Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA): Maritime Claims Explained.

Rusty Messer of Big River Trial Attorneys explains the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA), a federal law passed in 1927 (notably amended in 1972) and administered by the U.S. Department of Labor’s OWCP, created to protect maritime workers not covered by state workers’ comp or the Jones Act. He outlines the two coverage tests—situs (injury on navigable waters or adjoining maritime areas like piers, terminals, shipyards, dry docks) and status (maritime employment such as longshore, harbor, ship repair/build/break)—and key exclusions (clerical/security, certain marina, vendor/driver, agricultural, recreational vessel work, small-vessel work, and vessel crew/seamen). He summarizes benefits (uncapped medical care with physician choice rules, disability categories and wage-based rates with caps, vocational rehab, and death benefits), notes OCSLA extension offshore, explains third-party lawsuits alongside LHWCA claims, and stresses notice/filing deadlines, the administrative hearing/appeal process, and potential fee-shifting for successful claimants. 00:00 Welcome and Overview 01:09 LHWCA Origins 02:15 Situs Test Explained 03:44 Status Test and Exclusions 06:04 Seaman vs Longshore 07:03 Offshore OCSLA Coverage 07:35 Medical Benefits 08:42 Disability Benefits Breakdown 12:50 Rehab and Death Benefits 14:36 Third Party Lawsuits 15:54 Claims Process and Deadlines 17:14 Attorney Fees and Wrap Up 17:49 Final Takeaways and Outro Big River Trial Attorneys 4626 Sherwood Common Blvd Ste 302 Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70816 www.BigRiverLaw.com #maritime #longshoreman #offshorework #bigriverlaw #askrustylaw #rustymesser #injuryattorney #injurylawyer #workerscompensation