Have you heard of general maritime law? If not, general maritime law is the legal law that applies a duty to ship owners to offer a worthy sea vessel to the seamen. Any injury a seaman suffers from a poorly conditioned vessel calls for compensation for wages, transport, medical services, and a room for the time of the voyage.
For that reason, the law came up with general maritime law to give a chance to those injured in the sea to take legal actions. So, you might be an injured offshore worker, and you need some help. Jones Act under the general maritime law can cover you. Get a lawyer who has grasped this concept of maritime law to represent you successfully.
You may want to learn more read ahead!
What More Does Maritime Law Cover?
Apart from governing legal issues arising in offshore accidents, maritime law offers injured offshore workers the opportunity to enact legal actions via some claims. These claims can be maintenance and cure, unearned wages, seaworthiness, and personal injury claims.
Even ship passengers can file a claim with general maritime law if they have been willfully injured or over a careless act on navigable waterways. More of the claims are inclusive o of the Jones Act of seamen and the longshoremen against any responsible third-party neglect resulting in death or injury.
How does Jones Act Vary from General Maritime Law?
Jones Act, also referred to as the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, falls under the big umbrella of general maritime law. It includes everything legal that happens on open water.
Now, do you know of an offshore worker injured while onboard? Let them seek Jones Act. The Jones Act allows workers covered by it to spend no more than a third of their time working. Unlike other fields where employees file for worker’s compensation for benefits when injured while at work, before Jones Act, the sea workers lacked similar benefits.
Thankful for the Act, sea workers are enjoying similar benefits. They’re capable of jailing an employer if they act carelessly, compromising their lives. They now can get compensated for damages such as:
- lost incomes,
- loss of potential to be paid
- reeducation expenditures,
- pain and suffering,
- medical expenses,
- loss of life enjoyment,
- physical, psychological, and emotional stress.
Who Falls Under the Jones Act?
Any other individual injured at sea is not protected by Jones Act. But, the general maritime law has them covered. It’s important to note this for you to seek help appropriately. Most people fail to find help because they lack knowledge concerning this. Feel privileged that you’re now informed.
However, Jones Act doesn’t list all seamen. These are workers not in the seamen group. How? They spend 30 minutes or less navigating.
It’s good that you now understand what general maritime law is and all about Jones Act. If you have any further questions, contact any marine law firms and get a solution. It’s good to be safe than sorry!
