When you’re injured at sea, you can take legal action to recover the damages that you’ve suffered. And doing so could be critical to your recovery and your future, since an injury on a vessel can leave you with painful, long-lasting harm that affects your mobility and your mental health, and medical expenses can quickly accumulate at a time when your wages dry up due to an inability to work. As you navigate your claim, then, you need to ensure that you understand the law and gather sufficient evidence to prove your case.
That said, at the moment you might be more concerned about what you can actually get out of your case. That’s an important consideration, since it’ll drive your negotiating tactics and help you decide when you should settle your case. If negotiations are unsuccessful, then knowing your recovering damages will help you figure out the best way to present your case to recover as much compensation as possible. So, let’s look at what could be recoverable in your Jones Act or other maritime law case so that you can get to work developing your legal strategy.
What can you recover from a maritime injury lawsuit?
The protection provided to you under the law is significant. As you navigate your maritime injury claim, then, you should be sure to advocate for the following damages:
- Medical expenses: If successful on your claim, then you should be compensated for medical care necessary to reach maximum medical improvement. Be sure to listen to your doctor so that you fully understand their treatment recommendations and prognosis so that you can seek appropriate follow up care to both advance your recovery and to generate the evidence needed to show the true extent of the physical harm caused to you.
- Shelter costs: While you’re receiving medical treatment, you should be provided compensation for your shelter costs, just like how your employer would cover those costs if you were still aboard the vessel on which you work. This support should continue until you reach maximum medical improvement, too.
- Lost wages: If you’re aggressive in your case and win, then there’s a good chance that you’ll be awarded compensation for wages that have been lost due to your injuries. Keep in mind that this can include any lost benefits as well as any anticipated lost wages and benefits.
- Lost earnings capacity: A lot of maritime injuries result in such severe harm that they inhibit the victim’s ability to return to their job or advance in their career. When this is the case, you might be able to secure compensation for diminished earnings capacity.
- Pain and suffering: The pain that you experience after a maritime injury can be excruciating, and it can linger for a long time. It can also leave you with psychological turmoil that feels crushing on a daily basis. Fortunately, you might be able to recover compensation for these injuries, thereby giving you the financial resources needed to secure the help that you require.
Don’t lose out in your maritime injury case
You might think that the information in this post is straightforward, but you’d be surprised at how many injured individuals miss their opportunity to secure the compensation that they truly deserve. So, as you develop your maritime injury case, be sure to fully assess the facts not only of the accident itself, but also of your injuries. Take a comprehensive approach here, too, so that you don’t miss something that you could use to your advantage. By being diligent and aggressive, you’ll hopefully develop a strategy that positions you for the successful outcome that you seek.