Injured In A Maritime Job Or On A Kentucky Waterway?

Riverboat Workers • Longshoremen • Boaters And Fishermen

Kentucky has more than 1,000 miles of navigable waters and some of the busiest inland ports in the country. Thousands of people use those waterways, from riverboat commerce on the Ohio River to boating and fishing on Kentucky Lake. All too often, those activities lead to injuries and deaths.

Accidents on rivers, lakes and harbors are covered by special laws. It is important to work with a lawyer who understands your rights and how to advocate for your full compensation. Godwin, Morris, Laurenzi & Bloomfield, P.C., handles maritime injury claims throughout Kentucky. Trial lawyer Lee J. (Jeff) Bloomfield has decades of experience in this niche area of law and personally shepherds your case.

Maritime Injuries And Jones Act Claims

We represent maritime workers employed in the riverboat trades: barges and towing companies, tankers, fishing boats, tour boats or any commercial vessel. If you are injured on the job in navigable waters, you may be covered by the federal Jones Act. These laws take the place of workers’ compensation, and in many ways are more favorable.

Injured workers, under the Jones Act, are entitled to:

• Maintenance and cure – The employer pays your lost wages and living expenses while you are off the job and pays all related medical expenses. These benefits are payable without regard to fault if you were injured while working.
• Personal injury compensation – The Jones Act allows you to sue for additional damages if your injuries were caused by the boat’s unseaworthiness or the employer’s negligence. You can be compensated for future medical care, loss of future earnings, your pain and suffering, and any permanent impairment or disfigurement.

Longshoremen Injury Claims

If you work on the loading docks or service or supply riverboats but are not a member of a crew, you still have special rights. The Longshoremen and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) provides no-fault benefits to those who work on the waterfront. Our firm has represented shore workers in riverport towns throughout Kentucky, including Hickman, Paducah, Eddyville, Owensboro, Henderson and Louisville.

The LHWCA provides benefits similar to workers’ comp:

• All medical expenses, including rehab, medications and medical equipment
• Lost wages while you are recovering from your injuries
• Disability payments if you are permanently impaired or unable to work

Employers and their insurers frequently deny claims, pressure employees to return to work, or try to reduce their benefits or terminate their disability claims. Our firm will fight for you to get the care and compensation you deserve, including appeals of denied LHWCA claims. We can also determine if you qualify as a maritime worker under the Jones Act, which would enable you to recover additional compensation.

Boating Accidents And Maritime Tort Claims

If you were seriously hurt in a boat accident or otherwise injured in Kentucky waters, our attorney can help you pursue compensation for the havoc and harm in your life. We have represented victims of boating accidents and other maritime accidents on the Ohio River, the Mississippi, the Tennessee River, Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley, the Cumberland River and other bodies of water statewide.

A maritime tort claim is a lawsuit involving injuries in navigable waters, which can get legally complicated. We excel at identifying the negligent parties and holding them responsible:

• Reckless or careless operators of boats or personal watercraft
• Manufacturers whose faulty boat design or equipment failure caused injury
• Public entities who bear responsibility for a swimming accident or drowning
• Commercial vessels that caused or contributed to a boating collision

Get Decades Of Experience On Your Side

Jeff Bloomfield has practiced law since 1975. He is an author and frequent lecturer on maritime law and has chaired the Admiralty Law Section of the national trial lawyers organization American Association for Justice. He has been selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers In America and Kentucky Super Lawyers for his contributions to the field of maritime law and his successful advocacy for the injured.

Mr. Bloomfield leads our Kentucky injury practice, and no one is more qualified or committed to getting the best result possible. He has a long record of verdicts and settlements for riverboat injuries and other maritime cases. Call 901-528-1702 or toll-free at 800-582-6213 to schedule a free consultation. We take cases anywhere in Kentucky, as well as Tennessee and surrounding states.