What is the Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act?
The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (“LHWCA”) is a federal law that provides for the payment of compensation, medical care, and vocational rehabilitation services to employees workers disabled from injuries on the job and that occur on the navigable waters of the United States, or in adjoining areas customarily used in the loading, unloading, repairing, or building of a vessel. The LHWCA also provides provides the payment of survivor benefits to dependents if the a work injury cause, or contributes to, the employee’s death. These benefits are typically paid by the self-insured employer or by a private insurance company on the employer’s behalf. The term “injury” includes occupational diseases, hearing loss and illnesses arising out of employment.
The Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act (often called the “Longshore Act”) is a federal workers’ compensation statute that covers workers to who work on or near navigable waters as well as on fixed platforms over navigable waters. If you are injured while working for a company that performed its work in a shipyard, at a dock, on a fixed platform at sea or on any navigable water, you may be covered by the Longshore Act. Under the Longshore Act, you may be able to obtain medical care and compensation benefits. What Kind of Compensation Can I Obtain under the Longshore Act? If your injury falls under the Longshore Act, the amount of compensation benefits you can receive will vary depending upon the type of injury you sustained. Many injuries are “scheduled” injuries. These types of injuries are specifically listed in the regulations and have specified payout amounts. Other injuries are not scheduled. These can include back, neck and shoulder injuries. These types of claims can o
