Do I qualify as a seaman?

Two of the most commonly used terms when determining the laws that apply to your maritime injury claim are "navigable waters" and "seaman." These are terms of classification for a maritime worker to know when seeking rights and protections under Maritime Law or Jones Act Law.

The term "navigable waters" applies to both laws, and it means any body of water that can be navigated. This includes the obvious bodies like oceans and rivers but also can apply to inland lakes and canal systems. Maritime Law provides protection to a worker who works on or near a body of navigable water, which can range from dock workers to onboard mechanics.

When applying Jones Act Law to your maritime injury claim, you need to determine if you qualify as a "seaman" or not. The laws define a seaman as a worker who spends the majority of his or her employment on a moving vessel in navigable waters, such as an oil tanker or commercial fishing boat. The Jones Act would most likely not apply to workers on a fixed offshore platform or at a marina.

Determining your classifications for an injury claim can make the filing and resolution process much more frustrating, especially when you are trying to focus on recovering from your injuries. No matter what law applies to your case, you always have the right to consult a maritime attorney to help you determine the difference between Jones Act Law cases and Maritime Law cases. 

Contact an Attorney in Louisiana for Jones Act Law Cases

The Jones Act Law provides you with certain protections your employer may not want you to know about. An attorney who handles offshore injuries under the Jones Act in New Orleans can be found at The Young Firm. Our Jones Act and oil spill attorneys can help you if you have suffered maritime offshore accident injuries while working on an offshore platform, at a marina, or on a vessel.

Though we are based in Louisiana, we are ready and able to help injured victims throughout the U.S. Order our free Maritime Injury Law guide and/or our guide to what to do when you are injured offshore to learn all about your rights as an injured worker.

When you are ready to get started with your Jones Act injury case, we urge you to contact us today for a FREE case evaluation - call 1-504-680-4100 or toll-free at 1-866-938-6113.