Offshore accidents, such as oil rig explosions, are always a possibility, the Offshore Environment says. Knowing your legal options now will prepare you and your family for anything that can happen in the future. That’s where the Jones Act comes in.
The Jones Act
If you spend more than 51 percent of your time at sea, in navigable waters, then you have rights under the Jones Act. Previously referred to as the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, it enacted federal statutes that entail the rights and protections American maritime employees are entitled to.
Your legal options
If you are a crew member or seaman, you can file for a personal injury claim under the U.S. admiralty law to cover the cost of your injuries and other damages. If you had to resort to shore leave because of the injuries you sustained, any maintenance as well as treatment costs can be covered by any claims filed under the Jones Act.
Negligence claims
One of the most common are negligence claims. If guests, other employees or the management behaved recklessly or thoughtlessly, in a way that put the claimant’s life in danger, then they’re liable to pay for the damages. Also, if the company failed to provide good working conditions, endangering the lives of employees aboard the vessel or rig, then those are grounds for a negligent claim as well.
Legal assistance
A Jones Act Lawyer in Houston can help you understand your rights better. Also, in negligence claims, getting the evidence you need to prove the other party was at fault is necessary. Your lawyer can easily help you with all that, from going through the steps to file a claim, helping you get the evidence you need and ensuring you receive the compensation you’re fairly and duly entitled to by law.
So if you or your loved one is a victim of an offshore accident and believe there are strong grounds for a negligence case, contact a lawyer to help you.
