California Harbor And Port Injury Attorneys
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Maritime Law In California: More About California’s Ports & Harbors
California is home to approximately 39.5 million people. It also houses two major rivers: the San Joaquin River and the Sacramento River. Moreover, these rivers naturally flow through the San Francisco Bay into the Pacific Ocean.
The water management architecture of California provides for more than 30 million individuals, along with irrigating more than 5,860,000 acres of farmland in the state. Additionally, owing to its massive number of reservoirs, dams, lakes, and water-powered structures, it is responsible for navigating approximately 40 million acre-feet of water each year.
Combine this with the state’s proximity to the sea, and it becomes a whole new world of water management systems. Factually, the country’s economy is largely influenced by the import and export of goods through the seaports.
A significant portion of California’s international trade deals related to the movement of goods across the globe stems from these seaports themselves. If you’re involved in any of these systems and have suffered an unfortunate injury, then consider contacting a harbor-port injury attorney and filing a claim in California.
Tagged as the most significant port complex in the US, the combination of the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach makes a substantial contribution to global businesses running on their sea routes. Given that it is the 4th largest carrier of container traffic in the nation, this industry will only keep growing.
Also, the Port of Oakland, which is known to be among the top 10 busiest ports in the country, manages incoming trade from countries in the Pacific Rim. It is responsible for delivering 99% of the containers passing through the port across Northern California to the entire country.
As per the California Department of Transportation, California Has 11 Official Public Ports:
- 3 “mega ports,” that is, Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Oakland.
- 8 “smaller niche ports,” namely, Hueneme, Humboldt Bay, Redwood City, Richmond, West Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, and Stockton.
- 1 “private port,” namely Benicia.
The federal TIGER grant funds an upcoming barge shipping service, and the three ports involved in its development are the Port of Oakland, Stockton, and West Sacramento. The activity at these ports is tremendous, regardless of the volume of workers or equipment.
Similarly, the Port of San Francisco in California, which manages seven and a half miles of San Francisco’s Waterfront adjacent to the Bay Area, is regularly responsible for the development, marketing, leasing, administration, and maintenance of its waterfront area.
Speaking of activity, the Port of San Francisco’s legally registered operations account for over 550 ground retail, commercial, office, industrial, and maritime-related leases. And the presence of globally acclaimed landmarks such as the Ferry Building, AT&T Park, Fisherman’s Wharf, and PIER 39, as the ones given a lease, makes it a highly management-intensive process.
If you were injured while working offshore, you may be able to seek compensation for your losses, depending on the circumstances of the accident. Following the maritime injury law category you fall under, harbor and port injury attorneys at our injury law firm can manage your case.
What Was The Cause Of The Injury?
Depending on who caused your injury, our harbor port attorneys can file a relevant claim and help you pursue compensation for your losses. Perhaps a sliding container caused the injury, or you had an accident with an on-site vehicle. Maybe you suffered organ damage from drowning in a port while at work. Our attorneys can assess your case and determine your possible legal options.
Your injuries could be as basic as falling off a moving ladder or as complex as getting a head injury while on the ship. Either way, we can assist you in seeking financial assistance for the treatment of your injury. Our California harbor and port injury attorneys at Arash Law, headed by Arash Khorsandi, Esq., also handle third-party liability claims for physically injured dockers, harbor employees, and additional members covered by the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Act.
We can also provide legal support to employees of offshore gas and oil platforms. Through a personal injury claim, injured victims have a chance to seek compensation for the suffering and injuries that the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act did not cover.
Who Is Eligible To Receive The Benefits Of Longshoremen Workers' Compensation?
If you, as an injured victim, fall under any of the below-mentioned occupations, you may be able to file a claim under the Federal Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act:
- Longshoreman/stevedore.
- Equipment operations (cranes, forklifts, container transfer, etc.)
- Builders and repair workers of onshore and offshore platforms.
- Builders and repair workers of ships.
- Any additional categories of dockworkers.
- Any additional categories of shipyard workers.
The Federal Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act also has a few more classifications of jobs, namely:
- DBA (Defense Base Act) — Overseas civilian employees working under US government contractors, including rebuilding projects in Afghanistan and Iraq.
- NAFI (Non-Appropriated Fund Instrumentalities Act) — Civilian employees deployed on US military camps
- Outer Continental Shelf Act — Several categories of workers who work on fixed platforms on the exterior of state territorial waters.
(No guarantee of outcome. Results displayed were dependent on unique facts of that case, and different facts will bring different results.)
Maritime & Additional Water-Based Accidents In California
Maritime accidents and injuries occur at ports and harbors. Owing to the large number of ports, trade routes, ship terminals, and growing water facilities along the coast of California, these maritime accidents come as no surprise.
These accidents may leave you overwhelmed. They can range from wildlife disasters, equipment malfunctions, loss of human life, and even diving calamities. Each of these could potentially disrupt the built-up lifestyle of the victim and come with a plethora of career-disrupting injuries.
These injuries can keep them off work for a significant time, potentially leading to lower incomes, no chance of bonuses, and a complete professional downfall. To help injury victims, our harbor & port injury attorneys stay up to date with the complications in relevant disaster management efforts.
