In the United States, two main pieces of legislation affect many of the maritime injury claims. These laws specifically address the rights of those who work on the water or in land jobs that are directly tied to offshore business. We represent clients in claims brought under both of the essential maritime injury laws:
- Jones Act claims
The Jones Act covers those who live and work on water vessels. This can include ships, oil rigs and other vessels that are actually out at sea. Depending on the exact work you do, it could be complicated to determine whether you are considered a “seaman” under the legal definition and thus afforded protection under the Jones Act.
- Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act claims
These claims involve those who work in the maritime industry but are not considered seamen working on a vessel at sea. In most cases, this can include those working on docks, repairing ships or doing related on-shore work with boats.
Protect Your Rights After a Maritime Injury | Do’s and Don’ts
Too often following an accident, maritime workers trust their employers and their insurance companies to offer advice and guidance. However, those entities are out to protect only their own bottom line, and they will do anything to reduce or even deny your claim. Injured workers should take steps as soon as possible to protect their rights and preserve their claim. To that end, DO:
- Get Help
- Seek medical help for your injuries.
- Write down everything you remember about the circumstances of your accident and injury to keep your memory fresh.
- Call an experienced maritime injury lawyer.
Often, injured workers unknowingly say or do things that can do significant and lasting damage to their claim. If you have been hurt in a maritime accident, DO NOT:
- Sign papers without consulting with a maritime injury lawyer.
- Give a recorded statement.
- Delay in seeing a doctor.
- Agree to a settlement before talking with a maritime injury attorney.
- Let your employer pressure you to go back to work before you are ready.
- Wait too long to file a maritime accident claim.
