Gulf Coast Maritime Lawyers Explain How to File Jones Act Claim

Filing any sort of work injury claim can be confusing and overwhelming when the only thing you should be worrying about is getting better. When it comes to getting hurt on the job, there are critical steps to take to ensure your injuries are covered. This is even more important for commercial fishermen and other seaman in the event of an injury.

Seaman are not covered under state workers’ compensation, so the Jones Act was set in place in 1920 to protect these types of workers in the case of an accident. Under the Jones Act, seaman can collect compensation for a work-related injury, but just like typical workers’ compensation, there is a process that must be followed.

In order to help merchant mariners get the compensation they deserve after suffering an injury on the job, Gulf Coast Jones Act Attorneys Lapeze & Johns, PLLC, have provided a step by step guide to filing a Jones Act claim. This includes how and who to report your injury to. The best case scenario is to report the injury immediately, but if that’s not possible, workers have up to 7 days to report.

Another important step to filing a Jones Act claim is submitting a statement or report with your company. This can be rather difficult, but Lapeze & Johns explain how to navigate this sticky situation without upsetting your company, while still placing blame where it belongs.

Last, but not least, they recommend speaking to a well-qualified Gulf Coast maritime attorney. Keith Lapeze and Christopher Johns are both well versed in maritime law and offshore injuries. They have won million dollar cases in a wide range of maritime and Jones Act related cases. If your insurer is not willing to pay for your medical care or if the case is going to exceed $15,000, it’s important to hire a seasoned maritime lawyer to handle it for you.