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When Maritime Law Applies to Your Injury Claim
The types of accidents that Maritime Law applies to are those that occur on "navigable water," which is a term that is well-known by an attorney in Louisiana. Jones Act Law is more focused on the physical worksite and duration of employment, while Maritime Law focuses on the body of water your work is conducted in or near.
Navigable water can be defined as any water that can be navigated by a vessel, such as the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. You'll want to consult with your attorney to determine if the waterway or body of water you were working on or near is classified as "navigable" before continuing with your claim.
The Jones Act and Oil Spill Injuries: Your Work Status
Where Maritime Law focuses on the type of water you were on/near when your injury occurred, the Jones Act law focuses on your type of employment and status as a "seaman." A seaman is classified by the Jones Act in New Orleans as a worker who is more or less permanently assigned to working on a vessel in active navigation.
This means workers on an oil tanker or a commercial fishing boat would speak to an attorney in Louisiana about the Jones Act Law for their claim. Dock workers would most likely not qualify for protection under the Jones Act as they are not employed on an actual moving vessel and are more land-based.
With all of these rules that determine which type of maritime worker you are and therefore which injury laws and rights protect you, an injury claim can get quite complex. Fortunately, you have the right to contact an attorney in Louisiana for Jones Act Law cases. This will save you the trouble of finding out you may have lost out on some of your rights under these two sets of maritime worker laws.
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.
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Employee's Guide to Maritime Injury Law is intended to help maritime workers who have been injured offshore.
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Louisiana Jones Act Attorney | Louisiana Maritime Attorney | Maritime Lawyer
