If you work on or near the water, you may be wondering whether or not the Jones Act applies to you. This video explains what factors determine your eligibility for Jones Act benefits.
I want to discuss very briefly whether or not the Jones Act is going to apply to the type of case you may have. In short, the Jones Act only applies to seamen.
Seamen are defined as individuals who work for at least 30% or more of their time on vessels. There’s a lot more complications and a lot more bells and whistles to the definition, but basically, if you spend 30% or more of your time on a vessel (this can be a barge, an oil rig, it can be specialized rigs that are out there these days), if you spend 30% or more of your time on a vessel or a structure that’s moving around on the water, you definitely want to talk to a good Jones Act attorney about whether or not the Jones Act applies to you.
If the Jones Act does apply to you, what that means is you can seek all damages for your injuries for any fault on the part of your employer. It is essentially a full compensation type statute that allows you to recover:
So if your company…
There are many, many ways could have maybe prevented your accident and, under the Jones Act, all of those mean you may be able to recover significant money, which could protect you and your family and your future.
Call us if you have any questions about the Jones Act and whether or not it’s going to apply to you, and if it does apply to you, what that means to you and your future and your family.
