Jones Act seamen on a bargeEmployment on barges, fishing boats, oil rigs, drill ships, tankers, and other maritime vessels often entails grueling labor that exposes workers to harsh conditions, dangerous equipment, and the risk of wide-ranging offshore injuries that can be disabling, disfiguring, or deadly.

If you suffered severe or life-altering injuries—or your loved one died—while employed on a seafaring vessel, you could be entitled to pursue compensation under the Jones Act. This federal law offers vital protections for seamen injured or killed due to others’ negligence while working on vessels in navigation. 

However, Jones Act claims involve complex and complicated litigation that pits victims and their families against powerful corporations and their insurance companies. You need an adept Houston maritime admiralty lawyer who isn’t afraid to stand up and fight for your rights. Fortunately, you’ve come to the right firm.

Skilled and Stalwart Representation for Jones Act Claims

Terry & Thweatt, P.C. provides skillful legal counsel for offshore accident victims. Before starting the practice in 2008, Joe Terry was a fixture at the oldest maritime law firm in Houston, where he worked for the defense. Now, he uses the insight he gained into how insurers assess, value, and handle these cases to help plaintiffs get the justice and compensation they deserve. 

Here’s what you should know about Jones Act claims, including what you could recover, what you must prove, and how Terry & Thweatt, P.C.’s highly skilled Houston maritime admiralty lawyer, can assist you.

Table of Contents:

What is the Jones Act?

The Jones Act, formally known as the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, provides legal protections for seamen who are injured—or the families of seamen who are killed—while working aboard maritime vessels.

The Jones Act Solely Protects Seamen

To qualify as a Jones Act Seaman, you must be injured on a vessel in navigation, have a substantial employment connection to the vessel, and contribute to the vessel’s work. Examples of maritime workers who might qualify for seaman status include:

According to our Houston maritime admiralty lawyer, the Jones Act protects seamen working on various vessels, such as barges, fishing vessels, jack-up oil rigs and drill ships, semi-submersible oil rigs, dredges, work boats, crew boats, tow boats, oil tankers, cargo ships, and tugboats.

What You Have to Prove for a Successful Offshore Injuries Lawsuit

A successful Jones Act claim requires plaintiffs to prove the following:

  • You qualify as a seaman
  • Your injuries were caused by vessel owner, operator, or crew member negligence 
  • You suffered financial losses because of your offshore injuries 

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What Damages Can You Seek for an Offshore Injury

The Jones Act allows you to seek wide-ranging damages. Depending on the facts and evidence in your case, your recovery for offshore injuries might include compensation for:

  • Medical expenses
  • Lost wages 
  • Loss of future earning capacity
  • Out-of-pocket costs 
  • Physical pain and suffering 
  • Mental anguish
  • Scarring or disfigurement
  • Loss of enjoyment of life

If your family member died in an offshore accident or from the resulting injuries, the personal representative of your loved one’s estate can file a Jones Act claim seeking compensation for funeral and burial expenses, loss of inheritance, lost support and services, and other damages.

maritime admiralty lawyer for offshore injuriesHow Our Houston Offshore Injury Lawyer Helps Jones Act Claimants Recover

Houston admiralty lawyer Joe Terry fights tirelessly to help injured seamen and their families recover fair compensation. Though he’s a fierce and professional legal shark at the negotiating table and in the courtroom, he’s always patient, compassionate, and supportive of you and your family.

Here are some of the things our team does during a case:

  • Investigate the accident
  • Gather essential evidence
  • Send spoliation letters to other parties, informing them of the obligation to preserve relevant evidence 
  • Handle communications with insurance companies, defense attorneys, and other parties
  • Interview witnesses
  • Estimate your damages
  • Arrange for experts to offer their opinions or testify on your behalf
  • Analyze and negotiate settlement offers
  • Prepare the case for trial

Contact Our Maritime Admiralty Lawyer in Houston for a Case Evaluation

Offshore accidents can be devastating for maritime workers. When catastrophic offshore injuries turn your world upside down, Terry & Thweatt, P.C. strives to help set things right. Our exceptional legal team fights tirelessly for clients, and we’re determined to outwork the opposition in every case. We help injured seamen and their families go head-to-head with well-resourced opponents—and win.

Schedule a Free Consultation

To request a free case evaluation, fill out our online contact form by clicking the button above. For immediate assistance, call our Texas trial lawyers at 713.600.4710 now.