Hurt by a Shipyard Injury?

Shipyard workers have one of the most dangerous occupations in the United States. According to the U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), the shipyard industry has had one of the highest rates of injuries than any other industry for numerous years. The statistics compiled by OSHA show that a shipyard worker has a 1 in 3 chance of sustaining a work injury every year and a 1 in 10 chance of being injured so severely, that he or she cannot work.

If you are a shipyard worker, you know firsthand what types of dangers are present within the industry. Shipyard workers perform a variety of tasks, including fabricating and repairing large steel plates, beams and pipes, painting, electrical work and welding. Employees within the shipyard industry have been known to suffer the following types of injuries:

• Back injuries
• Knee injuries
• Eye injuries
• Broken bones
• Sprains
• Work-related illnesses, such as asbestosis or mesothelioma

For the most part, shipyard injuries are protected by the Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act (LHWCA), which is a federal law that allows an injured worker to receive income, paid medical expenses and therapy for a work injury. The LHWCA protects employees in traditional maritime occupations, such as longshoremen, ship repairers, shipbuilders, ship breakers and harbor workers.

The Longshore Harbor Workers Compensation Act allows injured workers to file claims for up to a year following the accident that led to the injury. It is therefore crucial that you contact a Houston maritime attorney if you have been injured in a shipyard accident. There are also various laws that provide protection for maritime workers and a maritime injury lawyer will be able to determine which one applies to your case.

Call the experienced maritime attorneys today at the Houston law office of Vujasinovic & Beckcom P.L.L.C. at 713.224.7800 or 877.724.7800 for legal advice. We are experienced lawyers who can help you recover compensation for your shipyard injuries.