Victoria, Texas Jones Act Attorneys

Under the provisions of the Jones Act, maritime workers and seamen injured while working in service to a ship in navigable waters are eligible to receive certain medical and financial benefits. In addition to injuries at sea, maritime workers are also covered for work-related injuries that occur inland.

Since the Jones Act covers work-related injuries caused by the negligence of an employer or ship owner, injured maritime workers can encounter difficulties when their employer denies any negligence or responsibility on their part.

At the law office of Cole, Cole & Easley, our lawyers investigate the cause of maritime injuries, collecting eyewitness testimony, taking depositions from supervisors and crewmen, and analyzing any machinery or ship damage involved. When gross negligence is involved - OSHA or other safety violations - we seek damages beyond initial medical costs and lost wages.

Don't let an employer intimidate or mislead you about the benefits owed you under the Jones Act. To protect and assert your rights, contact maritime injury lawyers at Cole, Cole & Easley today to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.

Benefits Owed Injured Maritime Workers Under the Jones Act

Injured maritime workers are eligible to receive the following kinds of benefits under the terms of the Jones Act, regardless of whether an employer or ship owner is at fault.

• Maintenance: An employer is required to pay injured workers a daily allowance equal in pay to what it would have cost to feed and shelter that employee on board ship had they not been injured.
• Cure: An employer must pay the medical expenses of an injured seaman or maritime worker until he or she has recovered to a maximum state of health. These costs include such things as emergency room treatment, hospitalization, prescription drug costs, physical therapy, surgery, etc.
• Unseaworthiness of a Vessel: When a ship is in disrepair, exposes workers to hazards and dangers, or employs improperly trained crew members, it can be considered "unseaworthy." As such, "unseaworthy" does not refer to a ship's inability to sail; rather it refers to negligence on the part of an employer or ship owner that puts employees in danger. Consequently, if a maritime worker's injuries are due to negligence and the unseaworthiness of a vessel, he or she can recover maintenance and cure, as well as damages for future medical treatment, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Protecting Your Rights - Understanding the Term of the Jones Act

Companies don't always inform their employees of the rights and benefits available to them. As a result, they may try and control a Jones Act injury claim by telling an employee he or she must be examined by a company doctor or seek medical attention from a company approved hospital. In some instances, an employer may tell an injured employee that a nurse must accompany him or her to any medical exams or appointments.

There is nothing in the Jones Act, however, that gives an employer the right to determine where you can seek medical attention or what doctor you see. And certainly, there is nothing that allows a company to send a nurse to accompany you to an exam or doctor's appointment. At Cole, Cole & Easley, we put employers on notice by making sure they understand they face legal action if they attempt to mislead or intimidate our clients.

Contact Jones Act Attorneys at Cole, Cole & Easley Today

Regardless of whether you work on a cruise ship, oil tanker, fishing vessel, or cargo ship, you have rights under the Jones Act. Before you sign a statement drafted by your employer, contact Cole, Cole & Easley to ensure your rights are protected.