Understanding Jones Act Law

Jones Act in-depth

When you have thoughts of resolving an issue legally, it is very helpful to have a basic understanding of the area of law under which your case falls. If you are a sea worker that has been injured on a job, your case will fall under maritime law. Jones Act law contains legislation that protects the rights of injured maritime workers. Jones Act lawyers focus on legislation such as the Jones Act. The Jones Act is a set of rules and regulations that describe what rights an injured worker has in regards to compensation, medical benefits, and other pertinent subjects. The Jones Act provides lawyers with the laws they need to hold an employer accountable. Ship owners have the responsibility to provide a ship that is "seaworthy." If at any point a ship is not "seaworthy," which then causes any injuries, the owner may be held liable. Jones Act law also covers factors such as jurisdiction and international laws that may affect your case.

Once you have decided that you may have a legal case, you need to consult with an attorney. If you have never been part of any legal actions, you probably do not know what you need to do. And even if you have been part of any legal situation, that experience may not apply here since maritime law is a very complex and unique area of law.

Jones Act Lawyers

There are many Jones Act lawyers available, but you want to make sure that you've chosen one that will be your advocate. We have found that the best way to determine that there is a good fit between a client and attorney is to have an in-person meeting. At Williams Kherkher we offer a free consultation. This gives us the opportunity to learn about your case so we can ascertain how or if our firm can assist you.

Filing a Claim

Your first step is to look into the possibility of filing a claim. Understand that you have a time limit to file your claim. Depending on where you live, you can have one year or up to three years after the date of the injury to file your action. If you discovered your injury after you were actually injured, then your time limit generally will begin after that date. This assumes that there was a reasonable amount of time between the date of injury and the date of the discovery. Jones Act lawyers can advise you on this statute of limitations and how it applies to your case.

Do not wait. Contact one of the Jones Act lawyers at Williams Kherkher today; call 866.950.9000.