Jones Act Lawyer in Fort Lauderdale

Understanding Your Jones Act Lawsuit

The Jones Act protects specific maritime employees known as seamen. The Jones Act regulates negligence cases in the maritime industry. It offers opportunities for seamen to get the financial support they deserve after being involved in a maritime accident on or around navigable waters. It protects crew members’ and seafarer’s rights and ensures victims are compensated for their suffering.

Unlike the LHWCA, which protects nearly any type of maritime employee, including offshore workers, offshore drilling employees, longshore workers, harbor workers, ship crews, and fishermen, the Jones Act applies specifically to seamen injured on cruise ships, cargo ships, or other seaworthy vessels.

You will need to establish yourself as a seaman to qualify for benefits. Our Florida Jones Act lawyers offer the maritime legal support you need.

Handling Jones Act Claims

Jones Act cases in Fort Lauderdale require a highly respected maritime law firm. It is our top priority at Tucker Law to focus on seafarer rights protection and ensure injured maritime workers get justice if they are involved in accidents on offshore drilling rigs, fishing boats, cruise ships, or any other type of maritime accident that falls under general maritime law.

The Jones Act offers injured seamen specific types of protection. The LHWCA protects maritime employees, excluding seamen, providing them with benefits similar to those afforded to maritime workers collecting worker’s compensation benefits.

However, the Jones Act is a little different. You can still receive compensation for your medical expenses, known as cure. However, you are also entitled to maintenance and recovery of damages awarded in personal injury claims. Maintenance offers you compensation for your daily living expenses, including:

• Utilities
• Groceries and food
• Internet
• Telephone
• Gas
• Rent or mortgage payments

You can also seek reimbursement for economic and non-economic damages, which may be recovered through a personal injury claim. Some examples of such damages include:

• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Emotional distress
• Reduced earning capacity
• Lost wages
• Loss of consortium

However, it is important to note that your Florida Jones Act lawyer must prove that the ship you were working on was unseaworthy. Proving unseaworthiness is critical if you hope to win your claim under the Jones Act.

Protecting the Rights of Seamen

We will zealously protect your rights under the Jones Act. In the aftermath of your work accident, it is crucial that you get medical attention and report your maritime injuries to your immediate supervisor.

As soon as you are medically stable, connect with a Jones Act lawyer in Fort Lauderdale, FL. We will evaluate your employee status to determine your eligibility for compensation under the Jones Act, or if filing a claim under the LHWCA is more appropriate.

Your injury lawyer will conduct an in-depth investigation into the cause of your broken bone, spinal cord injuries, or other injuries to determine whether the accident was caused by the ship’s unseaworthiness. Any conditions that may be considered unsafe could deem a vessel, boat, or ship unseaworthy.

The burden of proof of these claims is relatively low, but you can rely on our extensive knowledge, experience, and representation of prior injured seamen. Our team will do everything possible to get your Jones Act claim approved promptly so you can avoid financial ruin.

Consult a Fort Lauderdale Jones Act Attorney

Under the Jones Act, you can recover compensation for maintenance, cure, and how your life has been affected by your on-the-job injuries. Only qualifying seamen are eligible.

Find out whether you meet the requirements and learn how the Jones Act works when you get help from an experienced Fort Lauderdale Jones Act attorney at Tucker Law. You can hold negligent employers, shipowners, and other at-fault parties accountable when you take action. Fill out our contact form or call our office to schedule your confidential and free consultation with our attorneys.