Boat Injury and the Jones Act
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Posted On :
Sep-18-2011
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Article Word Count :
490
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Boat injury that occurs while employed on a vessel, barge, offshore rig, etc. is covered by the Jones Act-Info-Call our Chicago boat accident lawyers for help
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If you sustained a boat injury while working as a crewman on a vessel, you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against your employer if the injuries you sustained were a result of a negligent act or acts by your employer. The federal law that covers this area of personal injury is called the Jones Act. This law was enacted by Congress to provide protection to individuals who are crew members of a vessel or ship. Barges, drilling rigs located offshore, and other types of moveable motorized structures are all covered under this act. Your employer is required to pay your medical bills, which is called “cure” and daily allowance call “maintenance” if your injuries occurred in the course of performing work related activities. The Jones Act and Maritime laws surrounding this type of injury claim can be quite complex and require the skills of knowledgeable boat accident lawyers. It is in your best interest to contact them as soon as possible following your accident.
In regards to the vessel, if there was something which made it unfit for safe use or if your employer failed in any manner to provide a safe environment that resulted in a boat injury, you can bring legal action against them. In Jones Act lawsuits you can pursue financial compensation for past and future financial losses, mental anguish, pain and suffering, disfigurement, loss of your ability to perform household related tasks, lack of ability to take care of yourself and even the loss of capacity to enjoy your life.
The Jones Act also covers inland river crew members and workers who are employed offshore who may work on a barge, jack up rig, towboat, tugboat, semi-submersible rig or ship, crew boat, dredge, drill ship, tanker, floating crane, fishing vessel, cargo ship, research vessel, chemical ship, diving vessel, motorized platform, cruise ship, or on recreational boats. This act governs liability of marine employers and the operators of vessels in the case of workplace injury or wrongful death. These cases can be quite complex and confusing, and it is wise to use the services of boat accident lawyers. You need an ally in these claims to stand up against large corporations and their legal teams.
Even though the Jones Act protects a seaman in the event of boat injury, it is different from worker compensation in that it does not mandate payment regardless of who was at fault. For a worker to have a successful claim under the Jones Act, that worker has to prove that fault or negligence by the owner, officer, operator or fellow employee took place. Negligence may also include defects in the gear, equipment, tackle or vessel. If you are reading this article because you or a loved one was injured in the course of employment on a vessel or boat, call boat accident lawyers today for a free case review.
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Article Source :
http://www.articleseen.com/Article_Boat Injury and the Jones Act_83007.aspx
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Author Resource :
The Elite Lawyer Project personal injury lawyers have extensive experience in helping victims of a personal injury accident.Call 877-382-1188 today to speak to our personal injury associates for a free case review.
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Keywords :
Chicago boat accident lawyers, Jones Act, Maritime Law, Chicago boat accident attorneys, Chicago boat accident lawyer, Chicag,
Category :
Reference and Education
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Legal
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