Chicago Maritime Accident Lawyer

If you’ve been injured in an accident on or while working in support of a navigable vessel near Chicago, Illinois, don’t hesitate to call Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys at (312) 726-1616. Our Chicago maritime accident lawyers are here to help you fight for the maximum financial recovery you deserve.

Whether you’re a seaman or another type of maritime worker, you have rights – including the ability to seek compensation for your injuries and suffering. At Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys, we’re trusted, award-winning Chicago trial attorneys with decades of combined experience handling complex personal injury disputes. Our commitment to client success is unmatched, as evidenced by the hundreds of millions of dollars we’ve recovered in settlements and jury verdicts.

Make the most of your maritime injury claim by trusting our nationally recognized litigators to fight for you. We offer a free consultation, so contact our Chicago, IL, law office to get started today.

How Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys Can Help After a Maritime Accident in Chicago, IL

How Zayed Law Offices Can Help After a Maritime Accident in Chicago, IL

Even though you’ll have the opportunity to seek compensation from your employer, an insurance company, or another liable party after a maritime accident in Chicago, getting money in your hands won’t be easy.

You’ll face resistance every step of the way. If you don’t put yourself on a level playing field, you’ll leave well-deserved compensation on the negotiating table.

That’s where our Chicago personal injury lawyers can help.

At Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys, we have an in-depth knowledge of the federal maritime laws that might apply to your case, as well as a thorough understanding of Illinois state laws that might come into play. We’ll draw on our considerable knowledge, skills, and experience to help you not only win your maritime accident case, but secure the life-changing monetary award you need to get back on your feet.

When you ask for our help, you’ll have the time you need to focus on getting better while we handle the rest:

  • Independently investigate your maritime accident
  • Gather key pieces of evidence during the discovery phase, including vessel maintenance records, employer hiring and training policies, indications of state or federal safety violations, witness statements, forensic reports, and medical records
  • Hire experts with knowledge specific to your industry and injuries
  • Assess your damages and calculate what your maritime injury claim is likely worth
  • Determine which federal maritime laws you can use to seek compensation
  • Prepare and file your legal claim with the insurance company and/or local county court clerk
  • Aggressively seek the best possible terms in a benefits package or settlement agreement during negotiations
  • Represent your best interests during hearings, on appeal, and/or at trial, if necessary

Workplace accidents – especially those that happen out on the open waters off the coast of Chicago – can affect every aspect of your life. If your injuries prevent you from going back to work – even temporarily – it can put you in a really difficult financial situation. At Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys, we don’t want you to avoid asking for help because you think you can’t afford it.

Our maritime accident attorneys in Chicago represent injured seamen on a contingency fee basis.

We’re so confident we can win compensation for you that we’ll stake our fees on the results of your case. If we don’t win compensation for you, you don’t pay attorney’s fees. It’s that simple.

Contact our Chicago law office today to learn more. There is no charge for your initial case evaluation.

We Handle All Types of Maritime Accident Cases in Chicago

Illinois may be thousands of miles away from the nearest ocean, but it still plays a large role in national and international maritime operations. The state has several terminals, ports, and docks, the largest of which is the Port of Chicago. Thousands of vessels visit and operate out of the Port of Chicago every year – primarily to support shipping and trade industries.

Thousands of workers are employed on these ships and to work in support of these ships on Illinois ports and docks.

Anytime there’s an accident on one of these navigable vessels, or while someone is working in support of a navigable vessel at the Port, it’s considered a maritime accident. 

At Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys, we advocate for clients who’ve been injured or lost close family members in all types of maritime accidents, including:

  • Freight and cargo ship accidents
  • Container shipping accidents
  • Commercial fishing accidents
  • Barge accidents
  • Drillship accidents
  • Oil rig accidents
  • Cruise ship accidents

If you’ve been hurt in a workplace accident off the coast of Chicago, our maritime accident lawyers want to help you explore your options and work to secure the sizable financial award you deserve. Call our Chicago law office today to discuss your maritime accident case and discover why you’ll want our award-winning legal team in your corner.

