The Jones Act- Available Damages

Posted by: rzehl
January 31, 2008
Topic: The Jones Act

The Jones Act allows for several types of legal damages intended to compensate the injured seaman for his loss. If you are a Jones Act seaman and are injured in the course of your employment, you may be able to recover:

Medical Expenses - The Jones Act allows an injured seaman to recover medical expenses, including money for hospitalization, medication and surgery, from his employer.

Pain and Suffering - The Act allows an injured seaman to seek compensation for any pain or suffering incurred as a result of the injury.

Lost Wages - If the injury was at least partially the fault of the employer, an injured seaman may recover lost wages for the time he has been unable to work.

Lost Earning Capacity - Because an injury could permanently affect one's ability to earn wages at the same rate as before, the Jones Act provides an injured seaman with a supplement to his decreased income. Essentially, if you earned $50,000 before an injury and now you earn $35,000 after the injury, your lost earning capacity compensation would total $15,000 per year.

Mental Anguish - The Jones Act allows for compensation when an injury prevents a seaman from enjoying an activity that he enjoyed prior to the accident. For example, if your favorite hobby was fishing and a shoulder-injury prevents you from operating a rod and reel, you may be entitled to recover for the loss of this enjoyment.

Disfigurement - Many offshore injuries result in the permanent disfigurement of seamen. In such cases, injured seamen may be compensated for scarring, loss of limb, loss of hearing, or any other visible physical condition that may be a source of shame or embarrassment.

In order to determine the damages you may be entitled to, it is imperative that you contact the experienced Alabama Maritime Accident lawyers of the Fitts Zehl Law Firm by email at info@gulfcoastmaritimelawyer.com or by phone at (800) 993-4887. We represent clients in cities throughout the gulf coast region including: Houston, Port Fourchon, Tibideaux and Mobile.

Web Resources

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