Whether you’re a sailor, dockworker, ship cleaner, chipping professional, or any form of maritime worker, we are here to help manage the legal process so you can focus on rehabilitation. Here are a few of the most common injuries and accidents dockworkers face:
- Falling overboard
- Leg, hand, back, or spine injuries
- Toxic exposure to chemicals
- Burns due to fire injuries
- Insufficient knowledge transfer about the equipment
- Vehicle-related injuries
- Electrical shocks
- Amputation of limbs
- Commercial fishing injuries
- Load transfer injuries
Above all, there are also thousands of injuries every year to regular citizens indulging in recreational exercises around the ocean. California is well-known for its water sports, and many people visit the sea every day. People are boating, fishing, surfing, water skiing, kayaking, and even navigating in a range of different on-sea equipment.
No doubt they get the enjoyment they want, but many of them also suffer from severe injuries during these activities. To make matters more serious, a number of these accidents lead to the loss of life or permanent disabilities. Do not forget to account for cruise ship passengers.
Thousands of them flock to or sail by California each year, and some of them also fall victim to cruise ship injuries. Whether it’s an electrical wire, a slip and fall incident, or an on-cruise assault, most cruise lines have adequate facilities to deal with such situations.
In such cases, victims may be able to pursue compensation for the injuries and losses they incurred. Our experienced harbor-port injury attorneys can assist in pursuing potential compensation. Our lawyers also recognize and challenge tactics used by insurance companies to deny valid claims.
We Serve All Californian Ports
The experienced maritime injury lawyers at our firm are committed to seeking just compensation on your behalf. Our harbor-port injury lawyers represent clients throughout California and can handle claims related to harbors and ports, including:
Port Of San Diego, California
Located 12 kilometers north of the US-Mexico border, the port is surrounded by two peninsulas that separate it from the Pacific Ocean. Additionally, it is considered one of the premier natural harbors on the West Coast. This crescent-shaped bay is a 22.5-kilometer-long landlocked port, and it serves as a strategic point for a complex combination of military bases.
Moreover, this San Diego port receives heavy sea traffic every day since it’s a reputed international shipping center. The port authority for the Port of San Diego is the San Diego Unified Port District.
Port Of Los Angeles, California
Tagged as the busiest container port in the US, it employs 16,000+ individuals. Speaking of its size, the entirety of the port covers 7,500 acres of land and water along 43 miles of waterfront. Approximately 20 miles from downtown LA, it is located alongside San Pedro Bay.
Based on statistics, there were approx. two thousand two hundred sea vessels operated in 2010, and the annual tonnage of all goods was nearing 157.8 million metric tons. All of this was valued at $236.4 billion. With such large-scale activity, the chances of accidents increase by a considerable margin. While the port authority is given to the State Tidelands Trust, the Port of Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners is responsible for operating the port.
Port Of San Francisco, California
Located nearly 375 nautical miles apart from the Port of Los Angeles, it is located near the Golden Gate, on the western edge of the San Francisco Bay. It plays the role of a semi-independent organization managed by a Board of Commissioners of 5 members chosen by the mayor. This division is responsible for cargo shipping, cruises, vessel maintenance, fishing activities, and a broad range of commercial and industrial marine ventures in the harbor. In 2008 alone, 53 cargo vessels transporting around 1.2 million tons of cargo were handled by the Port of San Francisco. The San Francisco Port Commission has authority over the port.
Port Of Oakland, California
This is the 5th busiest container port in the nation and is situated on the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay. It’s responsible for almost 60% of all sea container traffic coming from Asia, making it a widespread contributor to transportation and distribution businesses. In the year 2008, this port accommodated over 1,928 cargo vessels.
Speaking of its capacity to hold equipment, it has over 300 hectares for container storage and houses 20 deep-water ship berths. Seven members chosen by the city council constitute the Port of Oakland Board of Commissioners, which has complete control of this harbor.
Dock & Harbor Workers: Longshoreman Workers' Compensation Benefits
Dock and harbor workers have a series of benefits under the Longshoremen’s Workers’ Compensation Act. Some of these benefits revolve around compensation for lost income, medical expenses, vocational rehabilitation, and even in the case of the victim’s death.
Since the legal process can be complicated, it may be helpful to hire a California harbor and port injury attorney who’s familiar with the Longshore Workers Compensation Act.
An attorney with a thorough understanding of the typical duties of harbor and port workers can be valuable in building a comprehensive case.
Arash Khorsandi and his team at Arash Law offer free initial consultations to help victims determine the validity of their claim and possible legal options. Our attorneys will equip you with knowledge about your rights involving such unfortunate incidents.
Contact Our Harbor And Port Injury Attorneys
According to the Longshoremen Act, the victim’s employer is responsible for covering the costs associated with medical treatment and wage replacement related to the claim. Our Arash Law harbor and port injury attorneys, led by Arash Khorsandi, Esq., have the experience and knowledge to represent clients in these accidents.
Whether you were injured while on maritime vacations or maritime duties in and around Southern California, we are here to help you protect your rights. Do not hesitate to get in touch with us. Whether you’re in or around LA, Orange County, or anywhere in Southern California, we can assist you. Call Arash Law at (888) 488-1391 to schedule a free initial consultation with one of our skilled California harbor and port injury attorneys.
