Jones Act Lawyer Hopkinsville, KY
Asserting Your Rights After A Maritime Accident With Our Hopkinsville, KY Jones Act Lawyer
Not all river accidents are covered by Kentucky state laws. If the river where your accident occurred bordered another state, then your legal recourse may be covered by The Jones Act instead. Also referred to as the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, it is a federal law that regulates shipping in the United States. It also outlines the legal options available for people who are injured in U.S. navigable waters, such as the Ohio, Mississippi, Cumberland, and Tennessee Rivers. If you were hurt due to someone else’s negligence, whether it was a person or an entity, like your employer, a boat leasing company, or a corporation, our Hopkinsville, KY Jones Act Lawyer can help you demand fair compensation for your losses.
Jones Act claims can be complicated. Not every personal injury firm has the resources, experience, and knowledge necessary to pursue a claim in federal court. The attorneys at Katz Law have decades of combined experience litigating tough maritime accident claims, and we’re intimately familiar with the Jones Act and its protections for injured people like you. We invite you to learn more in a free legal consultation; please call us today.
Your Rights Under The Jones Act
The Jones Act details extensive use rights for U.S. navigable waters and contains provisions to protect the rights of maritime workers, including those who get hurt on the job. If you are injured on a river, you may not be eligible for traditional Kentucky workers’ compensation benefits, but you may still be able to claim compensation for your injuries and other losses through the Jones Act.
Some of the key rights maritime workers have include:
- The right to compensation for injuries. Any seaman injured working aboard a vessel (public or private) is entitled to compensation for all medical care necessary to treat their work injury, replenishment of lost wages, and consideration for pain and suffering from their injuries. The Jones Act isn’t workers’ compensation; rather, it permits injured workers to file a lawsuit for damages against negligent employers.
- You are entitled to Maintenance and Cure. Maintenance refers to the living expenses you may require while recovering, such as room, board, and other accommodations. Cure refers to all necessary medical treatment for your maritime injuries, including surgery and rehabilitative therapy. You are entitled to these benefits no matter who is to blame for your injury.
- The right to file a lawsuit for negligence. Kentucky workers’ compensation prohibits employees from filing suit against their employer (except in rare situations); however, under the Jones Act, injured seamen may file a lawsuit against their employer if negligence caused or contributed to their injury.
Your commission under The Jones Act is often greater than worker’s comp benefits, as you can claim non-economic damages, like pain and suffering and emotional trauma. Additionally, if we believe that your employer was egregiously negligent, we may consider seeking punitive or punishing damages in addition to your actual damages. You cannot seek punitive damages through a workers’ comp claim.
The attorneys at Katz Law have extensive experience litigating maritime injury claims under the Jones Act. We advise you of your best legal options and provide comprehensive legal support from start to finish. Call us today for a free case evaluation with a Hopkinsville Jones Act lawyer.