How Can I Recover Compensation After a Maritime Accident?

As a maritime worker in Chicago, you are protected by state and federal law. When you get hurt, those laws can be used to help you seek compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, day-to-day expenses, and, in some cases, the pain and suffering you experience because of your maritime accident.

Illinois Workers’ Compensation

Almost every employer in the State of Illinois must carry workers’ compensation insurance to protect employees who get hurt on the job. Under the no-fault insurance system, employees are able to seek benefits for their medical bills, temporary and permanent disability, and rehabilitation. 

While workers’ compensation can be a lifeline, benefits will only offset some of the costs and consequences of a maritime accident and resulting injuries. 

Jones Act

The Jones Act protects seamen who are injured in the course of employment on a navigable vessel.  

You’re considered to be a seamen if you:

  • Work aboard a vessel in navigation
  • Contribute to the work of the vessel, and
  • Spend at least 30 percent of your time aboard the vessel.

If you are classified as a seaman under the Jones Act, you will be entitled to recover maintenance and cure benefits from your employer. Maintenance is compensation paid to cover your day-to-day costs while you’re unable to work, while cure is paid to offset the costs of your medical care.

Additional compensation – including damages for pain and suffering – can be sought under the Jones Act if your maritime accident is the result of your employer’s negligence or because the vessel was not seaworthy.

Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act

If you’re not classified as a seaman, you may still qualify for federal maritime benefits under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA). 

Traditionally, shipbuilders, harbor construction workers, longshore workers, and employees on docks, wharves, and piers can qualify for LHWCA benefits, which can include money for:

  • Lost wages
  • Rehabilitation services
  • Medical expenses
  • Travel expenses

Survivor benefits can also be paid to families if a worker is killed in a Chicago maritime accident.

Illinois Personal Injury Lawsuit

You may also have the right to file a civil personal injury lawsuit after a maritime accident in Chicago. Potentially liable parties might include your employer (if they failed to carry workers’ compensation insurance), the manufacturer of a defective vessel or piece of equipment, or even a co-worker.

Through a civil maritime accident lawsuit in Illinois state court, you can seek economic damages and non-economic damages for present and future medical expenses, diminished earning capacity, property damage, and emotional distress. Punitive damages may also be available if your maritime accident lawsuit goes to trial.

Helping You Seek Compensation for All of Your Maritime Accident Injuries

Whether you’re involved in a slip and fall accident, crushed by falling objects, electrocuted, or exposed to toxic chemicals, you can suffer serious injuries in a maritime accident, including:

Report your maritime accident to your employer right away. Once you reach shore, seek prompt medical treatment at the closest hospital and contact our Chicago maritime accident attorneys to discuss your situation.

How Long Will I Have To Seek Compensation After a Maritime Accident in Chicago, Illinois?

It depends on what type of claim you file. Each state and federal law has its own statute of limitations.

  • Illinois Civil Lawsuit: two years from the date of your injury or loved one’s wrongful death
  • The Jones Act: three years from the date you’re injured
  • Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act: one year from the date of injury
  • Illinois Workers’ Compensation: you must notify your employer within 45 days of the accident and you have three years to file a claim

If you miss the applicable filing deadline, you will lose the right to seek benefits or damages from an insurance company or negligent party.

Schedule a Free Consultation With an Experienced Chicago Maritime Accident Lawyer

Don’t struggle with the consequences of a recent maritime accident on your own. Demand the compensation you deserve by trusting the top-rated legal team at Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys to be your advocate.

Our Chicago maritime accident lawyers have decades of experience and a 99 percent success rate. We’ve helped our clients win over $100 million in damages. Now, we’re here to help you make the most of your maritime accident claim, too.

We offer a free consultation, so reach out to our Chicago, IL, law office to get started today.

Our personal injury law firm in Chicago, IL, also provides: