The
Jones Act is a federal maritime law that provides for benefits to
workers who are injured on sea going vessels on navigable waters and
offshore oil rigs which can be towed and are not permanently affixed to
the ocean floor. Whether you are a seaman, an officer, a harbor pilot,
an oil worker, a technician, a helicopter pilot, work on a tugboat,
barge, ship, supply boat, semi-submersible drilling rig, jack-up
drilling rig or if you become injured on or near the water, you should
talk to an experienced maritime lawyer before making a claim or as soon
as possible thereafter.
Benefits
include maintenance and cure. Maintenance is daily pay to workers who
are unable to work pursuant to doctor's orders. Cure includes medical
care, doctors, hospitals and prescriptions drugs.
Don't
make the mistake of thinking that a Maritime Law case is a workers'
compensation case. Workers' Compensation laws are passed by the various
States with relatively small cash settlements. The Jones Act is a
federal law involving very high cash settlements if the slightest
negligence is involved or unseaworthiness of the vessel.
Unlike
workers' compensation and Long shore-Harbor Worker Act cases,
there is no State or federal agency involved in the administration of
claims. Injured workers that could be covered under the this law should
be careful about making claims under workers' compensation or the Long
shore-Harbor Workers' Act. It is possible to lose rights if the worker
elects benefits under other laws.
Settlements in maritime law cases can be significant and the law
complex. Injured workers should consult with an experienced maritime
lawyer early in the case and be aware of the employer's desire to
minimize their losses.
Some
employers will attempt to discourage workers from obtaining information
about their legal rights and will try to get workers to file claims
under workers' compensation instead of the Jones Act. If an employer is
unwilling to fairly compensate Jones Act workers, a lawsuit can be filed
in federal district court seeking damages, however most cases are
settled prior to trial.
Jones
Act Attorney's fees are contingent on obtaining a settlement or
judgment. The contingent fee is 33 1/3% of your settlement or judgment.
Expenses are advanced by your attorney and recovered from the net amount
of the your share of the settlement.
If you
think you may have a Jones Act claim, please call us at 1(800) Jones
Act. We will confidentially speak with you about your injury and answer
your questions. We do our best to help our clients both with money and
medical care. You will find it easy to talk to your Jones Act lawyer and
your phone calls will always be returned on the same day you call. We
will provide quality Jones Act legal representation and help you through
this difficult time in your life.
If you
are considering a Jones Act claim you would do well to obtain as much
information as possible about the Jones Act law and lawyers. Our Jones
Act website is designed to provide both information about the Jones Act
law and our firm. We hope that you will give us the opportunity to speak
to you about your concerns before you make a final decision about legal
representation. Thank you for visiting our Jones Act website and accept
our best wishes to you and yours.
If you
or someone you care believes that you have a claim under the Jones Act,
call 800-437-2571 anytime for a
free, no obligation consultation with one of our experienced Jones Act
attorneys or use our convenient Free Evaluation
submission form.
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