Were you or a family member injured in a maritime accident in Dundalk, MD? Recovering compensation can be a challenge. An experienced Dundalk maritime accident lawyer at WGK Personal Injury Lawyers can help you fight to recover full compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and other injury-related losses.
Our lawyers have over 80 years of combined legal experience. We’ve used that experience and our dedication to recover tens of millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts.
If you were injured, give our law offices in Dundalk, Maryland, a call at (410) 970-3080 or contact us online today. You can schedule a free consultation with a lawyer who can help you get the money you need and deserve.
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How WGK Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Maritime Accident in Dundalk
Having a skilled Dundalk personal injury attorney by your side can make a huge difference in your case. Our lawyers at WGK Personal Injury Lawyers have decades of experience handling complicated claims. We know what to expect and how to protect you at every turn.
When you hire our law firm to represent you, you can count on a lawyer who will:
- Investigate, gather evidence, and determine the laws that apply in your case
- Explore all options for recovering compensation under state and federal law
- Determine how much compensation you deserve to receive
- Handle the paperwork and ensure you don’t miss any deadlines
- Protect you if you’re blamed or pushed to return to work too soon
- Negotiate for a full settlement that accounts for all of your losses
- Handle any appeals and represent you if your claim is defined
Maritime injury cases can be especially complex. Contact our Dundalk personal injury attorneys to learn more about how we can fight for you starting today.
How Much Money Is My Dundalk Maritime Accident Case Worth?
Like any personal injury case, the amount of money you recover depends entirely on the facts.
Some key considerations in assessing your case value include:
- The nature of your injuries
- The length of your recovery period
- Whether your earning capacity remains impaired after reaching maximum medical improvement
- Your prior earnings history
- Whether you can earn income by performing light duty work during recovery
- The laws that govern your case
- Your medical treatment costs and other expenses
The only way to truly understand how much your case is worth is to consult an experienced attorney. Even in cases involving the Jones Act or workers’ compensation laws, the insurance company won’t simply hand over a fair check.
How Do I Go About Recovering Compensation After a Maritime Injury in Dundalk?
Most injured workers in Maryland file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits. However, different laws govern most maritime injury cases. You’re still entitled to pursue compensation. The first step, however, is to determine the laws that apply in your case.
Maritime Injury Claims Under The Jones Act
Maritime workers who qualify as “seamen” can file a claim for compensation under the federal Jones Act. Only certain maritime workers qualify for compensation under the Jones Act.
Under federal law, a seaman is a maritime worker who either:
- Has a direct and substantial connection to a seagoing vessel or
- Plays a significant role in a seagoing vessel’s function or mission
Generally speaking, if you spend at least 30% of your time working aboard a seagoing vessel, you’ll qualify for seaman status. However, it’s not automatic.
What if I Don’t Qualify for Damages Under the Jones Act?
Because not all injured maritime workers qualify as seamen, different laws have been developed to provide a safety net. One of those laws is the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, or LHWCA.
You may qualify for LHWCA benefits if you work in the maritime industry, including in:
- Docks, piers, or wharves
- Shipping areas
- Shipyards
- Shipping terminals
- Areas where seagoing vessels are loaded and unloaded
- The navigable waters in a non-seaman capacity
So, you can qualify for LHWCA benefits even if you spend a large portion of your time on land adjacent to the Atlantic.
Do I Have the Right to Sue for Damages Under Maryland Personal Injury Laws?
It depends on the circumstances of your injury. You generally can’t sue your employer for damages. However, if a negligent third party was responsible for your injuries, you may have a valid state law personal injury case.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Maritime Accident Victims in Dundalk?
The types of damages you can recover in a maritime injury case depend on the applicable laws and the circumstances.
Damages Under the Jones Act
With Jones Act claims, you can recover damages for “maintenance and cure,” which means compensation for:
- Reasonable living expenses during your recovery
- Your reasonable medical expenses
Additional damages may be available if you can prove that your employer failed to maintain the vessel in seaworthy condition. These damages are similar to those that are available in negligence cases.
