Jones Act Seaman Claims

Our maritime personal injury lawyers at Thornhill Law Firm, A PLC, have the knowledge and experience to successfully represent seamen injured on navigable waters, such as rivers, lakes, bays, seas, and oceans, in accident cases that fall under the jurisdictions of federal admiralty law and the Jones Act. We also have helped families obtain compensation for the deaths of loved ones under the Death on the High Seas Act (DOHS).

It is important that you retain the services of a personal injury law firm that understands how to deal with the complex laws that govern accidents that occur onshore and offshore. Your maritime accident attorney must be able to determine which laws apply to your injury case to ensure that you receive the maximum recovery.

Thornhill Law Firm, A PLC, is a New Orleans-based maritime injury law firm that has successfully handled many Jones Act injury cases for maritime workers. One of our Louisiana or Mississippi maritime injury attorneys would be happy to review your legal options during your free consultation.

The Jones Act

For the purposes of the Jones Act, the phrase “seaman” refers to anyone who has been given a task that advances the mission of a vessel or fleet of vessels, including tankers, cargo boats, towboats, jack-up rigs, fishing boats, ferries, cruise ships, restaurant boats, tour boats, floating platforms, towboats, freighters, and other boats.

As long as the seaman is serving the mission of the vessel, he or she does not have to be on a boat when the accident occurs to be covered under the Jones Act. Crew members, boat captains, cruise ship entertainers, engineers, deckhands, fish processors, cooks, and boat maintenance staff are just some of the many “seamen” covered by the Jones Act, which mandates that employers provide compensation for injuries or deaths caused by negligence.

It is the responsibility of the seaman’s employer to ensure that working conditions are safe and that the adequate safety, training, and security measures have been put in place. In the event that the seaman’s employer and the owner of the vessel are two different parties, the injured seaman or his or her family can file an unseaworthiness claim against the vessel owner for compensation.

Causes of Seaman Injuries Include:

• Defective equipment
• Inadequate work procedures, safety measures, or training
• Poor working conditions
• Construction accidents
• Crush accidents
• Explosions accidents
• Slip and fall accidents
• Offloading accidents
• Drowning accidents
• Boating collisions
• Sexual assault
• Physical assault
• Helicopter crashes

Compensation under the Jones Act may include medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, lost earning capacity, and other applicable damages.

Thornhill Law Firm, For The People

As your maritime injury law firm, Thornhill Law Firm, A PLC, will make sure that we explore all avenues of recovery for your injury accident. If the Jones Act does not cover your maritime injury accident, you may be eligible for recovery under the Longshoremen and Harbor Workers Compensation Act (LHWCA), general maritime law, or Louisiana or Mississippi workers’ compensation laws.

We can also file a personal injury claim or lawsuit against any third parties whose negligence may have contributed to your injury accident. It is important that you contact Thornhill Law Firm, A PLC, before trying to negotiate a settlement with any insurance companies. The statute of limitations for filing a claim under the Jones Act is one year from the date of the injury.

Call Thornhill Law Firm, A PLC, at (800) 989-2707 or contact us online today to schedule your free consultation with one of our Mississippi or Louisiana Jones Act attorneys.