People frequently do not immediately link workplace accidents with the Maritime industry when they think about them. Unfortunately, working on a ship or boat injures thousands of men and women every year. You never know what accident you may encounter while working as a marine engineer. After a major workplace accident, Phillips Law Office, a personal injury law company in Illinois, will fight tenaciously for your entitlement to compensation. Maritime personnel sustains injuries frequently because of lax safety regulations and disregard for established procedures.

Daily risks and perils are part of working in crowded ports or on ships that must travel through some risky seas. You risk getting wounded at work if you work in this industry in Illinois. There are multiple reasons behind injuries during maritime work:

• Unsafe working conditions
• Personal negligence
• Employer’s negligence
• Bad weather condition

Knowing your rights is crucial if you’ve suffered a maritime injury. The legal staff at our Phillips Law Office, working as a personal injury law firm, will vigorously pursue reimbursement for your medical costs and other associated losses on your behalf. Don’t wait to contact one of our personal injury attorneys; you need an experienced advocate fighting for your rights. To learn more about who we are and what we do to ensure that victims of accidents on boats or ships receive the compensation they deserve, contact us.

Brief about Illinois Ports

The Illinois International Port District, a collection of terminals, ports, and docks, is a major port in the state of Illinois. The major port in the region is the Port of Chicago, but there are other significant ports as well. For instance, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers maintains Calumet Harbor, a bustling port, in good condition.

The ports of Illinois have several terminals and harbors with berths for shipping and storing liquid and dry cargo. The Illinois International Port District also runs a Foreign Trade Zone here. Despite Illinois’ remote location so far inland, this region serves as a point of entry for international ships that may travel straight up from the ocean without stopping at other terminals.

What dangers do marine engineers face during maritime work?

There are different dangerous situations marine engineers may face during maritime work. Some of these are-

Port Accidents

One error by the crane operator can lead to a drop or swing and injure someone on the ground. Working in Illinois ports can be extremely risky because these are busy locations with plenty of machinery and moving parts.

Tractors, forklifts, and vehicles pose threats as well in ports. Accidents involving these vehicles, which must transport passengers and cargo throughout the port, are relatively unusual. Such situations have resulted in the strike, injury, or death of numerous port workers.

Ship Accidents

Ships entering ports, especially in Illinois ports, face some hazardous situations. Traveling through the congested, relatively small waters of the Mississippi River and St. Lawrence Seaway is challenging. Sometimes, people are wounded when a ship is grounded, sinks, or collides with another ship or item. Additionally, these mishaps may result in chemical or oil leaks that seriously impact the environment.

It is extremely risky to operate and go down the Mississippi River. Barge workers risk falling into the sea, being struck by flying debris, catching fires, or suffering injuries when handling docking lines.

Understanding Maritime Law

When you face maritime injury, it is important that you have a basic understanding of maritime law. A maritime injury attorney handles certain cases, including the Jones Act and maritime law. In the United States, freshwaters along its coasts, including the Gulf of Mexico, maritime law regulates concerns, including ships, shipping, insurance claims, and civil disputes.

If a worker is hurt at sea, maritime law is used. Unlike personal injury and workers ‘ compensation laws, this law does not apply to occurrences that occur on land. When employees meet the Jones Act requirements, their individual rights are protected. A marine attorney may file a lawsuit on behalf of an injured employee under the Jones Act.

What is the Jones Act?

The Jones Act is a negligence law first enacted in 1915 to defend the rights of crew members who were hurt or ill while doing their jobs. Its status displays an extraordinarily low burden of proof: any employer/boat owner’s negligence that results in or aids in a crew member’s injury, no matter how minor, is enough to establish culpability.

Under the Jones Act, seamen, or individuals who spend significant time working as crew or captain on a ship or boat in navigation, get complete protection.

Damages that are covered under the Jones Act are-

• Past and future medical expenses
• Pain and suffering
• Lost earnings and future wage losses
• Living expenses during your recovery
• Mental anguish and humiliation
• The inability to engage in recreational activities.
• Fear of future surgery

What are the Legal Rights of Illinois Maritime Workers?

Anyone employed in Illinois’ maritime industry knows all too well the risk of workplace mishaps and the ensuing injuries. You risk losing your life daily if you work in ports, on ships, small cruise ships, or barges traveling down the Mississippi. Federal statutes guarantee that maritime employees can file claims for compensation for job injuries. If a maritime worker passes away, their family members get full compensation.

Different laws apply to various vocations and circumstances. For instance, you may be entitled to compensation under the Jones Act if you work aboard a ship and your injury was caused in part or entirely by your employer’s negligence. To know the complete legal rights of Illinois maritime workers, it is best to contact Phillips Law Office for assistance.

What is the compensation covered under the Maritime Injury?

Our skilled legal team will vigorously pursue full compensation on your behalf, including:

Lost wages – It include the cash you haven’t made since your accident kept you from working. This can include compensation for lost wages, bonuses, and any other monetary obligations brought on by a work-related injury.

Medical costs – These are expenses for pharmaceuticals or medical care for work-related ailments that a doctor has approved.

Loss of benefits – You are also entitled to compensation for any losses incurred because of any benefits you may have paid through your work, such as 401K plans, unpaid vacation days, flexible spending accounts, etc.

How can Maritime Injury Lawyers at Phillips Law Office help?

The Phillips Law Office doesn’t limit its analysis to your recent losses. We evaluate the potential losses you may face in the future because of the ongoing impacts of what you’re dealing with, and we work to ensure that you continue to receive the compensation you would have received had your workplace injury not occurred.

In each case, we aim to make the system operate in the seaman’s favor while also delivering justice to deserving, hard-working people.

We work with the mission to assist victims in obtaining the just compensation they are due under the Jones Act and other maritime statutes.

Also Read:

Understanding Workers’ Compensation Benefits

Construction Accidents And Workers’ Comp In Chicago

Five Common Mistakes Made By Those Injured at Work

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