Maison Law stands up for employees hurt on the job and left without proper support. Our protection extends to injured seamen hurt while working on ships and out on the water.
Support for injured seamen will come from federal sources, and cases can be complex. Victims will need proof of an employer’s negligence and unsafe conditions on ships. Maison Law is ready to investigate these incidents and bring home support for victims. Contact us for a free case consultation to find out how to hold an employer liable for putting you at risk.
What Is the Beaumont Jones Act?
The Beaumont Jones Act, or Jones Act, allows maritime workers to file claims against their employers and earn support for their recoveries. The benefits come from Federal money and not from workers’ compensation programs, since workers on the ocean and other waters aren’t always working in a particular state. It’s why maritime workers aren’t eligible for California Workers’ Compensation benefits.
The Jones Act (also known as the Merchant Marine Act of 1920) allows workers hurt at sea to sue their employers for support if the company’s negligence led to an accident. This is in addition to other sources of support that seamen have to call upon, which will be outlined below.
As long as the worker can show evidence that the employer’s negligence led to an unsafe environment and contributed to an accident, victims can sue and seek full support.
What Kinds of Compensation Can Seamen Earn Under The Jones Act?
Under the Jones Act, economic damages are covered. Some emotional damages and even the pain suffered also earn financial support.
These are some of the factors that would contribute to the size of a settlement check:
- Current and future medical costs. The cost of physical therapy, medical care, and home care should also be covered.
- Disability coverage. Victims left with a permanent physical disability would be eligible for lifetime support. The victims of a physical disfigurement would receive additional financial assistance.
- Support for the pain endured in an accident and in recovery.
- Support for the emotional trauma caused by a frightening accident and a difficult recovery. The PTSD symptoms, anxiety, and depression should earn support. The loss of enjoyment of life would also be considered.
- Lost Income and Job Benefits. The paychecks and other benefits forfeited should be returned. Compensation for wages lost from the time of the injury until the end of the voyage, as well as any future lost wages due to reduced earning capacity.
- Lost Earning Capacity. Support for workers who wouldn’t be able to work at the same level they once did. This may mean finding a new career, and a settlement should provide money for finding a new, suitable job.
- Wrongful Death Benefits for Families. After a tragic accident at sea, families can seek death benefits under the Jones Act. They could receive money to pay for funeral costs and leftover medical bills. They should also receive help replacing the income the worker may have used to support close family members each month.
Injured maritime workers could also sue the owners of vessels proven to be unsafe and not seaworthy.
There are also options for support, no matter who was at fault.
Maintenance and Cure: This is a legal concept that makes workers have some support after getting hurt, even if they contributed to their own injury. It acts like Workers’ Compensation support in that it provides benefits without fault having to be determined. If a maritime worker is hurt, they receive money to pay their medical bills and living expenses while they recover.
How Can a Lawyer Improve the Outcome of My Maritime Job Injury Claim?
These benefits sound great, but just like with any injury claim, not everyone receives the same level of support. Two workers on a ship can suffer very similar injuries and yet receive settlement checks that are thousands of dollars apart.
The difference is often legal representation. A California Jones Act Lawyer would be collecting strong evidence to show fault in your accident. Then your lawyer makes sure your hardships since the accident are understood by administrators. Every challenge and painful morning.
Maison Law makes sure they get the full story of your accident and your recovery difficulties. We make sure your injuries don’t receive a rubber-stamp and simply the basic amount of coverage. A skilled lawyer can often secure much more in compensation for injured workers than they can win by handling their claims themselves.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file for Jones Act benefits after an accident at sea?
Injured maritime workers would generally have to file a claim within three years of the date the injury was discovered. This applies to Jones Act claims and Maintenance and Cure claims. However, if the injury was suffered aboard a government-owned ship, the worker might only have six months to alert the federal employer about the accident.
What if I don’t have the money to pay a Work Injury Accident Lawyer?
With Maison Law, you don’t have to worry about finding the money to hire a lawyer at such a difficult time. We work on a contingency basis. It means you don’t owe us anything unless we win your case. Even then, our fee comes out of the settlement money the federal government sends to you.
Who is eligible for Jones Act Benefits?
Most workers who spend the majority of their time at sea or on other navigable waters would qualify. Their duties must be connected to the vessel, the operation of the vessel, or the maintenance of the vessel. That can include captains, stewards, deckhands, rig workers, divers, radio officers, cooks, and even pilots. The ships where crew would generally be covered include fishing boats, tankers, and cargo ships. Passengers would not be covered.
Contact a California Jones Act Lawyer
If you or a loved one is hurt while working at sea, contact Maison Law for a free, no-obligation case consultation. It’s a no-risk way to learn about your every option and the best way to get full support through the Jones Act and other available sources.
We want to make sure maritime workers and their injuries can’t be ignored. Maison Law gets aggressive with employers and owners to make sure they don’t turn their backs on their employees. It’s critical that all maritime workers get the support they require for as long as needed. We can help you total your current costs and potential medical needs in the future and then demand that level of support and more.
