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Hawaii Maritime Worker Injury Lawyer

Hawaii Maritime Employee Accident Attorney Preston Easley Assists Injured Seamen, Stevedore, and Other Maritime Workers With Their Workers’ Compensation and Third Party Claims in Honolulu and Throughout HI

Jones Act Seaman Accident Attorney Hawaii

Maritime workers are generally exposed to more risk of injury than other types of workers. However, this does not mean accidents aren’t as devastating. Maritime workers like any other type of workers are entitled to compensation when they suffer injuries while at work. However, maritime law presents many complexities. It is wise to seek the assistance of a Hawaii maritime worker injury lawyer to guide you through the process of seeking compensation. 

The Law offices of Preston Easley actively fights to defend the rights of injured maritime workers. Mr. Easley brings his experience working in the maritime industry as well as serving in the navy to the aid of injured maritime workers.

He provides an in-depth perspective of maritime law and fights to defend the rights of injured workers. He has helped both union and non-union workers recover substantial sums in compensation for their injuries and losses. Contact us now to schedule an appointment for a free consultation with attorney Preston Easley about your jones act claim. 

Maritime Laws and Claims that a Hawaii Maritime Worker Injury Lawyer Can Assist You With 

Preston Easley Esq represents both union and non-union maritime workers that have been injured while on the job. His clients include: 

He also represents the families of maritime workers who have lost their lives while on the job. Attorney Preston Easley will fight to protect your rights and recover full compensation for your injuries or losses. 

Are you a maritime worker? Have you been injured while on the job? Contact the law offices of Preston Easley for a free consultation. Preston Easley is an experienced Hawaii maritime worker injury attorney. You can rely on his experience working in the maritime industry and serving in the Navy to provide you with in-depth insight on your jones act case, legal rights, and best options. Contact our jones act lawyer now to schedule your appointment. 

About Hawaii

Thousands of people move to Hawaii every year. Tens of thousands more visit the islands for holiday annually. The islands attract people from all walks of life for the great weather, friendly natives, and picturesque landscapes. However, living in Hawaii is like living in any other part of the US. It is one of the states of the US. Therefore federal law still applies in Hawaii. However, living on any of the islands that make up the state will provide you with an experience that many people never forget. 

Frequently Asked Questions about Maritime Worker Injury Cases in Hawaii 

I am an injured seaman. What compensation am I entitled to?

Injured seamen are not entitled to workers’ compensation under federal or state law. However, they are entitled to three different types of compensation under federal law. 

1) Negligence: Seamen can sue their employers for negligence under the Jones Act. The Jones Act requires maritime employers to provide seaman with a reasonably safe work environment and maintain the vessel on which the seamen work and keep it in a reasonably safe condition. Any unsafe condition on a vessel, no matter the size of the vessel, can result in liability. Unlike civil tort law that governs most other types of personal injuries, the burden to prove an employer’s negligence is low under the Jones Act. Injured Seamen only need to show that the negligence of their employer played some part (even if very small) in their injury. Seamen are therefore entitled to compensation under the Jones Act even if the employer’s negligence contributed minimally to the incident that caused the injury. 

2) Compensation for the unseaworthiness of the vessel: A seaworthy vessel under maritime law is a vessel whose design, maintenance, and ability to perform its intended function are reasonable. A vessel is deemed to be unseaworthy if it did not provide the seaman with a reasonably safe environment for work or suitable appliances for the seaman to perform his duties in reasonable safety. Unseaworthiness isn’t about negligence. The owner of the vessel will be held liable even if they acted reasonably. The vessel would be considered unseaworthy if any part of it was deemed to be unfit for its intended function. 

3) Seamen are entitled to receive cure and maintenance and cure: Maritime law requires employers to provide seamen with maintenance and cure when they are injured while working aboard a vessel. This is required regardless of where the fault lies.  Maintenance may mean providing the injured seaman with room and board while they recover. It also means covering expenses such as their rent, property taxes, food, and utilities while they recover. However, expenses such as internet and phone are not covered.  Cure means covering the medical expenses of the injured seaman. The employer is required to provide both cure and maintenance until the injured seaman reaches maximum medical improvement. 

I am a maritime worker but not a seaman. Am I entitled to compensation?

A seaman under maritime law is defined as a person that spends a significant amount of their time working on a vessel as a crewmember or captain. Maritime workers such as harbor workers that are not considered seamen aren’t covered by the Jones Act. They are instead covered by the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act. This federal law covers employees that work near or on water but are not seamen. These include harbor workers, people working in shipyards, and those that work on docks. 

Injured maritime workers eligible for compensation under the Longshore Act typically receive more in compensation than regular workers governed by the state’s workers compensation act. For example, state workers are entitled to 60% of their weekly wage under workers’ compensation. However, under the Longshore Act, maritime workers receive 66 2/3% of their weekly wage. 

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Cases We Handle

  • maritime worker working on ship

    Longshoremen & Shipyard Workers

    Longshoring and shipyard work are very dangerous occupations. Workers in these fields, along with marine construction workers, are covered by the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, a very generous no-fault workers’ compensation system. It covers medical expenses, temporary disability, permanent disability and vocational rehabilitation.

