An experienced Jones Act lawyer can navigate your case

American seamen have long been provided legal protection against injuries suffered on the job, thanks to the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, which is also known as the Jones Act, due to the name of its creator, Sen. Wesley L. Jones of Washington state. This maritime law provides coverage of seamen's rights beyond those which might be available via Workers Compensation or Longshore Compensation acts. Those acts may not cover injuries suffered on board a ship, but the Jones Act does.

If you or a loved one has been injured while working as a seaman on American waters, then it may be vital that you engage an experienced Jones Act lawyer to secure and protect your rights. Such a Jones Act lawyer can navigate the complexities of the Jones Act while seeking full and fair financial compensation for injuries you have suffered as a result of negligence by a ship's captain, crew or owner.

Such negligence can manifest itself it unseaworthiness of a vessel, defective equipment or procedures and general inefficiency or ineptitude by a crew. If negligence of that nature has caused an injury, then the injured seaman has the recourse of gaining financial recovery via provisions outlined in the Jones Act.

Which vessels are considered covered by the Jones Act? Virtually all vessels on United States territorial waters are included, as well as those on U.S. intracoastal waterways such as canals and rivers. These may include tugs, barges, ferries, trawlers, shrimp boats, fishing boats, tankers, cruise ships, riverboat casinos, private yachts, charter boats and water taxis.

Jobs on such vessels which are covered by the Jones Act include, but are not limited to, deck hands, roustabouts, painters, cleaners, welders and, on offshore oil rigs, pump operators and drilling rig tool pushers. Those injured on an offshore oil rig may or may not be covered by the Jones Act, depending on the circumstances of the injury. It's also important that a seaman spend 30 per cent or more time working on board a vessel to be covered by the Jones Act.

If you or a family member has been injured as a seaman working on board a ship, and this injury is due to someone else's negligence, alert an experienced Jones Act lawyer as soon as possible to begin the process of gaining your financial recovery. The Jones Act's statute of limitations is three years from the time of the injury, after which you will not be able to make a claim. A skilled Jones Act lawyer can help you grasp the law's complexities and ensure that your rights are protected under the Jones Act.