Maritime employees are vital to many businesses around the country. Whether seamen are employed on freighters, fishing boats, or cruise ships, these individuals have an important role in their industries. However, their jobs are often extremely hazardous.
Though sailors and other maritime employees are not covered by workers’ compensation insurance policies, they are not barred from collecting compensation through other means. Unlike most injured employees, maritime workers have the unique ability to sue their employer directly for injury-related losses.
46 U.S.C. 30104, which is part of the Jones Act, explicitly allows injured seamen to seek legal action for injuries they sustained on the job. Though the statute specifically names seamen, the term in this context includes any individual who works primarily in navigable waters, including rivers, oceans, and lakes.
Generally, any seaman’s injury that occurred while performing work duties is compensable, even if the ship was docked. However, an injured party may still benefit from discussing a potential claim with their Lafayette sailor injury attorney. You can speak with a Lafayette personal injury lawyer to help you pursue compensation.
