanent total disability payments, amounting to two-thirds of your weekly wage, for as long as your disability continues if you can’t return to work even after reaching maximum medical improvement
-Permanent partial disability payments, awarded on a scheduled or unscheduled basis, when you are able to return to work but still suffer from permanent injuries that leave you partially disabled
We know how important it is to be able to support your family, which is why we pursue maximum benefits for our injured dockworkers.
Under the LHWCA, you must take specific actions by specific deadlines to preserve your right to seek full benefits for a maritime work injury. For example, you must file Form LS-201, Notice of Employee’s Injury or Death, to formally notify the employer and the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs of the injury within 30 days. You generally need to submit your written claim for compensation via Form LS-203, Employee’s Claim for Compensation, within one year. To ensure you’re prepared to meet all deadlines and begin preparing your claim for success, you should consult experienced New Jersey injury lawyers for dockworkers sooner rather than later.
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