When you work on a boat or ship, you accept that you face certain risks on the job. But, while you may worry about risks like getting caught in a line or falling overboard, you probably don’t give nearly as much thought to the risk of falling down the stairs.
Working on a cargo ship presents risks for several types of injuries. If you’ve been injured on the job, you may have a claim under the Jones Act. Seamen who work on container ships can file for maintenance and cure benefits regardless of how they got injured, and they can seek additional compensation for unseaworthiness or Jones Act negligence in many cases.
If you work on a barge, tugboat, cargo ship, containership or any other vessel and you have been injured on the job, you may be entitled to financial compensation under the Jones Act. The Jones Act is a federal law that specifically protects offshore workers who qualify as “seamen,” and injured seamen are entitled to no-fault benefits in many cases.
