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Maintenance and Cure Law

 

 

Under general maritime law an employer has an obligation to provide its injured employee with "maintenance and cure". Typically maintenance and cure claims are filed by injured seamen since these individuals are necessarily filing suit against their employers.

The law states that all ambiguities or doubts in regard to a maintenance and cure claim should be resolved in favor of the seaman. This doctrine gives you an idea of how strong your rights are to maintenance and cure benefits.

Maintenance is defined by the law as the amount it costs for you to maintain yourself on land as your employer did at sea. In other words maintenance typically includes the costs for your lodging, food and monthly bills while you are injured. Most companies pay a fixed rate of $15.00 to $30.00 per day as maintenance. There is absolutely no basis in the law for the payment of this amount. Most companies arbitrarily select this amount and argue that it has been paid for many years to injured seamen. It is very important that you seek the maintenance rate which is proper in your case to pay your expenses while you are injured.

Cure is defined as medical expenses that are reasonable and related to your injury. You are allowed to select your own choice of treating physician and your company must pay for any medical treatment which is reasonable and related to your injury.

If your employer fails to pay maintenance and cure, you can present a claim to the judge or jury that your employer was (1) unreasonable in failing to pay maintenance and cure and (2) arbitrary in refusing to pay maintenance and cure. There is an escalating standard as to whether your employer was, first, unreasonable, then, arbitrary. If your employer is found to be unreasonable in failing to pay maintenance and cure to you, you may be awarded attorney fees associated with having to file suit in order to receive maintenance and cure. Additionally, if your employer is found not only to be unreasonable but also arbitrary in failing to pay maintenance and cure, you may be awarded damages for any worsening of your condition due to your employer's failure to pay your maintenance and cure.


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Timothy J. Young
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Maritime accident attorney in New Orleans with over 20 years experience representing those injured at sea.

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