Maritime Law Jones Act: Who the Law Protects
The Jones Act & Maritime Law
Under maritime law the Jones Act exists to protect offshore workers who become ill or injured while in the service of a vessel. Seamen are entitled, under the Act, to seek damages from their employer if they are injured on-the-job due to the negligence of someone else. Even if the seaman contributed to causing his or her own injury, he or she may still recover damages as long as someone else was also negligent.
Additionally, if you are onboard a ship that is unfit to be at sea, then you may have a claim against the vessel owner for unseaworthiness. Anything from broken safety equipment to inadequate bathroom facilities can be enough to support a finding of unseaworthiness.
The Jones Act provides solid protection to offshore workers by allowing them to seek compensation for any negligence or carelessness that resulted in an injury. In order to take advantage of that protection, you must spend the majority of your time working on a moveable vessel, like a:
- Tugboat;
- Commercial Fishing Boat;
- Oil Tanker;
- Container Ship;
- Barge;
- Semi-Submersible or
- Jack-up Rig
Don’t let your employer tell you what you should or shouldn’t do. In the wake of a serious accident, contact the Jones Act lawyers at Fitts Zehl immediately to discuss your rights and options.
Call 1-800-993-4887 for a free, confidential case consultation with one of our Experienced Maritime Lawyers
If you or a loved one were injured while working offshore, the experienced and dedicated Jones Act lawyers at Fitts Zehl will devote whatever resources are necessary to ensuring that you are fully compensated for your injuries so that you and your family can focus on the future—and not on how you’re going to pay for it.
Call 1-800-993-4887 for a free case consultation or simply click here to Contact us by email.
