Working offshore is a way of life for many who live near the gulf coast. Unfortunately, offshore jobs are among the riskiest around, and workplace injuries are common. If you have been injured while working offshore, an offshore accident lawyer from GHUNEIM LAW FIRM can help you understand how to obtain compensation for the expenses and impacts you incurred as a result and can provide services aimed at a successful outcome for your claim.
What is the Jones Act?
There are various laws aimed at protecting maritime workers. The major federal law that covers offshore accidents is the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, also known as the Jones Act. To qualify for benefits under the Jones Act, you must:
- Spend at least 30 percent of your working hours at sea or on a vessel
- Perform job duties that directly relate to the ship’s functions or to ensure that it accomplishes its assigned tasks
- Have been injured when the vessel was “in navigation,” meaning that it was afloat, capable of movement, in operation, and in navigable waters at the time of the accident
Who Qualifies Under the Jones Act?
You must be classified as a seaman to be covered under the Jones Act. That encompasses a wide variety of jobs, such as:
- Sailors
- Surveyors
- Carpenters
- Metalworkers
- Coopers
- Stewards
- Cooks
- Cabin and kitchen workers
- Doctors
- Engineers
- Pilots
- Firefighters
- Deckhands
- Oil rig workers