The Jones Act offers valuable compensation for injured maritime workers, above and beyond typical workers’ compensation.
From cooks to captains, the Law Offices of Richard R. Kennedy navigates the fine points of the law to protect seamen’s rights.
Our Lafayette, LA, practice has won millions in compensation for injured workers under the Jones Act..
The Jones Act offers valuable compensation for injured maritime workers, above and beyond typical workers’ compensation.
From cooks to captains, the Law Offices of Richard R. Kennedy navigates the fine points of the law to protect seamen’s rights.
Our Lafayette, LA, practice has won millions in compensation for injured workers under the Jones Act..
Qualifying for coverage under this federal law can be confusing, which is why we recommend contacting the Law Offices of Richard R. Kennedy in Lafayette. The main criteria:
Vessels include container ships, tugboats, and barges. But other unique vessels are also covered, including some types of oil rigs, mobile offshore drilling units, pontoon rafts, and floating dormitories. At least 30 percent of your time must be spent on the vessel. but it’s important to note that this percentage is more a rule of thumb than exact criteria. Fine points like this underscore why it is important to have your case reviewed by a knowledgeable maritime lawyer.
The Vessel Operates In Navigable Waters
While most people think of large bodies of water when it comes to navigable waters, the term includes rivers and even lakes, such as Lake Charles. Other navigable bodies of water in Louisiana include Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Maurepas, the Red River, and, of course, the Mississippi River.
You Contribute to the Vessel’s Purpose
Everyone working on ships, from cooks and barbers to captains, is covered under the act. In addition, the vessel must be owned by an American or American company, not a foreign company. This is why many cruise ships, which are often owned by foreign companies, are excluded from the Jones Act.
The Jones Act is a federal law that allows injured maritime workers, such as those in shipping and transportation, to receive compensation from employers. Also referred to as the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, it is an employee-friendly law that offers injured workers more compensation opportunities in cases of negligence than workers’ compensation.
While you will need to prove your employer was negligent in order to win compensation, the burden of proof is lower than a standard personal injury lawsuit. Our attorneys have decades of legal practice in both personal injury and maritime law. After reviewing your case, we can determine if you qualify for a Jones Act claim and help you receive the benefits you are entitled to.
THE LAW OFFICES OF RICHARD R. KENNEDY
Louisiana is home for many of the nation’s maritime workers. While many are in the shipping, transportation, and oil industries, there are others on smaller vessels, including casino workers on Lake Charles, Mississippi tugboat crews, fishing boats in the Gulf of Mexico, and offshore jack-up rigs.
The Jones Act protects many maritime workers injured on different kinds of vessels. The federal maritime statute covers injuries due to grease on the deck, negligence by another crew member, poorly maintained equipment, an assault by a co-worker, and other incidents.
The personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Richard R. Kennedy in Lafayette have faithfully served Louisianans for five generations and have won millions for injured maritime workers under the Jones Act. Our lawyers understand the intricacies of maritime laws. This includes a keen understanding of how these laws overlap and each one’s distinct differences in compensation. After reviewing your case, we can outline your best path for maximum compensation under these maritime laws, including:
UNDER THE JONES ACT
Our law firm meticulously catalogs your losses when preparing your Jones Act claim. Compensation under the act is similar to typical damages sought in a personal injury case. In general, legal damages can compensate you for:
IN A JONES ACT CLAIM
You have three years from the date of your injury on a ship or vessel to file a lawsuit under the Jones Act. But we recommend you act soon and don’t run out the clock. Memories fade, evidence disappears, and witnesses move on. Our maritime lawyers will set to work immediately to gather evidence before it slips away. Getting us onboard early has another benefit: we offer peace of mind.
FOR OUR JONES ACT CLIENTS
Richard R. Kennedy and Richard R. Kennedy III at the Law Offices of Richard R. Kennedy are committed to excellence. We have won millions for clients using the protections offered under the Jones Act, including:
A Jones Act seaman was injured in an offshore accident. He suffered non-surgical neck and lower back injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder. Part of the client’s settlement was structured to provide a tax-free substantial monthly income guaranteed to age 65.
In this Jones Act case, our client suffered a head injury caused by a falling object on an offshore rig. We had part of the client’s settlement structured so that he would be provided a tax-free substantial monthly income guaranteed to age 65.
People in maritime professions think they can’t afford a top injury attorney, but they can. At the Law Offices of Richard R. Kennedy in Lafayette, our maritime attorneys work on a contingency basis. That means you don’t pay lawyer fees upfront, and you won’t owe us a dime if we don’t win a settlement or verdict.
Don’t take your employer’s explanation for what you are owed. Talk to our Jones Act attorneys to get the complete story. Our law firm has served Lafayette, New Iberia, and Louisiana for five generations. We understand how important the maritime industry is to working families as well as the hazardous conditions workers face.
Shipping and oil companies, vessel owners, and employers are all required to provide safe working conditions. When they don’t, we’re here to make sure they are held accountable. Leave us a message online or request a consultation by phone. You owe it to yourself and your loved ones to get the facts about your case.