A deckhand is an entry-level laborer who assists in the operation and maintenance of a maritime vessel. The exact duties of a deckhand vary from ship to ship, but typically include cleaning and greasing machinery, operating deck equipment, preparing meals, loading, and unloading cargo, and standing watch. When a deckhand is injured on the job, they are entitled to compensation under the Jones Act.
If you or a loved one sustained a serious injury while working aboard a tanker, cargo ship, cruise ship, or other commercial vessel, consider contacting a Pascagoula deckhand maritime injury lawyer. A seasoned maritime injury attorney could help you determine your eligibility to file a Jones Act claim, and if so, pursue compensation on your behalf. Under the Jones Act, injured deckhands could be awarded compensation for lost wages, loss of earning capacity, all medical expenses, and pain and suffering.
The Jones Act provides injured deckhands the opportunity to seek compensation from their employers under a theory of negligence. According to the Act, deckhands and other employees aboard a covered vessel must be provided a reasonably safe environment in which to work. Shipowners are responsible for providing seaworthy vessels and for exercising ordinary care to make sure that they are maintained in accordance with modern maritime standards.
A seasoned Pascagoula deckhand maritime injury attorney could help injured seamen prove their employer failed to:
In most personal injury lawsuits, the plaintiff must demonstrate that their injuries are the actual or proximate result of the defendant’s negligence. The Jones Act has a much more employee-friendly standard. Specifically, an injured deckhand only needs to show that their employer’s negligence contributed to the accident that occurred.
Most employees can file a claim for workers’ compensation in the event of an on-the-job injury. However, deckhands and others who work on commercial vessels must seek compensation through the Jones Act if they are injured in a workplace accident.
Whereas fault plays virtually no part of a claim for workers’ compensation, the fate of a claim for compensation filed under the Jones Act rests on the plaintiff’s ability to establish employer negligence.
The extent to which an injured employee can be compensated differs dramatically depending on whether it is a seaman filing a Jones Act claim or a land-based employee seeking workers’ compensation. Under workers’ compensation, only medical expenses and disability benefits are available to injured employees.
Someone filing a Jones Act claim could seek additional benefits such as lost future wages, disfigurement, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Suffering a severe injury while on board a ship as a deckhand or other seaman may mean that you are eligible for compensation under federal law. To determine whether you have a valid claim, contact a Pascagoula deckhand maritime injury lawyer. A maritime injury attorney may also be able to tell whether you qualify for compensation under additional federal statutes
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