Seattle Longshore & Ship Port Injury Attorneys

While state Workers’ Compensation laws significantly restrict an injured longshore worker’s legal options for pursuing a claim against their own employer, federal law permits injured longshoremen to file a lawsuit against a third-party which is not the worker’s direct employer.

Under Section 905(b) of the Longshore Harbor Workers Compensation Act (LHWCA), longshoremen are permitted to “seek damages in a third-party negligence action against the owner of the vessel on which he was injured.”

Furthermore, the United States Supreme Court has officially recognized three individual duties owed to longshoremen by the actual owners of a vessel: 1) the “turnover duty” which relates to the condition of the ship upon the commencement of stevedoring operations; 2) the “active control” duty, which applies once stevedoring operations have begun and provides that a shipowner must use reasonable care to prevent injuries to longshoremen in areas that remain under the active control of the vessel; and 3) the “duty to intervene,” which concerns the vessel’s obligations with regard to cargo operations in areas under principal control of the independent stevedore.”

While these issues are some of the primary factors to be considered when investigating a potential longshore worker’s injury claim, there are a host of potential legal issues that may arise when a longshore worker is seriously injured on the job.

These cases are much more complex than and involve a variety of federal and state regulations that are not applicable to the average personal injury case. It may also be necessary to hire a number of experts who will support the

If you or a loved one has been injured on a ship, dock, pier, or otherwise in the course of maritime duties, it may be in your best interests to consult with an experienced longshoremen injury attorney. Contact the attorneys at Davis Law Group Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers today to have your case reviewed for free and learn more about your legal rights and options for recovering financial compensation.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured while working as a longshore employee at a pier, dock, or port, contact Seattle’s top-rated personal injury attorneys at Davis Law Group Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers for a free no-obligation case review. Our attorneys have represented a variety of maritime injury victims and can help you better understand your legal rights and options for recovering fair compensation in Washington state.

Once we review your case, we will meet with you for a free legal consultation if we believe we can improve the chances of a favorable outcome in your case. Call our office in Seattle at 206 727 4000 or use the confidential contact form on this page to have your case reviewed by our award-winning legal team.