Offshore Law Firms

When maritime employees are injured on-the-job, the experienced lawyers at offshore law firms can help build cases and recover compensation for their injuries, medical bills and pain and suffering.

While worker's compensation laws are in place to protect workers in various industries, when it comes to maritime occupations, the Jones Act is the body of law that determines when injured seamen are legally entitled to settlements, as well as how much they deserve.

The Jones Act may also be referred to as the Merchant Marine Act of 1920. These laws were initially enacted to protect the rights of maritime employees and govern trade in U.S. waters. Over the decades, the Jones Act has been amended numerous times.

Because these laws are complicated, and because employers don't always have the employee's best interest in mind, it's vital that injured maritime workers meet with an experienced offshore lawyer who will use their experience and knowledge to obtain the best possible outcome in the case.

How the Jones Act Works

To be eligible for compensation under the Jones Act, an employee has to spend 30 percent of his time in service to some kind of sea vessel (i.e. an oil rig, a boat, a ship, a barge, etc.).

Most commonly, the Jones Act is used to protect the following types of maritime workers:

cruise ship employees
dock workers
ferry workers
fishermen and crabbers
longshoremen
oil workers
seamen and officers
technicians, electricians and engineers who work aboard sea vessels
tug and barge hands

For an on-the-job injury to be covered by the Jones Act, the maritime employee has to be able to prove that a ship owner's, captain's or crew member's negligence or recklessness was responsible for the injury sustained.

Additionally, the Jones Act stipulates that:

Maritime workers can be entitled to compensation if the vessels they sailed on were “unseaworthy.”
Families of deceased maritime workers will be entitled death benefits in the event that their loved one is killed while working.

Types of Injuries Covered by the Jones Act

Maritime employees can seek compensation for various types of injuries via the Jones Act. Some of the most common injuries covered include (but aren't limited to):

back and neck injuries
burns
crushing injuries
disfigurement
electrocution
falls (including those resulting from slippery surfaces, collapse of structures, faulty equipment, etc.)
fractures
loss of limbs
permanent disabilities
traumatic brain injury

Those who choose to pursue a personal injury lawsuit via the Jones Act can recover compensation for their:

past hospital bills
ongoing treatment costs
lost wages
permanent disabilities
future costs of living
pain and suffering

If you or a loved one has suffered an injury while at sea and you would like to learn more about your legal rights, contact us today. We will connect you with an experienced offshore lawyer in your area.

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How the Jones Act Works

Types of Injuries Covered by the Jones Act

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