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Who Is Eligible for Maintenance and Cure Payments?
by Dennis M. McElwee on October 18, 2011
Every Jones Act seaman is eligible for maintenance and cure payments after an injury. These payments do not depend on whether the employer or the worker was responsible for the injury. Maintenance payments are meant to cover the seaman's living expenses during the injury. These payments should cover rent, groceries, utility expenses, travel co...
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Can I File A Claim Under Maritime Law?
by Dennis M. McElwee on October 25, 2011
Whether you work as a seaman, dockworker or offshore laborer, if you’ve been injured during the course of your marine industry job then you likely have rights under maritime law. Depending on your occupation, your injury claim is subject to different requirements and compensation rules. Qualified maritime lawyers can help you determine which la...
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Worker Loses Maintenance and Cure Claim Due to Cocaine Use
by Matthew D. Shaffer on November 30, 2011
In rare cases, a maritime worker may have his rights to maintenance and cure denied because of undesirable behavior like alcohol or drug use. In a classic example of such a case, a worker who filed a lawsuit against Omega Protein Inc. has had his claim rejected. The man was a worker on board the company's fishing vessel, and sustained injuries ...
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Do I Need A Jones Act Lawyer?
by Matthew D. Shaffer on January 25, 2012
If you have been injured in the course of work on a vessel, you may be wondering whether you need to consult a Jones Act lawyer. The answer, in most cases, is yes. The Jones Act is a federal law that provides a different system for workers compensation for those designated as “seamen.” The complexities of this maritime law are such that, even i...
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Your Jones Act Claim Clock is Ticking
by Matthew D. Shaffer on April 17, 2012
Maritime accidents are a special type of case. A person’s right to a maritime claim for an injury that occurred at sea can vary by the status of the person, whether the injured person is a passenger or a crewmember of the vessel on which the injury occurred.The legal issues involving accidents covered by maritime law can be totally different fro...
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Ship Pilot Killed in Maritime Fall Accident
by Matthew D. Shaffer on May 08, 2012
According to the International Maritime Pilots Association, a ship pilot was killed recently during a fall accident on a vessel. The 58-year-old pilot was on a vessel that was sailing on the River Elbe. At the time of the accident, the pilot was attempting to board the boat. He had been standing on a ladder, when he slipped and fell into the wat...
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How Do You Know When You Have a Maritime Claim?
by Dennis M. McElwee on May 15, 2012
A person may have a maritime law claim if they have been injured while working aboard a ship, but there are many other factors that must be considered.The ship’s nation of origin, where the ship was, and who owns the ship or who employs the worker are all things to be taken into consideration when deciding whether a maritime lawsuit is a viable ...
