What You Need to Know about the Jones Act
Protection for Seamen, Employees and Passengers on the Coastal Waterways
If you have been injured in an accident in the offshore waters of the United States, your right to recover compensation for your losses is likely to be covered by the Jones Act, a federal law that protects employees as well as passengers. You want an attorney who fully understands the law, one who has successfully helped others with similar claims. At Craft Hughes Law, in Houston, we aggressively protect the rights of personal injury victims throughout the coastal communities in Texas, throughout the Gulf of Mexico, and across the Pacific and Atlantic coasts. Contact us by e-mail or call us toll-free at 1-888-350-3931.
Your Rights under the Jones Act
The Jones Act provides protection to individuals who are injured on waterways throughout the United States, including merchant seamen and passengers on commercial boats. Merchant seamen who are covered under the act include commercial fishermen, clammers, scallopers, and long-line fishermen. Along with the Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act, the Jones Act also provides remedies for other workers in marine environments, including longshoremen who load and unload commercial ships, and individuals who work on construction platforms on the water and oil rigs.
The Jones Act has a broad definition of who qualifies as a crewmember entitled to the protection of the law. The statute also contains a liberal definition of what qualifies as a vessel entitled to coverage. If you believe you may qualify or are uncertain of your status, contact Craft Hughes Law to set up a free initial consultation.
If you qualify for compensation under the Jones Act, your employer may be required to pay any medical expenses arising out of your injury, as well as a daily stipend while you recover. Furthermore, if your employer was negligent and that negligence contributed to your injury, you may be able to recover for any economic loss, disfigurement, and pain and suffering. In certain circumstances, generally where wages have been wrongfully withheld, you may also be entitled to double wages under the Wage Act.
To set up a free initial consultation with an aggressive lawyer, contact us by e-mail or call toll-free at 1-888-350-3931. Our office is open Monday through Friday, from 8 am until 6 pm, and evenings and weekends by appointment. We are located in southwest Houston, near Rice University, but will come and see you in certain situations. We accept all major credit cards.
