Mark & Associates, P.C. Attorneys At Law

Maritime & Admiralty Law

If you are a maritime worker and have been injured while working you are likely eligible for compensation under the Jones Act. In order to protect your rights to file a claim under the Jones Act, it is important to speak with a qualified maritime lawyer with extensive admiralty law experience as quickly as possible. Mark & Associates, P.C. represents injured maritime workers across the nation, and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to discuss your case.

Maritime Law - Who is covered under the Jones Act?
The Jones Act generally protects workers on cargo ships, oil drilling rigs, crew boats, barges, transportation boats and dredges. The Jones Act, not only protects the members of a crew, but the masters of that crew as well. That is, anyone who has a connection that is both substantial in nature and duration to a specific vessel, or to a fleet of vessels, and whose duties contribute to the function or mission of that vessel or fleet. The Jones Act covers injuries that occurred at sea as well as injuries which occurred while in transport to a vessel or while a vessel was docked.

Your injury is covered under the Jones Act if you meet the criteria to be classified as a seaman. To be a seaman under the Jones Act, you must meet the following criteria at the time of your accident:

• work at sea more or less permanently
• be assigned to a vessel or fleet of vessels
• work on a vessel that is still in navigation

More or Less Permanently
The 'more or less permanent' requirement is generally interpreted to mean that a “seaman” must have spent at least 30% of his/her time on a vessel at the time the injury occurred. Again, even if your accident occurred on land or while the vessel was docked you may still be able to file a claim under the Jones Act.

Vessel of Fleet of Vessels
What constitutes a vessel under the Jones Act is quite broad.  Traditional boats that clearly navigate waterways like cargo boats, tug boats, crew boats, drilling ships, transportation vessels, and supply boats clearly fall under the vessel requirement of the Jones Act. Other types of vessels may also fall under the Jones Act depending on the circumstances in which they are being used.

In Navigation
The Jones Act requires that a vessel be “in navigation”. This doesn’t mean the vessel actually has to be moving at the time the injury occurred. Instead, “in navigation” is interpreted to mean that the vessel is operating and capable of moving. Vessels that are dry docked or out of service are not covered under the Jones Act.  

Get a Free Legal Consultation Right Now
If you or a loved one has been injured on a ship Mark & Associates, P.C. knows that you may have many questions. We are available 24 hours per day, 7 days a week, to answer those questions and to provide a free immediate legal consultation. You can contact us anytime by submitting a consultation form on our website or by calling 1-866-50- RIGHTS (1-866-507-4448).