Paducah Maritime Attorney | Maritime Lawyer Hopkinsville | Kentucky

Paducah Maritime Work Injury Attorney

How the Jones Act Applies to Workplace Injuries

If you are a river traffic worker, you are constantly facing hazards while working. These hazards generally include a slippery deck, falling objects, handling heavy machinery, harsh weather, and rough waters.

Unfortunately, if you sustained an injury on the job, the worker’s compensation law does not apply. Rather, the Jones Act would govern your work-related injury. Our knowledgeable Kentucky maritime attorney understands the complexities of the Jones Act and is available to assist you.

Paducah Maritime Work Injury Attorney

What Is the Jones Act?

The Jones Act, also known as the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, is a federal statute, codified on October 6, 2006, as 46 U.S.C. §30104, that provides American seamen who sustained an injury or died in the course of their employment the right to sue their employer for compensation due to negligence. The Jones Act requires maritime employers to:

  • Provide seamen with a reasonably safe place to work; and,
  • Use ordinary care under the circumstances to maintain and keep the vessel in a reasonably safe condition.

In order to qualify under the Jones Act, you must first show that you are a seaman.

“Seamen” Definition

A “seaman” is a crewmember or captain who:

  • Spends a significant amount of his or her time
  • Working on a vessel that is “in navigation”
  • And such work “contributes to the work of the vessel.”

“Significant Amount of Time” Requirement

In Chandris, Inc. v. Latsis, the United States Supreme Court held that a maritime worker is considered a seaman if he or she spends at least 30% of his or her time in the service of a vessel on navigable waters. 515 U.S. 347, 371 (1995). A maritime worker who spends less than 30% on a vessel at sea is a land-based employee and not a member of the vessel’s crew. The land-based maritime employee does not have the right to directly sue his employer under the Jones Act even if he sustained an injury while working on a vessel at sea. Conversely, a maritime worker who spends at least 30% of his time on a vessel in navigation but was injured while performing his duties while on land does not lose his status as a seaman for the purposes of the Jones Act. Id. at 354-64.

“Vessel in Navigation” Requirement

To meet the “vessel in navigation” requirement, the vessel that you sustained an injury on must be:

  • Afloat – it cannot be permanently anchored to the seafloor.
  • In operation – it cannot be a new vessel that is undergoing sea trials to ensure it is operable. That vessel is not actually in commercial operation and therefore, not considered a “vessel in navigation.”
  • Capable of moving – the vessel does not need to be moving or at sea; rather, it needs to be able to move under its own power or being sailed. It could be docked or moored but not dry-docked or out of the water.
  • On navigable waters – the water must facilitate interstate or foreign commerce. This not only includes the ocean but also rivers and lakes. Even landlocked lakes qualify if they extend to another state or connect to a river that flows through or into another state.

“Contributes to the Work of the Vessel” Requirement

Your work “contributes to the work of the vessel” if your work adds to the accomplishment of the vessel’s mission. For example, you are a maritime employee who is the administrative staff of the vessel’s owners. You seek transportation on a tugboat to get to point B. The tugboat is towing a barge from point A to point B. The mere fact that you are on a tugboat does not mean you are assisting with the transportation of the vessel’s mission: towing the barge from point A to point B. Thus, the law does not consider your work to contribute to the work of the vessel.

How Do I Prove Negligence?

Under the Jones Act, with the help of a maritime attorney, you may sue your maritime employer for negligence. To recover monetary compensation for your injuries from your employer, you must show that:

  • The owner, captain, or other crew member was negligent; and,
  • The negligent act caused your injury.

As long as your employer’s negligence played a part in our injury, your right to sue your employer stands.

Almost any unsafe condition, no matter how small, could lead to your employer’s liability:

  • Improperly maintained or repaired equipment or machinery
  • Improperly maintained or repaired vessel
  • Failure to provide crew members with proper training or equipment to perform their duties
  • Grease or oil on the deck
  • Unsafe work methods
  • Negligence or assault by your co-worker.

What Compensation Am I Entitled To?

Under general maritime law, sustaining an injury while performing duties as a river traffic worker entitles you to maintenance (room and board), cure (medical treatment) and unearned wages without regard to fault. A maritime attorney ensures that you receive adequate compensation.

Under the Jones Acts, you may also recover:

  • Past, present and future medical expenses
  • Past and future lost earnings
  • Lost earning capacity
  • Past, present and future pain, suffering and mental anguish
  • Loss of enjoyment of life

Seek an Experienced Maritime Lawyer in Paducah and Hopkinsville

To receive the benefits, you should consult a seasoned river traffic worker injury attorney who comprehends the complexities of the Jones Act. Our skilled attorneys will investigate your claim, including determining:

  • Whether you qualify under the Jones Act
  • Whether a proper evaluation of the hazards of the work was performed prior to your work starting
  • What was implemented, if anything, to minimize the risk of injury to the crew
  • Adherence to safety policies
  • Availability of safety gear
  • Whether there were sufficient crew members

For assistance, contact our tenacious our Kentucky maritime attorney or Jones Act injury attorneys at (270) 443-4431.

Call Us Today!

PI Sidebar Form

We are committed to your privacy. By submitting, you agree the phone number you provided may be used to contact you by the law firm and its affiliates (including autodialed, pre-recorded calls or text messages). If you want us to contact, you without consenting to these methods of communication, feel free to call our numbers.

Experience the Difference

Personalized Plan

Get you out of Debt

Get a Fresh Start

es_MXEspañol de México
Scroll to Top
farmer and wright
If you are struggling with debt, tax problems or you have been injured in an accident, we can help. Please use this form to ask us a question or request a free consultation.
General Contact Form

We are committed to your privacy. By submitting, you agree the phone number you provided may be used to contact you by the law firm and its affiliates (including autodialed, pre-recorded calls or text messages). If you want us to contact, you without consenting to these methods of communication, feel free to call our numbers.

Let our immigration attorneys help you!

IM Popup Form

We are committed to your privacy. By submitting, you agree the phone number you provided may be used to contact you by the law firm and its affiliates (including autodialed, pre-recorded calls or text messages). If you want us to contact, you without consenting to these methods of communication, feel free to call our numbers.

Disability Claim Denied?

We’ll go to work right away and fight to get you paid!

SSD Pop-up Form

We are committed to your privacy. By submitting, you agree the phone number you provided may be used to contact you by the law firm and its affiliates (including autodialed, pre-recorded calls or text messages). If you want us to contact, you without consenting to these methods of communication, feel free to call our numbers.

Injured in an Accident?

We’ll go to work right away and fight to get you paid!

PI Pop-up Form

We are committed to your privacy. By submitting, you agree the phone number you provided may be used to contact you by the law firm and its affiliates (including autodialed, pre-recorded calls or text messages). If you want us to contact, you without consenting to these methods of communication, feel free to call our numbers.

Stop struggling! Start Living!

Are you ready to get out of debt? Use this form to get started today.

BK Popup Form

We are committed to your privacy. By submitting, you agree the phone number you provided may be used to contact you by the law firm and its affiliates (including autodialed, pre-recorded calls or text messages). If you want us to contact, you without consenting to these methods of communication, feel free to call our numbers.