Los Angeles Jones Act Seaman Accident Attorney

Providing Client-Focused Legal Representation to Injured Maritime Workers Seeking to Recover Compensation

Maritime employees, including those who work on cruise ships, cargo ships, barges, commercial fishing boats, and certain other maritime workers, are protected by specific maritime laws if they ever suffer injuries sustained while on the sea. Injured workers may be able to seek recovery for lost wages, medical expenses, and other living expenses by filing personal injury claims under the Jones Act.

If you’ve been in a serious maritime accident potentially caused by the negligence of your maritime employers or co-workers, you must discuss your options for filing personal injury lawsuits with experienced California Jones Act lawyers.

What is the Jones Act?

Under California law, most injured workers are barred from filing personal injury lawsuits against their employers. Instead, they are expected to pursue financial recovery through a workers’ compensation claim. The Jones Act differs from workers’ compensation claims in allowing injured workers to sue negligent employers and hold them liable for damages.

Formerly known as the Merchant Marine Act, the Jones Act is a federal statute designed to protect American maritime employees. The act grants injured seamen who sustain maritime injuries while working at sea the ability to sue at-fault parties for negligence.

To take legal action under the Jones Act, the injured worker must qualify as a seaman, as defined by the law. Typically, this means the injured party must have spent at least 30% of their time working on a vessel operating in navigable waters. The Jones Act covers maritime cases and serious accidents, including inadequate safety measures, defective equipment, slips and falls, and other personal injury claims.

It is necessary to prove negligence to hold the at-fault party accountable for the maritime accident and any associated serious injury. Because proving negligence is all-important to a maritime personal injury case under the Jones Act, it is strongly recommended that injured maritime workers seek professional legal representation from experienced Jones Act attorneys.

Who is Covered by the Jones Act in LA?

The Jones Act applies to employees who work as seamen. Under federal law, a seaman is an individual who performs a significant amount of their job on a seafaring vessel. There are often disputes over who qualifies for seamen status and, thus, who is protected by the Jones Act.

Do not assume the Jones Act doesn’t apply to you. Contact an experienced Jones Act lawyer to discuss your injury or wrongful death case in more detail to determine whether you are eligible for Jones Act legal remedies.

Maritime workers whom the Jones Act may cover include the following:

• Barge workers
• Commercial fishers and fishing vessels
• Crew members who contribute to ocean vessel navigation or operation
• Engine room mechanics on a ship
• Galley workers on a maritime vessel
• Longshoreman
• Tugboat workers
• And more

Contact our Los Angeles law firm to schedule a free case review with the legal team and discuss whether you qualify to take legal action under the Jones Act.

How Do California Jones Act Attorneys Prove the Fault of Negligent Employers?

To file a Jones Act claim, you must be able to prove negligence on the part of your maritime employers, coworkers, or other parties involved in the navigation or operation of your maritime vessel. Under the law, negligence signifies the failure to exercise reasonable care and implement adequate safety measures in and out of port.

The Jones Act dictates that all eligible maritime employers are obligated to ensure the safe upkeep and maintenance of their vessels, adhere to reasonable safety standards, and ensure that maritime workers are afforded safe working conditions that are reasonably secure.

If an employer neglects to adhere to proper safety protocols, a maritime worker may suffer serious injuries, permanent disability, or even death. A Jones Act lawyer will work to prove negligence on the part of the employer to hold them accountable with an injury claim. Jones Act injury claims hinge on specific facts and evidence and the legal status of all parties involved.

Many Jones Act cases are complex and require dedicated legal representation to recover the financial compensation deserved. Contact our law firm to speak with an attorney about your case today.

What Are Common Maritime Accidents and Injuries?

Virtually all work on the high seas has some element of risk or danger. Seamen and maritime workers can be injured in various offshore or vessel-related accidents.

Common maritime accidents include the following:

• Acts of violence, including sexual assault
• Deck accidents, which can cause serious injuries to dock workers, longshoremen, and seamen
• Defective equipment can result in catastrophic accidents
• Heavy equipment accidents, such as crane accidents, cargo loading accidents, and more
• Improper training or hiring practices that result in underqualified coworkers and colleagues
• Many maritime workers are forced to work with hazardous chemicals or in unsafe environments that can cause injury or illness
• Near drowning incidents
• Repeated heavy lifting can cause musculoskeletal problems, herniated discs, and back injuries
• Slip and fall accidents on wet or uneven surfaces, stairways, and decks

Common maritime injuries suffered by workers include the following:

• Burns
• Electrocution
• Hand and arm injuries
• Loss of limbs
• Loss of vision or hearing
• Muscle strains
• Nerve damage
• Oxygen deprivation
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Soft tissue injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Wrongful death
• And more

If you’ve been injured while on the job at sea, you must seek emergency treatment from qualified medical professionals without delay. Failure to seek emergency medical treatment could devalue your maximum compensation, as could failure to follow the directions of your doctors and other medical staff. After seeing medical professionals about your serious injury, contact our law firm. Your medical records will be valuable evidence for a Jones Act attorney.

What Sort of Compensation is Possible with a Successful Jones Act Injury Claim?

After a maritime accident, injured workers are often left to contend with costly medical bills, the prospect of lost wages, and other expenses that threaten the stability of their daily lives. It is possible to seek fair compensation by filing a Jones Act claim against the negligent parties. If successful, you may be eligible to obtain both economic and non-economic damages.

Potential compensation you may be able to recover with the help of a Jones Act attorney includes the following:

• Past medical bills and future medical expenses
• Disability, disfigurement, and dismemberment compensation
• Physical pain and suffering compensation
• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
• Physical therapy and rehabilitative care costs
• Diminished quality of life
• Emotional distress and mental anguish compensation
• Loss of companionship or consortium
• Wrongful death

Contact our Los Angeles Jones Act attorney to discuss what your claim could be worth in a free case evaluation.

Is There a Time Limit for Beginning the Claims Process?

Those who suffered serious injuries in an offshore accident or aboard a maritime vessel must act quickly if they hope to recover financial compensation. There is a statute of limitations for Jones Act claims.

In most Jones Act cases, the statute of limitations is three years from the date of the injury. The three-year time window specifically applies to filing legal action, not reporting medical conditions.

Do not delay, however. The sooner you speak with an attorney, the better. Evidence and eyewitness accounts deteriorate over time, and you want the most supporting evidence possible to help strengthen your case.

If you do not file a claim before the statute of limitations runs out, you will be barred from recovering compensation for your personal injury claim.

Schedule a Free Consultation with an Experienced California Maritime Law Professional Today

As your personal representative, California Jones Act attorney Preston Easley will explore all of your legal options for taking action under the applicable laws. Our California law firm has represented many Jones Act cases and helped injured victims seek fair financial support for emergency medical treatment, surgeries, disabilities, and other medical bills. First, we will work on establishing seamen status to ensure that the Jones Act federal law protects you. Then, we will investigate the accident that caused your serious injuries, gather evidence to support your maritime injury case and seek to hold negligent employers and coworkers accountable by filing a legal claim.

To learn more about our legal services and the federal statute that may provide injured seamen with a pathway to financial relief, contact Jones Act lawyer Preston Easley and his legal staff to schedule your free initial consultation today.

You can reach us at 310-773-5207.