Portland Maritime Lawyers

Portland, Oregon, is the heart and soul of the 150-mile-long Willamette Valley and the largest city in the state. As one of the biggest ports in the country, it provides plenty of opportunities for people who seek employment in the maritime sector. But this line or work is not without its dangers. Employees in this industry routinely work in hazardous conditions, with dangers ranging from toxic chemicals to heavy mobile equipment. Maritime personal injury cases are all too common.

Help is available for maritime employees who have been seriously hurt while on the job. The nationally based maritime law firm of Schechter, Shaffer & Harris, L.L.P., is staffed by personal injury lawyers who have years of experience with offshore accidents and related matters. Our maritime accident lawyers serve clients in Portland, OR as well as other regions throughout the U.S.

Common Maritime Injuries

Maritime employees can get injured—even killed—in a variety of ways. Some accidents are caused by poor weather conditions, some by malfunctioning equipment, and others by falling objects—the list goes on and on. Our maritime lawyers have seen a wide variety of injuries, such as:

• Spinal cord and back injuries
• Amputation
• Brain damage
• Compartment Syndrome
• Lung disorders
• Hypothermia
• Frostbite
• Skin burns
• Tug, Barge and Dredge Injuries

This is only a partial list of injuries and ailments associated with maritime work. If you suffer from any of these conditions, or have sustained another type of injury not listed above, contact our admiralty lawyers at once.

How to Get Maintenance and Cure

Virtually every injured seaman is eligible to get the form of compensation known as maintenance and cure. This is given out (on a weekly or biweekly basis) regardless of who is responsible for the incident that led to the injury in question. It is actually two separate types of compensation:

• Maintenance – Payments intended to cover the basic cost of living during the injured person’s period of recovery.
• Cure – Payments intended as compensation for medical bills and expenses.

Sometimes injured workers have difficulty getting the full amount of maintenance and cure that the law is designed to provide. That’s why it is useful to retain the services of a maritime accident lawyer who can help you get the compensation you deserve.

Other Kinds of Compensation

In cases where the injury can be shown to have been caused by another’s negligence, it is possible to collect additional compensation. There are multiple laws on the books that govern these kinds of cases, and it is not always obvious which law is relevant to a given incident.