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  • sea vessel docked at US shore

    Jones Act Seamen

    A seaman is a member of the crew of a vessel or group of vessels under common ownership or control. The vessel can be anything from a raft to a cargo ship. We represent seamen who work aboard recreational vessels, tugboats, dredges, barges, skiffs, workboats and cargo ships. We also represent seamen who are marine construction workers

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  • Diving

    We represent people who have been injured in SCUBA diving accidents and Commercial diving accidents. We also handle diving boat accidents. Diving can be very dangerous. We successfully represented a commercial diver who was seriously injured while cleaning the propeller of a U.S. Navy ship at Pearl Harbor

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  • accident at construction site and hard hat on floor

    Construction & Industrial Accidents

    Construction and industrial sites can be very dangerous. Although you generally cannot sue your own employer for a construction site or industrial accident (generally workers’ compensation is your exclusive remedy against your employer) there are many circumstances in which you can file a third party lawsuit against an entity other than your employer for an unsafe condition at a work site which causes you to be injured

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  • Forklift and Crane Injuries Lawyer

    Crane & Forklift Accidents

    The Easley firm has extensive experience with crane and forklift accidents and workplace accidents involving dangerous equipment and machinery. These accidents can be caused by operator error and they can be caused by the unsafe and defective condition of the equipment

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  • auto accident involving two cars on a city street

    Motor Vehicle & Truck Accidents

    Motor vehicle accidents can result in serious injury and death. These kinds of accidents can involve automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, bicycles, pedestrians and unsafe road design and unsafe road conditions

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  • Catamaran Injuries Attorney

    Passenger Vessel Accidents

    Passenger accidents are common on recreational vessels, catamarans, tour boats and cruise ships.  They are frequently caused by rough sea conditions and unsafe conditions aboard the vessels.  The Easley firm has extensive experience in the field of maritime law.  We have made new law in the field of maritime law with numerous precedent setting decisions in the State Appellate Courts, the Ninth Circuit Federal Court

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  • Defense Base Act

    The Defense Base Act is an extension of the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act which covers civilian employees of U.S. defense contractors injured overseas, including war zones. The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensations Act as extended by the Defense Base Act is a very generous no fault workers’ compensation system

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Areas Where We Practice

Preston Easley is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. He served five years of active duty as a Naval officer — three years as a deck officer on a fast frigate and two years as a patrol boat skipper. Mr. Easley also served aboard a tank landing ship in the reserves.

waves

California

Hawaii

Let Us Get You The Compensation You Deserve

Preston Easley is an experienced lawyer with considerable expertise in handling federal and state personal injury cases. He will aggressively seek the maximum amount of compensation you are entitled to receive. Attorney Easley represents victims of serious and fatal accidents involving cars, trucks, construction projects and maritime work.

Construction Workers We Help

  • Crane and Forklift Operators
  • Pile Drivers
  • Scaffold Workers
  • Iron Workers
  • Carpenters
  • Electricians
  • Operating Engineers
  • Electricians

Maritime Workers We Help

  • National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO) Shipyard Workers
  • Manson Construction Company Workers
  • Manson Dredging Workers
  • Dutra Dredging Workers
  • Commercial Divers
  • Scuba Divers
  • Commercial Fisherman
  • Government Maritime Claims Against the Navy, Army Corps of Engineers, or the US Coast Guard, etc.
  • Marine Construction Workers
  • Offshore Oil and Gas Workers
  • Seamen
  • Shipyard Workers
  • YYK Enterprises, Inc.
  • Pacific Tugboat Service
  • Long Beach Container Terminal
  • Tugboat, Dredge, Longshoremen, and Ferry Workers
  • Barge Crews and Barge Workers
  • Marisco Limited
  • HL Welding
  • SSA Marine
  • Catalina Express
  • R.E. State Engineering
  • Shimmick Construction
  • Nova Group
  • American Scaffolding
  • Safway Scaffolding
  • Kirby Tugs
  • Crowley Tugboats
  • P&R Water Taxi
  • Continental Maritime
  • Pacific Ship Repair
  • Seaward Marine
  • Healy Tibbitts
  • General Construction
  • BAE Shipyards
  • South Coast Welding
  • Matson
  • Pasha
  • Hawaii Stevedores, Inc.
  • McCabe, Hamilton & Renny
  • Young Brothers
  • Sause Bros.
  • Foss Maritime
  • Fenix Marine Services
  • ITS
  • Total Terminals
  • TraPac
  • PCMC
  • Maersk
  • Yang Ming
  • China Overseas Shipping
  • Evergreen

Boating Accidents

  • Catamaran Accidents
  • Charter and Tour Boats
  • Cruise Ship Accidents
  • Passenger Accidents
  • Jet Ski and Personal Watercraft
  • Motorboat Accidents
  • Recreational Accidents
  • Scuba Diving Accidents
  • Speed Boat Accidents
  • Yachts and Sail Boat Accidents
  • Repair Accidents
  • Crew Accidents
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