Jones Act Lawyers, Maritime Law Attorneys at Gilman Law LLP are Here to Help You
The Merchant Marine Act of 1920 is a United States statute designed to support the U.S. merchant marine industry and protect the health and livelihood of the maritime workers. The statute has provided benefits to hundreds of thousands of seaman on jack-up rigs, semi-submersible rigs, barges, drill ships, tugboats, tow boats, crew boats, dredges, cargo ships, fishing vessels and other moveable vessels.
The Jones Act is the portion of the Merchant Marine Act requiring that all goods transported by water between U.S. ports be carried in U.S.-flag ships, built in the United States, and owned and crewed by U.S. citizens. It also provides a provision for injured sailors to seek compensatory damages for negligence or unseaworthiness from the shipowner, the captain or other crew members.
If you have been injured in a maritime accident, Gilman Law LLP can help you and your family get your lives back on track with the financial security that you need. The Florida maritime injury law attorneys at Gilman Law LLP have represented maritime injury victims and helped them obtain compensation for their work-related injuries for more than twenty years.
Complete our online form or call 1-800-LAW-INFO (1-800-529-4636) for help with your maritime injury case. Gilman Law LLP handles maritime law injury claims from port cities along the U.S. Eastern Seaboard, including Jacksonville, Fort Lauderdale and Miami, Florida and around the State of Florida.
When injured in a maritime accident, a seaman can file a claim under the Jones Act for the following damages:
- Maintenance and cure covering wages and medical care;
- Damages due to negligence;
- Unseaworthiness of a vessel.
A Jones Act claim can be filed if the sailor can prove negligence or fault on the part of the vessel’s owners, operators or fellow employees as well as proving they were injured because the ship was unseaworthy. The ship’s owner is legally responsible for providing a safe ship and sufficiently trained crew. If there is a defect in the ship or with the gear, or if the ship is inadequately maintained resulting in a serious injury, a claim can be filed.
A set definition of seaworthiness is not always used by the courts, providing lawyers with the ability to prove various interpretations of the law. If crew members were not reasonably fit for their expected duty and a lack of skill or knowledge caused or contributed to your injury, then negligence may be demonstrated under the Jones Act.
Maritime laws are complex and only a few law practices have attorneys capable of representing Jones Act claims in court. The maritime lawyers of Gilman Law LLP are experienced in this practice area. The Jones Act lawyers at Gilman Law LLP have the expertise to handle maritime law claims at port cities up and down the Eastern Seaboard.
Call us today at 1-800-LAW-INFO (1-800-529-4636) or fill out our