Maritime law includes several different protections through various laws and acts that contain provisions for how maritime personal injury claims are to be handled. One such act that can be of use Admiralty Extension Act for dockworkers and longshoremen is the Admiralty Extension Act (AEA).
The AEA extends admiralty jurisdiction inland so that it provides protection for personal injuries which occur on land, but which were the direct result of the vessel or some appendage or equipment that is part of the vessel.
For instance, a dockworker is accidentally struck by an anchor and sustains serious injuries. The AEA provides protection so the victim or their family could file an injury claim against the ship’s operator and ship’s owner.
In addition, the AEA provides other protections for dockworkers and longshoremen that are loading or unloading cargo from a vessel, as well as storing cargo onboard a vessel. People are also protected if they are on a bridge and the vessel causes damages and injuries. Furthermore, damages and injuries caused by a vessel to a pier or people on a pier are covered under the AEA.
How to Know Which Maritime Law or Act Applies to Your Injuries
When you are injured while in the service of a vessel, working on a dock or in a harbor, or performing some other job function near a ship, there are different laws and acts for specific situations and circumstances. Aside from the AEA, other acts that might apply could include:
- The Jones Act
- Longshore and Harbor Worker’s Compensation Act (LHWCA)
- Death on the High Seas Act (DOHSA)
- Admiralty Extension Act (AEA)
- Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA)
- Suits in Admiralty Act (SAA)
- Public Vessels Act (PVA)
In order to determine which laws and/or acts apply and which ones you can file claims against, it is in your best interests to speak with a maritime lawyer as soon as possible. There are specific deadlines and statute of limitations for submitting claims against the responsible party or parties.
If you or a loved one has been injured, and you want to know your legal rights and options, please feel free to contact the maritime lawyers at Maintenance and Cure, part of Schechter, Shaffer & Harris, L.L.P. at 1-800-836-5830 now!
