New Orleans Jones Act Lawyer
Maritime accidents can leave seamen with devastating, and sometimes permanent, injuries as well as monumental hospital bills. If you were injured in any type of maritime accident, you may be able to hold your employer or a third party liable for your damages under the Jones Act. Navigating the complex legal system surrounding maritime workplace accidents, especially for someone recently injured, is an impossible task. As such, in order to be fairly and fully compensated, you need to work with an experienced New Orleans Jones Act lawyer. At Lunsford Baskin & Priebe, PLLC, we have assisted maritime workers secure large financial settlements and lawsuit verdicts from the at-fault parties, and we are confident in our ability to help you accomplish the same.
What is the Jones Act?
The Jones Act of 1920 requires that products, people, and goods that are shipped between U.S. ports be shipped on vessels that are owned, built, and operated by U.S. citizens or permanent residents. While there are critics of the Act, due to the high costs it places on shipping goods, the Jones Act provides invaluable protections for injured sailors, who are able to seek damages from the owner of the ship, the captain, or the crew. Under the Jones Act, if a seaman is injured or dies in the course of employment, they have the right to bring a civil action against their employer. Furthermore, they have the right of trial by jury.
Damages You Can Seek in a Lawsuit Under the Jones Act
If you were injured on a barge, fishing vessels, ship, oil rig or offshore platform, or any other type of vessel, you may be covered by the Jones Act. The Jones Act gives seamen the right to seek compensation for the following damages:
- Full lost wages and earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Medical expenses
- Loss of joy of life
- Emotional distress
- Loss of consortium (for wrongful death)
- Additional types of damages
What if My Employer Promises to Help Me Out?
It is not uncommon for an employer to make promises to an injured employee, telling him or her that their job will be there when they return, or that the employee can be placed at another, less physically demanding, position until they make a full recovery. While this is nice to hear, the truth is that your employer and their insurance company probably owe you much more than a promise of job security or payment of your medical expenses. The Jones Act allows you to recover much more than this. Furthermore, these promises are often empty, or are used to discourage you from pursuing a claim under the Jones Act. Employers and insurance companies often do everything in their power to limit an injured employee’s compensation by denying liability, claiming that the injuries sustained by the victim are less severe than they actually are, and even blaming the employee for the accident.
Call Our New Orleans Jones Act Lawyers Today
Because you stand to gain significant financial compensation for your injuries, the legal battle ahead is likely more complicated than you might imagine. A New Orleans Jones Act Lawyer can help you secure these life-changing funds as compensation for your injuries. Call Lunsford Baskin & Priebe, PLLC today at 601-488-3975 to schedule a free consultation.
