Working on the water or at a dock is tough, and accidents happen even to the most careful workers. The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) is designed to make sure you get paid for your injuries and covered for your medical care when you’re hurt on the job.
At Falcon Offshore Injury, we cut through the red tape and handle the heavy lifting of LHWCA claims. Whether you’re filing for the first time or appealing a claim that was denied, we make sure the process moves in your favor. You focus on healing, and our maritime injury lawyers make sure the benefits you’ve earned through your hard work are delivered.
If you’re hurt while working on a dock, loading cargo, or repairing a ship, the LHWCA provides you with the protection and coverage you need. It covers medical treatment for injuries, compensation for lost wages, and benefits for permanent disabilities or death resulting from work-related incidents. Essentially, the LHWCA is designed to make sure that if you’re hurt while keeping ports, docks, or offshore operations running, you aren’t left to handle the costs and recovery on your own.
Not every maritime worker is automatically covered, but the LHWCA protects a wide range of roles, including:
If your work fits into any of these categories and your injury is work-related, the LHWCA provides a chance to secure medical care and wage replacement. Our attorneys at Falcon Offshore Injury help you determine if your role qualifies, explain the claims process, and fight for the full range of benefits available to you.
Before a claim under the LHWCA can move forward, two key tests determine if your injury qualifies: the Situs Test and the Status Test.
Both tests need to be satisfied to file a claim successfully. At Falcon Offshore Injury, we guide workers through these checks, help collect the right documentation, and make sure claims are properly filed or appealed.
If you get hurt while working the docks, on a ship, or offshore, the LHWCA is there to make sure you’re covered. Medical benefits pick up the costs for treatment, surgery, medications, and even travel if you need care.
Vocational rehabilitation can help you train for a new job if you can’t return to your old one. This can include retraining, career counseling, or job placement services to help you find work suited to your abilities. It’s about giving you a path forward in the maritime industry, or a related field, so you can continue earning a living even if your injury changes what you’re able to do.
On top of medical care and retraining, the LHWCA provides wage replacement and compensation. This includes:
At Falcon Offshore Injury, we guide you through the entire process, from filing a claim to appealing a denial. Our team wants to get you the full compensation you deserve.
When injured under the LHWCA, the first step is to report your injury to your employer immediately, ideally within 30 days of your injury.
You will need to request medical treatment authorized by Form LS-1 and file a formal claim with the Department of Labor’s Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP) using Form LS-201 or LS-203. This starts the official claim process.
Throughout the process, you’ll need to provide supporting documentation such as medical records, job reports, and witness statements to demonstrate that your injury is work-related. You may be required to undergo medical evaluations by designated physicians.
Once submitted, your claim undergoes review by your employer’s insurance and the OWCP, which can take several weeks to months.
LHWCA sets strict timelines you must follow:
Missing these deadlines can jeopardize your benefits unless there is a valid reason for delay.
If your claim is denied or your benefits are limited, you have the right to appeal. An appeal must be filed typically within 60 days of the denial decision.
The process may involve submitting additional evidence and attending hearings before an Administrative Law Judge. If unresolved, further appeals can be made to the Benefits Review Board and even federal court if necessary.
Throughout the claims and appeals process, you can expect ongoing case management from your maritime law attorney to help ensure deadlines are met and paperwork is correctly filed.
The LHWCA isn’t like state workers’ comp, it’s built for people who work on the water, at docks, and in shipyards. Injuries in these jobs can affect more than just your paycheck, and the LHWCA takes that into account. Compared with state programs, it often provides higher wage replacement, broader medical coverage, and extra support for your career and family if your injury changes what you can do.
Here’s what sets it apart:
At Falcon Offshore Injury, we help you understand these differences and guide you in securing every benefit you’re entitled to under the LHWCA.
Working long hours on the water or the dock takes a toll, and an injury can throw your life off course. Unlike standard state workers’ compensation, the LHWCA is built for maritime workers and offers benefits that truly keep you afloat. It provides higher wage replacement, full coverage for medical treatment, including travel to specialists, vocational support if your injury changes your ability to work, and survivor benefits to protect your family if the worst happens. These are benefits designed for the risks and realities of life on the water, not just the office or factory floor.
At Falcon Offshore Injury, we stand with maritime workers through every step of the LHWCA process. We tackle the paperwork, push back on denied claims, and fight to secure every benefit you’ve earned. Contact our maritime injury attorneys today to get the compensation you deserve.
