Maritime Law & Workers Comp

The differences between Maritime Law and Worker's Compensation are vast, and everyone who works in a maritime profession should be aware of the differences. Worker's compensation is a set of laws and guidelines governed from state to state that protect workers in the case of an injury while on the job.

Maritime law, on the other hand, is a set of laws called the Jones Act. This act is designed for the coverage of employees who become hurt or injured while working at sea. This includes working on ships, boats, helicopters at sea, and certain offshore drilling rigs. The laws are different between these two and the compensation a worker is entitled to is also different and administered differently.

When looking at maritime law versus workers compensation, it is important to note that settlements and payouts that are created under the Jones Act are often much larger than those paid out by workers comp. Workers compensation is paid out by the company’s insurance policy for employees injured on the job. This will include disability pay and some medical expenses. The payments under the Jones Act can be much higher, and are divided into two categories of maintenance and cure. Many times though, a Jones Act settlement can be reached by a qualified lawyer to bring a large payment in.

Even though there are differences in maritime law versus workers compensation, there is one large similarity. Both are designed to make the best of unfortunate circumstances for a workman injured on the job. No one ever wants to get hurt and the fact is that even exorbitant amounts of money can't make up for some injuries that are sustained while working. However, people need and have a right to maintain their quality of life and these laws are in place in order to ensure that they can do that. The laws are there for the protection of workers because, often, workers do not have the means to protect themselves against large corporations. To many companies, each employee is nothing more than a number and, although that may sound cold, it is often the truth. This is why, when an employee is injured, they need to seek out a competent lawyer to assist them in making their claim against their employer.

This is one area where the separation between Maritime Law and Workers Compensation becomes very apparent. There are many competent lawyers that are more than well versed in the individual state laws governing workers comp. However, when injured at sea and covered under the Jones Act, it becomes vital to seek out a lawyer trained in the particulars of the Jones Act. The employers whom you were injured while working for will certainly have a Jones Act specialist in their corner, and the only way to be certain that you receive what you are fairly and legally entitled to is by arming yourself similarly. There may be differences between the Maritime Law and Workers Compensation, but the one thing that remains true is the necessity for a lawyer trained in that area of specialty to help make your claim in the unfortunate case of you being injured while on the job.

The Ogletree Abbott Law Firm is prepared to assist you with your case. Feel free to place a call to us today and a qualified attorney will be happy to go over the details of your case. You deserve a competent attorney on your side, fighting for you.