The Jones Act
The Jones Act Covers Seamen's Workers' Compensation Claims
The Jones Act is a federal law that gives injured seamen the right to collect compensation if their injuries were caused even slightly by the negligence of their employers. Unlike landside workers' compensation claims, Jones Act claims must proceed as formal lawsuits.
Landside workers' compensation claims are sometimes more simple in comparison. Due to the relative complexity of Jones Act claims, workers injured at sea should seriously consider hiring an experienced Jones Act lawyer to guide them through the process of filing a Jones Act lawsuit and meeting all necessary deadlines.
The maritime and admiralty law firm of John Hughes Cooper, P.C., is located on Sullivan's Island, at the entrance to Charleston Harbor in South Carolina. Since 1984, our law firm has handled South Carolina and Georgia offshore workers' injury claims carefully and with all deliberate speed.
Our attorneys understand that a seaman with serious injuries needs his or her claim settled as quickly as possible, to replace lost wages and help pay unpaid medical bills. At the same time, the quick settlement of a Jones Act case may result in a compensation package that does not meet all of the injured worker's financial needs.
To learn more about how our maritime law firm can help you with a Jones Act offshore worker's injury claim, contact us to schedule a private and free initial consultation with one of our lawyers.
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The Jones Act applies to injuries and illnesses suffered by men and women working in offshore jobs. The Jones Act does not apply to people injured in pleasure boating accidents or to longshore or harbor workers. The law office of John Hughes Cooper, P.C., also represents the victims in these types of injury cases — however, the procedures are different than they are for Jones Act cases.
Important Early Questions After a Shipboard or Offshore Injury
One major advantage of hiring a lawyer as soon as possible after an offshore injury is that you will get answers to your important questions, which will lower the stress level associated with the immediate days and weeks after the injury.
- What if I helped cause the accident? The Jones Act states that an injured seaman may receive compensation even if he or she helped cause the accident. The Jones Act works on a comparative negligence system. This means that if the injured offshore worker is shown to have been 5 percent responsible for the accident, then the injured worker may still recover 95 percent of the financial damages associated with the accident.
- Can I start getting financial reimbursement without filing a formal lawsuit? In some cases, you may be able to start receiving maintenance and cure funds before you file a formal Jones Act claim.
- How do I pay my medical bills and other obligations while the Jones Act lawsuit is pending? If you have seaman's health insurance, it will cover medical bills until your Jones Act case is resolved. In other cases, we may be able to help you apply for Medicare benefits or refer you to doctors who will provide treatment and place a lien against the ship owner instead of billing the injured person directly.
- What kind of compensation is available in death at sea cases? The law is changing in the area of wrongful death cases involving offshore workers. If you have lost a loved one, it is critically important to seek knowledgeable legal advice to make sure you make all the claims you are entitled to — including claims for loss of society and claims for punitive damages.
Contact John Hughes Cooper, P.C. · Free Consultations · Toll Free 1-800-883-9099
We devote our entire practice to maritime and admiralty law — and especially to giving legal counsel to injured seamen and offshore workers. To talk to one of our Jones Act lawyers in a free and private consultation, send us an e-mail or call us toll free at 1-800-883-9099.
General information about the Jones Act, shipboard accidents, and other issues is available on The Admiralty Docket.
