Longshore and harbor workers who are injured while at work may be protected under the Longshore and Harbor Worker’s Compensation Act (LHWCA). It provides similar benefits to a state’s worker’s compensation insurance program. However, the payable benefits are generally more when claimed through the LHWCA.

Some of the claimable benefits allowed under the LHWCA include:

• Medical Care and Treatment Expenses
• Long- and Short-Term Disability Payments
• Vocational Job Retraining Expenses
• Death and Funeral Expenses

There are specific qualification criteria used to determine when a person qualifies for benefits through the LHWCA. Typically, anyone who works in the maritime industry and performs job duties in a harbor or on a pier, dock, or shipping terminal that was on or near navigable waters is protected by the LHWCA.

However, not all workers are always covered, depending on their exact job duties and functions. Furthermore, some maritime employees may be covered by other federal maritime laws and acts, such as the Jones Act.

For further information about the LHWCA, different maritime jobs that may be covered, and other details, we encourage you to continue reading and reviewing the following infographic.

Afterward, if you need help navigating the complexities of claiming benefits for an on-the-job injury, it is highly recommended to seek legal advice and assistance from the qualified maritime lawyers at Maintenance and Cure, part of the law firm of Schechter, Shaffer, & Harris, L.L.P. Please feel free to contact us directly to speak to a lawyer today!