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The Right To Compensation After An Ohio Maritime Injury

After suffering a maritime injury in Ohio, you may be struggling with several questions:

  • How can I be compensated for my injury?
  • Am I responsible for my own medical bills?
  • Will I be paid for lost wages while I’m unable to work?
  • Can my employer be held liable for causing my injury?
  • What if my work vessel was unseaworthy?
  • Should I discuss my situation with a lawyer?

You can learn more about your rights after an Ohio maritime injury in a free legal consultation.

When seeking financial compensation after a maritime injury, it’s important to have an experienced maritime lawyer on your side. We can help. - Laurence Banville

With shores on Lake Erie and numerous rivers throughout the state, Ohio is a key location for marine cargo transportation in the Midwest and Great Lakes region. Throughout the state, tens of thousands of residents work together in these maritime settings to keep Ohio’s economic engine running. In the process, they’re able to provide a comfortable life for themselves and their families.

However, maritime work also has its fair share of risks. These employees are exposed to some inherent hazards on the job, but many offshore and maritime work injuries could have been prevented if it weren’t for the negligence of another party. If you’ve been injured while working as a seaman or crew member of a vessel, you’re entitled to seek damages for such negligence under the Jones Act.

Contact our offshore accident attorneys to learn more. 

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Maritime Work Injury Laws

After suffering a maritime or offshore injury, financial compensation is generally available under one of two maritime laws:

Jones Act

Maritime workers may recover financial compensation under the Jones Act if they meet the law’s definition of a “seaman”. This generally applies to anyone who spends at least 30% of their work time contributing to the function of an eligible vessel on navigable waters.

In any Jones Act claim, eligible workers can recover no-fault maintenance and cure benefits. These benefits provide financial compensation for necessary living expenses (like rent/mortgage, utility bills, food, etc.) and medical bills up until the point where the injured worker has reached full medical recovery.

Jones Act workers can also seek additional compensation if some form of negligence played a role in their injury or if their work vessel is determined to be unseaworthy. Anytime an employer fails to keep their work environment safe for their employees, he or she may be considered negligent and held liable for damages. When a vessel contains a defective or dangerous condition, the vessel owner may also be held liable for damages related to the injury.

Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA)

Maritime workers who do not meet the Jones Act definition of a seaman may instead seek compensation under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act. This Act provides benefits for expenses related to an injury, including:

  • Lost wages
  • Medical expenses
  • Vocational rehabilitation services
  • Death benefits

Unlike a Jones Act claim, the LHWCA does not consider negligence. This is a no-fault form of insurance, similar to a state-level workers’ compensation claim but made at the federal level. However, recovering compensation under the LHWCA involves the complexities of maritime law and greatly differs from a state-level claim.

Busiest Ports In Ohio

Ohio has a total of 10 ports, which vary in size and function. Some of the most important ports in Ohio include:

Port of Cleveland

Located on Lake Erie at the mouth of the Cuyahoga River, the Port of Cleveland is the third-largest port on the Great Lakes. This port handles an average of 13 million tons of cargo each year, including steel, wind, and turbine components as well as various other bulk products. About 17,800 jobs are either directly or indirectly related to port functions, with over $1 billion in personal income generated through these jobs.

Port of Lorain

Also located on Lake Erie, but at the mouth of the Black River, the Port of Lorain is a central shipping center for the Midwest. Top cargoes that move through this port include iron ore, coal, limestone, gravel, sand, and stone.

Port of Toledo

The Port of Toledo is one of the most important seaports on the Great Lakes, and also the largest one by area. It functions as an inland distribution center and has trade partners in Mexico, Canada, Europe, Russia, and Asia. This port has facilities capable of handling all types of cargo, including bulk, break-bulk, containers, and project cargo. The Port of Toledo is responsible for nearly 7,000 direct, indirect, and induced jobs – including over 2,500 which are directly involved with marine cargo and vessel activity.

Taking Legal Action After An Injury

If you or a loved one has recently suffered a serious maritime or offshore injury in Ohio, it’s important to be aware of your right to financial compensation. However, determining which maritime law applies to you and actually receiving the compensation you deserve can be difficult. Maritime law is a complex and highly specialized field, and you’ll be going up against powerful insurance companies with teams of skilled lawyers. In order to give yourself a fair chance in court, it’s usually necessary to have your own experienced maritime lawyer who understands how these claims work.

You can find out more about your options without a commitment by speaking with a lawyer in a free consultation. Additionally, our maritime lawyers work on contingency fees, which means you pay nothing unless you win.

See Related Reading: Financial Compensation For Michigan Maritime and Offshore Injuries

About the Author
Paul
About Paul
Editor: Paul is a staff editor who focuses on bringing you the most important legal news regarding cases of sexual assault, drunk driving, and preventable violence. Contact Paul: paul@legalherald.com This article was fact checked prior to publishing by this author to ensure compliance with our rigorous editorial standards. We will only use authoritative sources. Our values compel us to provide only trustworthy information. If you find an error, please contact us.
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