Jones Act Deep Water Vessels
As a maritime worker, you have likely faced daily dangers at sea. With the threat of sudden severe weather conditions and defective equipment, accidents are a frequent concern. However, companies are responsible for seeing that safeguards are put in place to ensure the crew’s safety.
If you have received injuries while working on deep water vessels, you are entitled to receive maintenance benefits and payment for damages. Do not allow the company or its insurance to pay you less than you deserve. The maritime personal injury lawyers at Stepp & Sullivan represent Jones Act seamen who have received injuries at work. From our offices in Houston, Texas, we represent Jones Act Seamen throughout Texas and the United States.
Jones Act Seamen Are Entitled to a Safe Workplace
Working on the world’s oceans is dangerous. When companies do not give their workers the right tools to use, the proper training, the correct equipment, or maintain their boats and barges, serious injuries occur. Jones Act seamen are entitled to a workplace that is seaworthy and safe from hazards. This includes your fellow crew members and officers being fully trained and competent.
The company is also responsible for ensuring you are properly trained for the job you are requested to perform. As a Jones Act seaman, you do not have to put up with slipping and tripping hazards, ill-maintained vessels, or improperly trained crews. You do not have to work around leaks and spills on decks that do not contain non-skid or are constantly cluttered. You are entitled to a safe workplace, and your employer owes it to you to provide one.
Seek Compensation for Your Maritime Personal Injury Accident
Jones Act injuries do not just happen. These injuries are preventable, and they can and should be prevented by your employer. Even companies that claim to have a safety-first policy often try to save money at the cost of requiring their employees to work in dangerous conditions. As a Jones Act seaman, you deserve better, and if you are injured, you deserve to be fully compensated for their negligence.
If you have been injured while working as a Jones Act seaman, you are entitled to maintenance, cure, and Jones Act benefits. You have the right to be made whole.
Maritime and Jones Act laws vastly differ from typical personal injury laws, which means your attorney must be familiar with the unique complexities of laws that govern maritime personal injuries. Stepp & Sullivan lawyers have extensive experience in maritime law, and we understand exactly what it takes to help get our clients all they deserve.
Damages You Can Recover in a Maritime Personal Injury Claim
Maritime personal injuries can leave Jones Act seamen suffering from the emotional, physical, and financial damage that could affect them for the rest of their lives. At Stepp & Sullivan, we are committed to seeking justice for maritime personal injury Jones Act victims in Houston and throughout Texas and the United States for damages such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Reduced earning capacity
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Physical therapy
- Funeral costs
- In-home rehabilitation
- Disability
- Change in lifestyle
- Loss of companionship
- Mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
The Jones Act was created expressly for maritime workers and established a unique form of workers’ compensation for offshore workers. Jones Act seamen have the right to receive compensation after suffering an injury, and a wounded offshore worker may sue their employer for negligence and seek further compensation. An experienced maritime attorney’s counsel may be helpful as you proceed with making claims and obtaining compensation.
Contact a Skilled Maritime Personal Injury Lawyer Today for a Free Consultation
Whether you were working on tankers, cargo vessels, RORO ships, articulated tugs, offshore towing vessels, or other deep water vessels when you were injured, you are entitled to receive a daily payment known as maintenance benefits and payment for the medical care arising from your injury or illness onboard. You are also entitled to receive your unearned wages and for injuries caused by negligence, lost wages, and other damages.
The maritime personal injury attorneys at Stepp & Sullivan are experienced in fighting for the rights of Jones Act seamen and the complexities of maritime law. To schedule a free consultation with one of our knowledgeable and adept attorneys, call our office today at (713) 336-7200 or complete our convenient contact form, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
