Admiralty & Maritime Law
The Jones Act, general maritime law, and the Longshore Act give maritime workers powerful rights that shoreside workers don't have. Know them — and use them.
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The Jones Act (46 U.S.C. § 30104) gives seamen — those who spend significant time working aboard a vessel in navigation — the right to sue their employer for negligence. Unlike workers' comp, a Jones Act claim can recover full damages: past and future medical care, lost wages, pain and suffering, and loss of earning capacity. The employer's negligence only needs to play "any part" in causing the injury — a very plaintiff-friendly standard. If you qualify as a seaman, you have rights far beyond what most injured workers can pursue.
Beyond the Jones Act, maritime law provides three additional protections. Unseaworthiness allows seamen to sue for injuries caused by a vessel or its equipment not being reasonably fit for its intended purpose — no negligence required. Maintenance & Cure requires the vessel owner to pay your daily living expenses and all necessary medical treatment until you reach maximum medical improvement, regardless of fault. Unearned wages compensates you through the end of your voyage contract. These remedies stack — an experienced admiralty attorney pursues all that apply to your case.
If you are not a Jones Act seaman, the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA) provides federal workers' compensation for dock workers, shipbuilders, ship repairers, and others working on or near navigable waters. Cargo damage claims under maritime law follow strict procedures and short time limits — often as few as one year. Vessel collisions, oil spills, and passenger injuries each have their own admiralty framework. Admiralty law is a specialized federal practice; these cases require attorneys who litigate in federal court and know the specific statutes.
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