Longshore Workers’ Compensation

Longshore and harbor work is dangerous but vital to our nation’s security and shipping supply. Considering this, the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) was put into place at the federal level to secure medical care, vocational rehabilitation, and other services to employees who are disabled, injured, or even killed on the job within the navigable waters of the United States.

Why was the LHWCA created?

The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) was created in the United States to provide compensation and benefits to maritime workers who are injured or become ill while working on navigable waters or in maritime-related occupations. The primary purpose of the LHWCA is to ensure that workers in these industries have access to medical care, wage replacement, and rehabilitation services in case of work-related injuries or illnesses.

The LHWCA was enacted in 1927, largely in response to concerns about the hazardous nature of maritime work and the lack of adequate compensation and support for injured workers. Prior to its enactment, maritime workers faced difficulties in obtaining compensation for workplace injuries due to a complex legal landscape and varying state laws. The LHWCA standardized the process of providing benefits to injured workers and created a federal system for addressing compensation claims related to maritime employment.

By establishing a uniform system for providing benefits and addressing claims, the LHWCA aimed to ensure that injured maritime workers could receive appropriate medical treatment and financial support without having to navigate the complexities of different state laws. Over the years, the LHWCA has been amended and updated to reflect changes in the maritime industry and to improve the benefits and protections provided to workers.

Who is Covered by LHWCA?

The LHWCA covers maritime occupations. This includes but is not limited to longshore workers, ship-repair workers, ship-builders and breakers, and harbor construction workers. To have your injury covered, you must have been injured on the navigable waters of the United States or within immediately adjoining areas like docks and terminals.

What Does LHWCA Cover?

Covered employees who are injured on the job can expect to receive financial compensation for time away from work, medical care, rehabilitation, vocational retraining, and in the event of an employee’s death, benefits to survivors.

Why You Need an Attorney

Longshore work is dangerous, and injuries are common. Considering that a workplace injury within the navigable waters of the United States represents an intersection of federal law and private companies, claims can quickly get complicated, and bureaucracy can seem all-consuming. An experienced longshore workers’ compensation attorney can help secure the financial support an injured party needs with as little headache as possible. Rendon & Associates has been serving injured longshore workers in Texas for more than three decades.

We are experienced in this nuanced area of workplace injury, and we are the team you want by your side.

Call us today to discuss the details of your situation. We can advise you on the most effective next steps and represent you when filing a claim. Do not face this situation alone.