SAN DIEGO SHIP, DOCK & LONGSHORE WORKERS’ COMPENSATION CLAIMS
San Diego is nothing if not a coastal dock city. Our harbor is home to various longshoreman and dock workers, and The Law Office of Matthew Russell is proud to offer these workers’ protection in case of an injury. Our San Diego law firm offers workers’ compensation representation for longshoreman and dock workers who got injured on the job.
WORKERS’ COMPENSATION LAWYER FOR LONGSHOREMAN & DOCK WORKERS
As a longshoreman or dock worker, your job can often be strenuous and sometimes even dangerous. If you are injured on the job, you may be entitled to benefits and/or compensation from your employer through workers compensation claims and workers compensation benefits. Your injury may be covered by the Longshoreman and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, which is specific to shipping and docking industries. The Longshoreman and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act allows longshoremen and dock workers to file for workers’ compensation if anything were to happen while on the job.
HURT AT WORK IN SAN DIEGO? NO FEE UNLESS WE WIN CASH FOR YOU. CALL TODAY AT (619) 544-1506
What Types of Longshoreman and Dock Workers Injuries are Covered?
Repetitive Motion Injuries
Longshoremen and dock workers can oftentimes sustain repetitive motion injuries (RMIs) from lifting heavy objects, reaching, pulling, and bending. This can result in muscle strains and pulls, or even more serious injuries.
Slip and Fall Injuries
Docks can oftentimes get wet and slippery, and this can lead to slip and fall injuries. If you are a longshoreman or dock worker who slips or falls on the job, the resulting injury will usually be covered by workers’ compensation.
Machinery-Related Injuries
On the docks, you are constantly working with complex machinery, and one misstep can result in an injury. If you get injured operating machinery workers’ compensation should cover all expenses. This includes getting electrocuted in a machinery-related accident.
Drowning
If you fall in the water and sustain some type of drowning-related injury, you will be eligible for workers’ compensation. If a loved one has passed away as a result of drowning, you need to file a claim for compensation as soon as possible.
What Should I Do If I Suffer an Injury While Working?
If you are injured while working as a longshoreman or dock worker, you need to follow these steps to make sure you get the compensation you deserve.
1. INFORM YOUR SUPERIOR ASAP
The second you sustain the injury, make sure you contact your immediate supervisor or representative as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the easier it will be to misrepresent facts and what happened, which opens the possibility of your workers’ compensation claim getting denied.
2. GET MEDICAL ATTENTION ASAP
A crucial part of the workers’ compensation claim process is getting medical attention as soon as possible. You need a medical expert to assess your injury and write out a detailed report that explains how long it will be until you return to work. If you wait a few days, you could be accused of not properly treating the injury and allowing it to worsen.
3. GET AUTHORIZATION FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT
Once you have seen a doctor, they likely will provide a treatment plan. You are entitled to choose your own physician, but you should ask your employer to approve the physician and treatment. Your employer should pay for all medical treatment, so it is important to communicate with them regarding what the treatment process will look like.
4. CONTACT A WORKERS’ COMPENSATION ATTORNEY
You need to get in contact with a workers’ compensation attorney as soon as possible. If you wait, you may make crucial mistakes during the workers’ compensation claim process that can impact the type of settlement you are eligible for. You need to have an expert by your side who can successfully navigate all of the paperwork and legal responsibilities needed to successfully file a claim.
WORKERS’ COMPENSATION CLAIMS FOR SHIP, DOCK OR LONGSHORE WORKERS
The Law Office of Matthew Russell are the San Diego Workers’ Compensation experts, with decades of experience in each and every different kind of case and claim. Call the Law Office of Matthew Russell at (619) 544-1506 for more information about the types of claims you can file if you are a shipping, dock, or maritime worker. We are ready to get you the workers’ compensation benefits you deserve!