Surprising Ways Your Employer May Hinder Your Jones Act Claim

One of the best types of evidence for a case of Jones Act negligence is jobsite records. If your injury was caused by faulty equipment, hazardous worksite conditions, or other facility-related matters there should be records to back up these failures to provide a safe work environment.

Unfortunately, most employers will rarely provide the records necessary to show evidence of failure to maintain equipment or resolve safety issues. Some of the records you may be seeking include: 

• vessel/worksite inspection records;
• equipment maintenance logs;
• duty logs;
• weather logs; and
• general employee records. 

Because your employer holds these records, you will need to obtain them from their offices directly. It's not uncommon to have an employer tell you that they are not allowed to release those records for confidentiality reasons - but this can often just be a tactic to damage your injury claim.

You have the right to seek compensation for an injury caused by employer negligence under Jones law and you also have a right to hire an attorney to help you seek that compensation. Attorneys for Jones law claims often have more resources and a better chance at obtaining the records necessary to serve as evidence in your claim. 

A Jones Act Negligence Attorney can Help with a Claim under Jones Law

You have certain protections your employer may not want you to know about under the Jones Act. The statute of limitations is just one aspect you need to work around when filing a claim of Jones Act negligence. An attorney from The Young Firm in New Orleans, Louisiana, can help you if you have suffered injury due to the negligence of your offshore drilling co. or other maritime employer. 

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 504-680-4100 or toll free at 866-938-6113.