Jones Act
The Jones Act is federal law passed in 1920 which protects injured or ill seaman by allowing sailors to seek compensation from their employers for the negligence of the ship owner, master of vessel, or other crew members. This federal law is similar to FELA in that it offers many of the same protections railroad workers receive.
Congress enacted the Jones Act, which Senator Jones proposed, because the perils or working at sea were taking a heavy toll on the workers. Like the railroad workers, seaman were being injured or killed often due to dangers at sea.
If you are injured while working offshore in a vessel, on a drilling rig or drilling platform or in another work-related accident, Tony Malley, Attorney at Law may be able to help you. He is familiar with personal injury law, maritime law and the Jones Act and is dedicated to helping injured seamen recover the full amount of compensation they are entitled to.
Who Does the Jones Act Protect?
The Jones Act protects the rights of sailors on U.S. ships in the event they are injured in the course of their employment. Anyone who spends at least 30 percent of his/her time in active service on a vessel in navigable waters can qualify for Jones Act benefits.
This extends beyond workers which are commonly thought of as sailors, like those on a tanker, cruise ship or fishing boat, and also includes anyone employed offshore on structure that is designed to float on water. This includes oil rig workers.
Jones Act Benefits
Any sailor who is injured at sea is entitled to maintenance and cure, regardless of who is at fault for the injury. Maintenance is basically room and board for the injured worker who cannot perform his/her duties because of the injuries. The maintenance is paid in theory because if the worker were not injured, he would be receiving room and board on the vessel.
The amount of maintenance is often paid is often disputed. Maintenance payments are made to the injured worker until he/she reaches maximum medical improvement or cure. Cure refers to payment for medical treatments. The medical payments continue usually until the injured worker is better or the health condition has stabilized.
A seaman who can show negligence on the part of the vessel owner or another worker may also be entitled to lost wages, physical pain and suffering, lost earning capacity, emotional distress and future medical expenses. Surviving family members might also qualify for a claim if a loved one was killed while working at sea.
Contact Attorney Tony Malley for Qualified Representation
Maritime law and the Jones Act are complex areas of law that require an experienced Beaumont Jones Act attorney. Mr. Malley is experienced and knowledgeable in this field of law and can help you find the answers to questions involving the Jones Act, maritime law and maintenance and cure. He can help you get the compensation you are entitled to by law. Call today to schedule a private consultation with Mr. Malley today.