The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) is a Federal law that requires maritime employers to provide workers’ compensation insurance coverage for employment-injury and occupational-disease for workers who are injured or become ill on the navigable waters of the United States, or in adjoining areas, and for certain other classes of workers covered by extensions of this Act.
In most cases in California, maritime workers whose work-injuries are covered under the Longshore Act also qualify for a separate claim under State law at the same time. The amount of workers’ compensation benefits under the Longshore Act can differ from those under the State system and injured workers are allowed to choose the greater benefit. This dual jurisdiction coverage can be used to great advantage for the injured worker.
