Maritime Lawyers in Missouri

The Missouri River flows 2,500 miles from its origin as a spring in the Rocky Mountains of Montana, to just north of St. Louis, Missouri, where it joins the Mississippi River. It is the nation’s longest river, draining one-sixth of the area of the country. The Missouri River is only one among numerous lakes and rivers in the state where many people have maritime jobs. Whether someone is a galley cook on a tugboat, an able seaman on a barge, or a deck hand on a floating casino, maritime workers face difficult, often dangerous work.

The Jones Act

To compensate maritime workers and their families for injuries or death sustained while doing their jobs, a set of laws called the Merchant Marine Act was first passed in 1920. The name of the act was subsequently changed to the Jones Act.

The act originally covered a vessel defined as “a structure designed for and being used for the transportation of passengers, cargo or equipment across navigable waters.” Such a definition covers, for example,

Ships
Barges
Tugboats
Cruise boats

But the courts have also considered rulings on newer types of vessels such as floating casinos, pontoon rafts and airboat vessels. Workers injured on such vessels, if they meet certain qualifications, also are protected under the Jones Act.

The crew and boat must meet special conditions for the injured worker to be compensated under the Jones Act. For example, the vessel must be owned and operated by U.S. citizens, fly a U.S. flag, and carry a crew that are at least three quarters U.S. citizens.

Victims of maritime accidents may collect compensation for:

Loss of limbs
Loss of sight
Loss of hearing
Permanent disfigurement
Mental distress
Loss of wages
Loss of capability to earn wages in the future
Medical, hospital, and prescription charges
Loss of life

Maritime law is especially complex. Persons wanting to recover damages for a maritime accident should seek the help of our Missouri maritime attorneys. They are especially qualified to obtain favorable results due to their specialized expertise in the very intricate area of maritime law.

We offer a free consultation if you are interested in finding out about the merits of and potential compensation for your case. If you have been injured or a loved one has died during a job as a maritime worker, we are here to help.

Online Lawyer Source

Lawyers & Legal News Near You

Need Legal Help?

Start Here for a Free Case Review!

Maritime Lawyers

Find a Lawyer in Your State

Need Help?

Maritime Lawyers in Missouri

The Jones Act

Other Areas of Law