If you were hurt while working on an offshore vessel, an offshore injury and Jones Act accident lawyer in Gulfport with the Morris Bart law firm may be able to help you seek compensation for your medical care and lost wages. You may have a case against the multiple liable parties.
If you believe you may have an offshore injury or Jones Act case, let us review the circumstances surrounding your accident and injuries for free. We offer complimentary consultations for accident victims, and we can provide advice and guidance.
Pursuing Compensation for Your Expenses and Losses
The Jones Act allows those injured on a sea-faring vessel to pursue damages after an accident. Because state personal injury and wrongful death laws do not apply on the open ocean, there would not be any path for financial recovery without the Jones Act.
The Jones Act may apply to sailors on boats:
- In the Gulf of Mexico
- Offshore from Mississippi, Louisiana, or Alabama
- Navigating waterways shared by multiple states, such as the Mississippi River
- Lakes that cross state lines
- International waterways
Thanks to the Jones Act, sailors with offshore injuries may be able to pursue compensation for their injuries and the costs they incurred as a result. Examples include:
- Current and future treatment and care of wounds
- Lost wages and reduced capacity to earn
- Miscellaneous out-of-pocket costs
- Pain and suffering damages
For a free legal consultation with a Offshore Injury and Jones Act Accident lawyer serving Gulfport, call (228) 357-9621
Understanding Injury Laws that Apply to Accidents in the Gulf of Mexico
The Jones Act, codified under 46 U.S. Code § 30104, is part of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920. By tasking boat owners and others with the obligation of providing a safe place for sailors to work, this law provides them with a way to pursue compensation after an injury.
Our offshore injury and Jones Act accident attorneys in Gulfport understand the statutory duties of owners and operators of sea-faring vessels with crews offshore. We can determine if they acted negligently and may be responsible for your injuries.
The Jones Act applies to almost any type of offshore vessel, including:
- Cargo ships
- Barges
- Tugboats
- Oil rigs
Who Is Liable for My Gulfport Offshore Injuries?
The Jones Act is a crucial provision for offshore workers because workers’ compensation is not usually available. In most cases the laws of any particular state do not bind employers on the open ocean. Instead, maritime law applies.
Under the Jones Act, the injured Gulfport sailor will be able to pursue a claim based on their work-related injury or illness as long as they suffered it while serving on a qualifying vessel. The liable parties could include:
- The boat owner
- The captain of the vessel
- Another party tasked with providing for their safety provisions
Other Laws May Apply to an Offshore Injuries Case
In some cases, the Jones Act may not apply to an offshore injury case, or there may be additional statutes that are relevant to the claim. Two related laws our team may mention during our assessment of your case include:
- Death on the High Seas Act: This statute allows surviving family members to pursue compensation if their loved one died more than three nautical miles offshore.
- The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act: This law provides a path to financial recovery for workers injured on a sea-faring vessel while it is in harbor or dry dock. This includes injuries on a pier, on deck, in the cargo hold, or other areas in or around the boat.
Deadlines Apply to Filing an Offshore Injuries Case Based on the Jones Act
Meeting the deadline for filing a lawsuit in your Jones Act case is a key part of protecting your right to build a case against the boat owner, captain, or another liable party. Generally, 46 U.S. Code § 30106 provides injured sailors with three years to begin their lawsuit.
There are exceptions to statutes of limitations in injury cases. When we review your case, we can determine if the circumstances of your accident support an exception to this law. Exceptions to a statute of limitations could:
- Give you more time to negotiate an appropriate settlement
- Provide a longer period to build your case and prepare for court
- Reduce the time you have to act by putting additional deadlines in place
Click to contact our Gulfport Personal Injury Attorneys today
An Offshore Injury Lawyer from Morris Bart, LTD, Fights for Compensation for Hurt Sailors
If you were hurt while working offshore, an attorney from the Morris Bart law office in Gulfport may be able to help you. We represent injured sailors and other qualifying workers in offshore injury and Jones Act accident cases.
For more than 40 years, people across the Mississippi Gulf Coast region have trusted our team to protect their legal rights and represent their best interests. Our team serves clients:
- From 15 offices
- In four states, including Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Arkansas
We are a contingency-fee firm and won 6,500 cases for our clients in 2019. We provide free case reviews for injured workers hurt in offshore accidents.
We can also discuss your case if you suffered injuries on a sea-faring vessel but were not working at the time. This could include:
- Passengers
- Volunteers
- Contract workers
Our Gulfport offshore injury and Jones Act lawyers may be able to help you as well. We can assess your legal options and explain the next steps in pursuing a financial recovery, if possible.
Talk to Morris Bart About Your Offshore Injury Case for Free
Call the Morris Bart law office in Gulfport, Mississippi, today for your free case review. We are here to help you better understand your case, your legal options, and the laws that provide a path for financial recovery based on your offshore injuries.
Call us by phone or fill out our online contact form now to reach an attorney at our Gulfport office who is ready to discuss your case with you.
Questions?Call (228) 357-9621
to find a Morris Bart office near you.
