Handling Jones Act Claims and Crewmember Injury Claims in Miami, Florida
All seamen including, deck hands, officers, cooks, waiters, engineers, cruise shop concessionaires and other workers in the cruise or shipping industry are often in harm's way as they work on and near large vessels. They may slip and fall on wet decks, have cargo fall on them when a line breaks, or be struck by cargo or objects that have shifted on the vessel. These accidents can result in:
- Slip and fall injuries, such as broken bones and fractures
- Lifting injuries, such as serious back injury
- Leg and knee injuries
- Head and neck injuries
Many of these injuries can limit or prevent a crewmember from performing his normal responsibilities. A Jones Act lawyer from Cassidy & Black can help you understand your rights if you were injured at work on or near a cruise ship, charter boat, barge, tanker, container ship or other seagoing vessel.
Contact our firm today for a free initial consultation with an experienced maritime law and Jones Act claim attorney.
Collecting Maintenance and Cure Damages in Addition to Jones Act
Under the Jones Act of 1916, an employee may file a claim against his or her employer if the employer failed to provide a "seaworthy" vessel or if the employer's negligence directly resulted in the employee's accident and injury. If a crewmember's injury was caused by a lack of seaworthiness or employer negligence, the worker can collect compensation for lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages, such as maintenance and cure.
Your employer has the duty to provide health care and living expenses when you are injured until you have reached maximum medical improvement (MMI). Under the law, you are entitled to maintenance and cure, which includes room and board and the reasonable medical care needed - regardless of who is at fault. A successful Jones Act claim can help you collect these damages.
In order to collect damages after an injury, a seaman must prove that the employer caused the accident and injury through negligence or through failure to provide its warranty of seaworthiness. At Cassidy & Black, our Jones Act lawyers can investigate your injury claim to determine whether your employer was negligent or if your vessel was unseaworthy. Our goal is to help you get the compensation you deserve after an accident.
Do Not Wait to Talk with a Jones Act Attorney if You Were Injured
While injured cruise line passengers have only one year from the date of injury to file a lawsuit, crewmembers who were injured on the job have three years from the date of the injury to file a suit. It is important to contact an experienced Jones Act attorney as soon as possible after an accident to start the investigation to support your claim. Attorneys Mike Black and Bill Cassidy will immediately begin to investigate the accident, talk with eyewitnesses, review your employer's records of the event, and review doctors' reports and medical records to prepare a strong case.
Maritime employers sometimes do not treat their employees well. An injured cruise crewmember's best advocate is an experienced and skilled maritime lawyer who understands crewmembers' rights under the Jones Act.
If you are a crewmember or harbor worker who was injured on the job, we can help. Call Cassidy & Black 305-271-8301 for a free initial consultation or contact us online.
