Galveston Jones Act Lawyer

While workers in most industries have access to workers’ compensation, things work differently for maritime workers. If you spend most of your working hours aboard a commercial boat, you likely have a right to seek compensation under the federal Jones Act when you get hurt or sick as a direct result of your working conditions.

The Jones Act is similar to traditional workers’ comp, but it does not work exactly the same way, and there are plenty of opportunities for injured workers without a skilled maritime attorney by their side to get tripped up during the claims process. Contacting a Galveston Jones Act lawyer should be a top priority after getting injured or ill on the job while out at sea.

Who Is Covered Under the Jones Act?

While the Jones Act is designed to cover seamen who get hurt or sick while working away from land, a maritime worker does not necessarily have to be on the water when they get hurt to be covered. The Jones Act applies to maritime workers who are assigned to an active operating vessel and who spend at least 30 percent of their working hours aboard that vessel.

Under the Jones Act, maritime employers are not automatically liable for certain losses caused by work-related accidents in the same way employers subject to workers’ comp laws are. Workers filing claims under the Jones Act must be able to prove that some form of negligence by their employer or someone else working with or for that employer directly contributed to causing their accident. A seasoned Galveston Jones Act attorney could help meet this requirement, from gathering evidence of reckless or careless misconduct to establishing that the Jones Act applies to the situation.

Benefits for Jones Act Claimants

The Jones Act requires claimants to meet a higher standard of proof than traditional workers’ comp, but it allows successful claimants to recover for a wider variety of losses than standard workers’ comp. Specific damages a Jones Act claim can seek restitution for include:

• Physical pain and suffering
• Lost overall enjoyment of life
• Emotional and psychological anguish
• All medical expenses for the work-related injury or illness
• Past and future wage loss, including lost future earning capacity

When  a maritime worker passes away prematurely due to a work-related injury or illness, the Jones Act may also provide death benefits to surviving family members. A Jones Act lawyer in Galveston could discuss what forms of harm may be compensable during a private meeting.

Consider Working with a Galveston Jones Act Attorney

The Jones Act provides additional protections to maritime workers that most workers in other industries do not have, but having the right to file a claim under the Jones Act is not the same as getting a good result from your claim.

Representation from a Galveston Jones Act lawyer could make a world of difference in the outcome your case has and the amount of compensation you are able to obtain for your injuries. Call today for a confidential consultation.