When your employer was negligent, you can seek compensation under the Jones Act for things like pain, suffering, trauma, and inconvenience. In other words, you can pursue non-economic damages in addition to basic economic damages.
LHWCA Benefits
Benefits under the LHWCA may include:
- Wage replacement benefits or disability benefits
- Medical expenses
- Vocational rehabilitation
- Death benefits for survivors of fatal maritime accidents
In other words, LHWCA benefits are similar to those provided under Maryland workers’ compensation laws.
Damages in Personal Injury Cases
Victims have the right to pursue compensation for economic and non-economic damages, including:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Rehabilitation
- Nursing care
- Pain and suffering
- Mental trauma
- PTSD
- Disfigurement
- Loss of consortium in fatal injury cases
In rare cases, punitive damages may be available to punish a defendant for especially shocking behavior.
Our Lawyers in Dundalk Handle All Types of Maritime Injury Claims
Our team at WGK Personal Injury Lawyers can help if you were injured in:
- Cargo ship accidents
- Shipyard accidents
- Commercial fishing boat accidents
- Offshore oil rig accidents
- Jack-up rig accidents
- Accidents involving marine cranes and other heavy machinery
- Tugboat accidents
- Oil tanker accidents
- Slip and fall accidents on a ship deck, terminals, and wharves
- Barge accidents
- Diving support vessel accidents
- Cruise ship accidents
If you were hurt, don’t hesitate to reach out for legal advice today. We’ll do everything we can to help you recover the compensation you deserve.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Maritime Injury Lawyer in Dundalk?
Our lawyers at WGK Personal Injury Lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. When you hire us, you’ll agree to pay a portion of the compensation we recover in your case. You’ll only have to pay if we win compensation for you.
Can I Recover Damages If I’m Being Blamed for a Maritime Accident in Maryland?
Shared fault is a huge issue in personal injury cases. Under Maryland’s contributory negligence system, you lose your right to damages if you’re even slightly responsible for your own injuries.
Shared fault is less relevant in cases involving the Jones Act or LHWCA. These statutory systems aren’t based on fault. It’s your status as a maritime worker that qualifies you for benefits after a work-related injury.
We’ll Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Maritime Accident Injuries
Our Dundalk maritime accident attorneys can help regardless of the nature of your injuries.
We often handle injury cases involving:
- Broken bones
- Concussions
- Traumatic brain injuries and other head trauma
- Shoulder injuries
- Soft tissue damage
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Puncture wounds
- Hypothermia
- Occupational diseases
- Repetitive stress injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Organ damage
- Chest injuries
- Burns
- Amputations
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
Are you struggling with painful injuries after a workplace accident? Call our team for a free case review today. We’ll do everything we can to get the compensation you need.
What Causes Most Maritime Accidents in Dundalk?
Like any accident, most maritime accidents happen because of negligence.
Some common causes include:
- Missing or damaged safety equipment
- Equipment malfunction
- Slips and falls
- Falls from heights
- Failure to communicate
- Unseaworthy conditions aboard the vessel
- Damaged or defective work equipment
- Falls overboard
- Electrocutions
- Fires or explosions
- Exposure to toxic substances
- Inadequate training and supervision
- Negligent hiring
- Bad weather conditions
You deserve to know why your injuries occurred. When we know who was responsible, we can identify all of your options for recovering compensation.
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim for Compensation After a Maritime Accident in Maryland?
The deadline will depend on the laws in your case. You should always notify your supervisor as soon as you can.
Under the Jones Act, you have three years from the date of your injury to file a claim. LHWCA claims require that notice be given within 30 days. Under Maryland state law, you have three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit.
Contact a Dundalk Maritime Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation Today
Maritime injury cases often involve complex federal, state, or admiralty laws. An experienced Dundalk maritime accident lawyer can help you through the entire legal process. Contact WGK Personal Injury Lawyers to learn more today.