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Jones Act Injuries & Maritime Law Claims

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About the Jones Act

Jones Act was enacted by Congress to provide protection to those injured while working as a crewmember of a vessel. If an injured crewmember can prove even the slightest negligence by the employer, then the injured worker may recover monetary reward for pain, suffering and disability, and future medical benefits.

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Injuries on Offshore oil rigs, ships, barges, riverboat casinos, tug boats, shrimp boats, fishing boats, trawlers, tankers, crew boats, ferries, water taxis, and all other vessels on the ocean and all intra-coastal rivers and canals, as well as divers and underwater personnel.

Who is covered under the Jones Act?

While it is common knowledge that seaman are covered under the Jones Act. One may not know that there are several other maritime occupations that are also covered under the Jones Act. Such occupations include: offshore workers on drilling rigs, production platforms, workers who work on barges and workers who are traveling between land locations in connection with their work.

Jones Act Benefits

Jones Act offers various benefits to injured maritime and offshore workers. Maintenance and cure is one benefits that the injured workers is entitled to, under maintenance and cure the company is required to pay the injured worker a daily pay to cover reasonable expenses while ashore. The payments should continue until the injured worker is able to return to work or has reached maximum medical improvement. Under the Jones Act the injured worker also has the right to choose his or her own doctor. If you have suffered and injury it would be wise to speak with a maritime attorney to ensure that you will receive all the benefits to which you are entitled.

Jones Act or Workers Comp?

Some may not know that Workers Comp and Jones Act claims are different, and as in such provide different outcome for you claim. One example of the differences is that Jones Act settlements are much greater than Workers Comp and often life-changing. One must be cautious about making a claim under Workers Comp laws. If you file for Workers Comp or other benefits, you might lose your right to ever pursue a Jones Act claim. Workers Comp laws were designed to provide medical care, disability payments and income benefits to employees hurt on the job, while Jones Act offers higher settlements and not only covers medical treatment but can include settlement for pain and suffering, loss of household services and even your loss of enjoyment of life.

If you or someone you know has been injured offshore, it's important to seek legal help quickly. At the Ogletree Abbott Law Firm, we have experience helping injured maritime workers. Contact us anytime by calling our toll-free number 1-800-779-4950 or by emailing us at Info@OgletreeAbbott.com. You can also chat live with one of our attorneys now. Call today. We're here to help you with your Jones Act claim.