Offshore Injuries and the Jones Act

The Jones Act lawyers at Morrow & Sheppard LLP are here to help you get the compensation you deserve for your Jones Act claim.  Call our offices at 1-800-489-2216 to speak with an experienced maritime attorney or fill out our contact form online.

Working in the Maritime Industry

There are many different employment options available in the maritime industry.  However, one thing is clear–working offshore can be dangerous, even deadly.  This is true whether the worker is a deckhand, engineer, electrician, oiler, or captain.

The Dangers of Offshore Work

A report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows the fatality rate of onshore and offshore oil and gas workers was 7 times higher than all other U.S. workers.

Data collected over a seven-year period showed that nearly one-fourth of all the fatalities to maritime workers occurred among workers classified as “transportation and materials moving.”   Due to the increased likelihood of injury, seamen are offered additional avenues of recovery for offshore injuries.

The Jones Act

The Merchant Marine Act of 1920, also known as the Jones Act, allows seamen negligently injured during the scope of their employment to receive compensation.  Notably, compensation does not solely refer to lost wages.  The Jones Act allows seamen to receive compensation for their medical bills, expenses related to the injury, lost present and future earnings, pain and suffering, and other similar losses.

To qualify for compensation under the Jones Act, the maritime worker must be a seaman.  The term seaman is defined in the Jones Act and has been interpreted by the courts.  Unfortunately, it isn’t always simple to find out if a maritime worker is a seaman.  Really, it is an extremely fact-intensive question.  However, the experienced attorneys at Morrow & Sheppard LLP are here to figure out if you are a seaman and investigate any and all claims to which you may be entitled.

Likely Causes of Offshore Injuries

While inclement weather can cause an accident, experience tells us that accidents tend to happen when companies take shortcuts to maximize profits.  Most debilitating and/or fatal accidents are a result of operator error, mechanical failures, improper training to workers and/or a complete lack of safety training, and fatigue caused by employees being overworked.

Our Jones Act lawyers at Morrow & Sheppard LLP assist injured seamen and offshore workers nationwide. We provide free consultations, and we only get paid when our clients win. Call us now at 800-489-2216 for a free and confidential consultation to learn more.