Port Arthur Jones Act Lawyer
Maritime workers often face dangerous workplace conditions. If you were injured in a maritime accident in Port Arthur, TX, you may be entitled to compensation under the federal Jones Act. An experienced Port Arthur Jones Act lawyer at Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers can help you fight to secure the fair compensation you deserve.
Our respected lawyers have over 45 years of combined experience helping injured clients in Southeast Texas recover the money they deserve. We’ve recovered tens of millions of dollars for clients in need.
Jones Act claims are often complex. Let our lawyers help you navigate the legal system. Just contact our law offices in Port Arthur, Texas, at (713) 224-4878 to schedule a free consultation today.
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How Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help With a Jones Act Claim in Port Arthur, TX
Getting hurt is never easy. Fortunately, injured maritime workers have options when it comes to recovering compensation. Most of the time, Jones Act benefits are available to cover your costs while you recover.
You don’t automatically receive these benefits. You’ll have to take legal action and prove you’re entitled to benefits before you see any cash. An experienced Port Arthur personal injury lawyer at Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers can help you through the entire process.
Our team is led by a board-certified Texas trial lawyer. Only 3% of all attorneys have earned that certification. We’ve also earned a perfect-10 AVVO rating.
When you hire us, you’ll have a lawyer to:
- Investigate to determine who was responsible for your accident
- Determine the amount of compensation you’re entitled to receive
- Handle all paperwork and filing requirements
- Defend you if your claim is challenged or denied
- Negotiate to secure the fair compensation you deserve
We’ve helped countless clients over the years. Our proven track record of success includes millions of dollars recovered for our clients. Call our law firm for a free consultation to learn more about creating an attorney-client relationship with our Port Arthur personal injury attorneys.
Overview of The Jones Act
The Jones Act, also called the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, is a type of workers’ compensation law for maritime workers. Injured seamen and sailors can receive a type of compensation called “maintenance and cure” when they’re injured on the job.
Texas workers’ compensation provides compensation regardless of fault. To recover maintenance and cure, injured seamen must prove that their employer’s negligence somehow contributed to their injuries.
The Jones Act applies to workers who are employed on any type of operational vessel. That includes both offshore vessels and those that operate in Texas inland waterways. While you don’t have to be on the water to file a claim, the vessel does have to be operational.
For example, you may be entitled to compensation if you qualify as a seamen working on an:
- Fishing boat
- Shrimp boat
- Offshore oil rig
- Floating crane
- Jack-up
- Drillship
- Tug or towboat
- Cargo ship
- Construction barge
- Dredge
- Chemical ship
- Research vessel
Maritime laws are extremely complex. If you were hurt while working on a vessel near Port Arthur, our maritime law attorneys can help you understand your legal options.
Just give us a call to schedule a free case review today.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Maritime Accident Victims Under The Jones Act?
Damages available under The Jones Act are called “maintenance and cure.” In general terms, injured seamen are entitled to compensation for their reasonable living expenses while they recover onshore. These expenses are called “maintenance” expenses.
You’re also entitled to coverage for your medical bills and related losses (the “cure” portion of “maintenance and cure”).
More specifically, you may be entitled to compensation for:
- Emergency treatment
- Prescriptions
- Surgery
- Hospital stays
- Medical devices
- Physical therapy
- Vocational or occupational therapy
- Mental health treatment and counseling
- Modest living expenses, including housing and transportation costs
Depending on the circumstances, you may also be entitled to additional damages. Unlike traditional workers’ compensation, The Jones Act may also provide compensation for non-economic damages, such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Scarring
- Disfigurement
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Shock and humiliation
- Depression
- Anxiety
- PTSD
- Reduced earning capacity
- Loss of consortium
Our Port Arthur maritime accident lawyers can help you determine which damages may be available in your case during a free case evaluation.
What is My Port Arthur Jones Act Case Worth?
Like any personal injury case, the value of your Jones Act case depends on how badly you were injured. More severe injuries tend to result in higher compensation awards.
Factors that are relevant in assessing your case value include:
- The cost of your medical care
- How long your recovery period lasts
- Whether your injuries will prevent you from returning to work in the same capacity
- How the injury impacts your quality of life
- Whether you’ll need assistance with daily activities while you recover
- Whether you’ll suffer a permanent disability
Countless factors can influence your case value–and every injury is unique. Our lawyers are here to discuss the value of your personal injury claim in more detail. Just call for a free initial consultation today.
We Will Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Maritime Accident Injuries
There are countless ways that a maritime worker can get hurt on the job. At Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers our lawyers in Port Arthur often represent clients who have sustained:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones
- Hypothermia
- Compartment syndrome
- Burns
- Back injuries
- Nerve damage
- Herniated discs
- Lung disorders
- Soft tissue damage
- Concussions
- Other head and neck injuries
- Crushing injuries
- Chest injuries and other organ damage
- Damage caused by near-drowning
- Amputation injuries
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
You may require ongoing medical care while you recover from these and other injuries. Our lawyers are here to help you fight for fair compensation regardless of the injuries you’ve sustained.
What Causes Most Maritime Accidents in Port Arthur, Texas?
At Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers our lawyers are committed to helping sailors who were injured because of:
- Unseaworthy vessels
- Improperly trained workers
- Failure to screen qualified workers (negligent hiring)
- Lack of proper safety equipment
- Negligent security
- Failure to maintain the vessel
- Failure to provide prompt and adequate medical treatment
- Communication errors
- Slip and fall accidents
- Falls overboard
- Violence aboard the vessel
- Dangerous working conditions
- Faulty or defective work equipment
- Fatigue caused by excessive overtime requirements
- Failure to adhere to generally accepted safety standards
- And more
These are only some of the more common causes of offshore accidents. Any number of things can go wrong to cause injuries aboard a vessel. If you or a loved one were injured, don’t hesitate to call and learn more about your right to compensation under The Jones Act.
How Do I Prove I Deserve Compensation Under The Jones Act in Port Arthur?
Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system. Injured workers receive limited benefits. In exchange, they forfeit their right to sue their employer.
The Jones Act is different from Texas workers’ comp. Injured seamen are required to file a lawsuit to claim benefits. In other words, you must prove that someone else was responsible for your injuries to receive Jones Act compensation.
Our lawyers will work to help you establish the four elements of a successful negligence claim, which include:
- A legal duty of care
- A breach of duty
- Causation, or evidence that the breach actually caused your accident
- Damages, or the physical, emotional, and financial losses you’ve sustained
For example, you may be entitled to damages if your employer or the owner of the sea vessel was even partly responsible for your injuries.
How Do I Know Whether I’m Eligible to File a Jones Act Claim?
Only maritime workers who qualify as “seamen” are eligible to recover damages under The Jones Act.
You qualify as a seaman if:
- You work aboard a United States vessel or boat that is in navigation (not drydocked)
- You spend at least 30% of your time on the vessel
- You contribute to a significant purpose of the vessel
Maritime employers purchase insurance to cover the compensation paid out under The Jones Act. It’s possible that the insurance company could try to challenge your right to benefits. Our lawyers are here to help you fight back. Reach out to speak with an experienced Port Arthur Jones Act attorney for more information today.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Maritime Accident in Texas?
Under The Jones Act, all claims must be filed within three years of the date of the accident. Complying with the statute of limitations is important. If you wait more than three years to file a claim, you’ll be barred from seeking compensation.
Contact Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation With a Port Arthur Jones Act Lawyer
Were you injured working on a vessel off the coast of Jefferson County or Chambers County? Navigating a Jones Act claim can be complex. Call an experienced Port Arthur Jones Act lawyer at Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers and get the legal representation you deserve today.
