Maritime workers face unique dangers on the job. These risks can endanger their life and safety in an instant. When ships are not correctly maintained or employers fail to put proper safeguards in place, workers may suffer preventable injuries and deaths. Recognizing these dangers, the Jones Act was enacted to protect these workers.
If you were injured while working on a vessel in Lafayette, LA, Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers can help. Since our founding, we have recovered tens of millions of dollars in compensation for our deserving clients. Our Lafayette Jones Act lawyers bring over 50 years of combined experience to the table, which we leverage to secure meaningful compensation for our clients.
Call our Louisiana-based attorneys today at (337) 473-2991 for a free case review.
How Mansfield Melancon Can Help With Your Jones Act Claim in Lafayette, LA
Jones Act cases differ from workers’ compensation cases or other personal injury claims. These cases are based on one specific law, so understanding this law’s intricacies is vital to preparing your case for maximum compensation.
When you hire Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers to handle your Jones Act claim, you can count on us to:
- Explain the law to you and how it affects your legal rights
- Investigate your accident for coverage under the Jones Act
- Gather evidence of negligence that caused your injuries
- Prepare your legal claims
- Handle communication with insurers and employers
- Monitor case deadlines
- Keep you updated on the status of your case
- Negotiate for fair compensation
If you’re considering filing a claim, contact an experienced Jones Act lawyer in Lafayette, Louisiana, from our law firm today. With our contingency fee payment structure, we only get paid if you do.
What Is the Jones Act?
The Jones Act is one of the most powerful maritime laws in the United States. This federal law allows injured workers on boats and other vessels to seek compensation if their injury is due to their employer’s or the boat owner’s negligence. Federal lawmakers recognized that sea workers should have added protections due to their exposure to the “perils of the sea,” allowing for the passing of this significant statute.
Unlike workers’ compensation cases in which workers are prohibited from suing their employers and are limited primarily to medical and partial wage replacement benefits, injured maritime workers can make legal claims against their employers for the full extent of their damages.
What Does the Jones Act Cover?
The Jones Act covers a broad array of injury-related claims, including maritime accidents. It covers incidents that result in physical harm, illness, or emotional distress. Common examples of Jones Act claims include:
- Slips and falls
- Net injuries
- Machinery accidents
- Lifting injuries
- Exposure to harmful substances
- Hypothermia from falling overboard
The law applies to injuries that are the result of an employer’s or vessel owner’s negligence, including:
- Failing to train workers
- Failing to provide seaworthy vessels
- Failing to perform regular maintenance on the ship
- Failing to provide proper safety equipment
- Failure to place warning signs near hazardous areas
The Jones Act also covers wrongful death claims when the employer or vessel owner’s negligence led to the death of a worker.
Who Can File a Jones Act Claim?
Maritime workers who qualify as seamen can file a Jones Act claim. This is anyone whose duties contribute to a vessel’s function or mission, including mates, fishermen, drillers on oil rigs, deckhands, captains, engineers, stewards, cooks, and others.
If you spend a significant portion of your work time on a vessel operating in navigable waters, you may be able to file a Jones Act claim if you were injured on the job. Contact an attorney for help determining your legal rights and options
Financial Compensation Available for Jones Act Claims in Lafayette
One of the most important benefits of the Jones Act is the ability to recover for the full range of losses you incur. Your damages may include:
- Medical expenses: The Jones Act allows you to seek compensation for all healthcare-related costs you incurred because of the injury. This could include emergency treatment, rehabilitation, diagnostic tests, physical therapy, and future medical care.
- Lost wages: You can seek compensation for the full amount of your lost wages, as well as any reduction in your long-term earning capacity.
- Pain and suffering: You have the right to seek compensation for the physical pain and emotional distress you suffered because of the accident.
- Loss of enjoyment of life: You can also seek compensation for the decrease in your quality of life due to being unable to participate in hobbies and activities you once enjoyed and the negative effect your injuries have had on your relationships with loved ones.
Our attorneys will work hard to calculate the full amount of your damages so that we can help you maximize your compensation.
What Is the Statute of Limitations for Jones Act Claims?
The filing deadline or statute of limitations for Jones Act claims is three years from the date of injury or death. If you do not file your legal claim within this time period, it can be dismissed and rendered ineligible for consideration.
However, there are exceptions to this time limit for some cases. You might have a different amount of time to take legal action, so it is best to contact an attorney as soon as you can for assistance.
Contact Our Lafayette Jones Act Attorneys Today for a Free Consultation
If you were injured on a boat or vessel, a Lafayette Jones Act attorney from Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers can help. The Jones Act is a powerful law designed to protect people like you who were harmed while working aboard a ship due to someone else’s negligence.
We can provide you with high-quality legal representation and seek the compensation you deserve. Call us today for a free case review.
Visit Our Personal Injury Law Office in Lafayette, LA
Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers
1318 Camellia Boulevard, Suite 206, Lafayette, LA, 70508
(337) 473-2991
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