Lost Limbs and Amputation in Maritime Accidents

Article Summary

A maritime amputation can entitle an injured offshore worker to compensation under federal law, and the law that applies depends on the job. Seamen can sue their employer for negligence under the Jones Act (46 U.S.C. § 30104). They can also bring an unseaworthiness claim against the vessel owner and collect maintenance and cure no matter who caused the accident. Dock, shipyard and many fixed platform workers fall under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA). 

At The Maritime Injury Law Firm, George Vourvoulias has spent more than 20 years representing offshore workers from Louisiana, the Gulf Coast and across the country that have been injured in a maritime accident. 

Below, we explain how a maritime amputation happens, which laws protect you, what compensation can cover, and how long you have to act.

Offshore work puts your hands, arms, feet and legs close to heavy machinery every day. When something goes wrong, the injury can be permanent. Worse, there is no guarantee that a boat owner will take care of an injured worker.

Common causes include:

Winches, Lines and Cables

A parted line or a winch failure can catch a hand, arm or leg in a split second.

Pinch Points 

Barges, docks and shifting cargo can trap a worker’s hand, arm or leg. The industry calls these crush zone injuries.

Cranes and Dropped Loads 

An offshore crane accident can crush a limb beyond repair.

Worn or Broken Equipment 

Gear that the company should have repaired or replaced fails under load.

Fires and Explosions 

Boat fires and explosions can cause burns too severe to save a limb.

Collisions and Allisions 

An allision happens when a vessel strikes a fixed object, such as a dock or platform.

Poor Training and Short Crews 

Understaffing forces tired workers to do jobs that need more hands.

Many maritime amputation cases trace back to choices the company made. That matters, because employer negligence is the heart of most seamen’s claims.

Two sets of federal law cover most cases. The one that applies depends on your job, not on your injury. The key question is whether you are a seaman or another type of maritime employee.

Seamen: The Jones Act, Unseaworthiness, and Maintenance and Cure

You likely count as a seaman if you spend about 30% or more of your work time on a vessel and your work helps that vessel do its job. Seamen have three separate claims:

Jones Act Negligence 

Congress passed the Jones Act in 1920. It lets you sue your employer for negligence. You must prove the company was careless, but the bar is low. If its negligence played any part in your injury, even a small one, the company is liable. Read more about Jones Act compensation for injured seamen.

Unseaworthiness 

The vessel owner must provide a ship, gear and crew that are fit for the job. A missing machine guard or a crew that is too small can make a vessel unseaworthy. You do not need to prove negligence.

Maintenance and Cure 

This benefit comes from general maritime law, not the Jones Act. Your employer owes it no matter who caused the accident. Maintenance covers basic living costs such as rent, utilities and food while you recover. Cure covers your medical care until you reach maximum medical improvement. Learn more about maintenance and cure benefits.

A Jones Act or unseaworthiness claim can also pay for losses that maintenance and cure do not cover. These include lost wages, lost earning capacity, pain and suffering, and disfigurement.

Some employers stop paying too early. If a company willfully refuses to pay maintenance and cure, a court can award punitive damages. The U.S. Supreme Court confirmed this in Atlantic Sounding Co. v. Townsend (2009). Here is what to do if your employer cuts off maintenance and cure.

Longshore, Harbor, and Platform Workers: The LHWCA Schedule

Not every maritime worker is a seaman. If you work on docks, in shipyards or at terminals, the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act likely covers you. So does work on many fixed offshore platforms. The LHWCA works like workers’ compensation. You do not have to prove fault, but you generally cannot sue your employer.

Federal law at 33 U.S.C. § 908(c) sets a schedule for a lost limb. It pays two-thirds of your average weekly wage for a set number of weeks:

• Arm: 312 weeks
• Leg: 288 weeks
• Hand: 244 weeks
• Foot: 205 weeks

An arm or leg amputated at or above the elbow or knee counts as the whole limb. An amputation below the elbow or knee counts as a hand or foot. These payments come on top of the disability pay you receive while you heal. The LHWCA also covers your medical care.

Weekly pay has a cap. For injuries from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027, the maximum is $2,163.92 a week.You may also have a separate claim against a vessel owner or another company that caused the accident.

Not sure which law covers you? A Louisiana maritime injury lawyer can review your job duties and explain where you stand.

Maritime deadlines come from federal law, even when the accident happens in Louisiana waters:

Jones Act and General Maritime Claims 

Three years from the date of injury under 46 U.S.C. § 30106.

LHWCA Claims 

Written notice to your employer within 30 days and a claim within one year under 33 U.S.C. §§ 912 and 913.

Louisiana’s own deadline for most injury lawsuits is shorter than federal maritime law. 

Under Louisiana Civil Code article 3493.1, the prescriptive period is two years for injuries occurring on or after July 1, 2024 (claims arising before this date are subject to a one-year deadline, and certain claims like medical malpractice or wrongful death have their own specific limits). 

That state deadline applies to claims that fall outside maritime law, so do not assume you have three years. 

Louisiana also excludes seamen from state workers’ compensation, meaning injured maritime workers must pursue remedies like maintenance and cure or a Jones Act claim instead. 

Evidence fades fast offshore. Vessels leave port, crews change and logs go missing. See our guide on how long you have to bring a maritime lawsuit.

Do I have to prove fault after a maritime amputation?

It depends on the claim. Your employer owes maintenance and cure and LHWCA benefits no matter who caused the accident. A Jones Act claim requires proof that your employer’s negligence played some part in the injury. If you were partly at fault, your damages go down, but you do not lose your claim.

How much is a maritime amputation claim worth?

There is no fixed number for seamen. A Jones Act claim has no schedule or cap. Its value depends on your wages, your age, your medical needs and the facts of the accident. The LHWCA uses a set schedule, such as 312 weeks for an arm and 288 weeks for a leg.

What should I do right after losing a limb offshore?

Get medical care first. Then report the injury in writing and keep copies of every record. Do not sign a release or give a recorded statement before you speak with a maritime lawyer.

At The Maritime Injury Law Firm, George Vourvoulias has more than 20 years of experience representing injured offshore workers across Louisiana and the Gulf Coast. Our priority is protecting your rights and making sure your voice counts. 

If you or a loved one suffered a maritime amputation on the job, our Louisiana Jones Act lawyer can review your case. Contact us today at (504) 584-6300 to schedule a free and confidential consultation.