| 8/1/2002 | Jones act; back injuries; judgment of more than $780,000 Louisiana Advocates |
| 7/9/1999 | Injured New Iberia man wins $500,000 in lawsuit The Daily Advertiser |
Practice Areas: Offshore/Marine Accidents
Offshore/Marine Accidents
There was no guarantee that every injured seaman would be covered by maritime law; therefore, the United States Congress passed the maritime law knows as the Jones Act. When speaking of the Jones Act, many offshore workers and seamen simply use the phrase ''maritime law''. For our intent and purposes, the two terms are the same. Maritime law covers the ships' crews, owners, passengers and cargoes on both the high seas and other navigable waters. Federal judiciary power is granted to all maritime law cases by the U.S. Constitution. Some admiralty law cases are still heard by state courts.
If you're injured working on or near the water, you need to talk to a maritime law attorney as soon as you can before you make a claim. ''Seaman'' is loosely defined as per maritime law. All seamen hired to serve aboard a vessel are included as was Congress's intention when passing laws to protect them.
Federal courts have determined that the term "seaman":
- Extends to all persons employed on a vessel to assist in the main purpose of the voyage.
- Extends to all persons whose duties are maritime in character and rendered on vessels engaged in commerce or trade, in navigable waters.
- Includes anyone employed on a vessel to which an American corporation holds legal title and which another American corporation operates under demise charter.
- Shall include persons who otherwise might be deemed not to be a seamen; it includes some that might otherwise be excluded; it does not take anyone out who would otherwise be there.
Let Us Help You
If you think you may have a maritime law claim, please call us. We will confidentially speak with you about your injury and answer your questions about maritime law. We do our best to help our clients. We will provide quality legal representation and help you through this difficult time in your life.