Alaska Maritime Lawyers

The state of Alaska plays a major role in the national maritime industry. Though Alaska is sparsely populated—fewer than a million people live here, the largest U.S. state by area—its maritime sector is formidable, with more than 70,000 employees, many of them involved in the harvesting and processing of seafood. There are also no fewer than 58 ports across the state; among the most active of these are the ports of Anchorage, Juneau, Valdez, Nikiski, and Ketchikan.

For a lot of Alaskans, the maritime field provides not just a job but a career that lasts decades. It can be a rewarding line of work—but also a demanding one. Sadly, on-the-job injuries are far from uncommon and can lead to lifelong complications for victims of these incidents.

For those who have been seriously hurt in Alaska maritime or offshore accidents, legal assistance is available at Schechter, Shaffer & Harris, L.L.P. Our team of Jones Act and admiralty lawyers have obtained sizable settlements for many maritime personnel who have suffered through injury or illness due to the negligence of their employer, as well as, the survivors of those lost in Alaskan waters.

Maritime Personal Injury Cases

There’s no doubt that maritime employment can be tough on the body. Crews on seafaring vessels must confront a wide variety of perils on a daily basis. Weather conditions can intensify with little warning. Cargo may contain dangerous chemicals or gases. Workers can fall from an elevated platform or be struck by an object that falls from one of these. The list of hazards is quite long.

Maritime employees can experience a multitude of injuries. Here are some of the more common cases that our maritime accident lawyers see:

• Spinal cord injuries
• Head and brain injuries
• Skin burns
• Compartment Syndrome
• Amputation
• Frostbite and hypothermia
• Pleural disorders

Now, let’s take a look at the avenues for financial compensation that are available to injured seamen.

Maintenance and Cure

A standard component of general maritime law for generations, maintenance and cure is a form of financial compensation that seamen can qualify for regardless of the degree of blame they bear for the accident. It is really two types of compensation that are each paid out to seamen. “Maintenance” refers to the payments made to the seamen to provide them with basic living expenses while they recover. “Cure” is recompense for medical expenses (such as medications).

If maritime employees can prove that their injuries are the fault of another party, then additional legal options open up to them.

Other Types of Maritime Personal Injury Compensation

Maritime law consists of a number of statutes that cover a wide spectrum of employment activities and environments. It can be difficult to determine which law governs your particular case; that’s one reason why it’s so important to contact a maritime injury attorney as soon as possible.