What is the Longshoreman Act?

A:

The Longshoreman Act is a short-hand term for the Longshore & Harbor Workers Compensation Act (LHWCA).  It is a federal law that applies to longshoremen, generally defined as people who work on the docks loading and unloading boats moving cargo around and into, off of and around boats and docks.

The LHWCA provides compensation to longshoremen injured or disabled on the job for such things as medical care and vocational rehabilitation services.  If a longshoreman dies while at work, the LHWCA provides survivor death benefits to any dependents, as long as the work injury contributed to the employees death.

Benefits provided under the LHWCA are typically paid for by a private insurance company or a self-insured employer – not the employer themselves.  This means that you have a claim under the LHWCA, you’ll have to deal with the insurance company adjuster.  This is something that we can help you with.