Texas Jones Act Attorney

Were you injured while working on a vessel off the coast of Texas or in any navigable inland waters in the state? You may be entitled to benefits. A Texas Jones Act attorney can look over the circumstances of your accident and injuries to determine what financial relief you may be entitled to.

The Jones Act is a federal law that regulates maritime commerce on inland waterways in the U.S. and between U.S. ports. Under the Jones Act, seamen have the right to make claims to collect financial compensation from their employers for injuries that have been sustained as the result of negligence on the part of the vessel owner, captain, employer or other crew member. For example, poor maintenance of a winch may cause it to malfunction, leading to a serious accident that crushes the finger or hand of the seaman working with the winch. This seaman may be entitled to Jones Act benefits if negligence or wrongdoing caused the winch to malfunction.

The Jones Act may cover virtually any type of offshore accident that affects Texas maritime workers. This may include fires and explosions, jack-up rig accidents, offshore rig accidents, accidents caused by defective equipment, accidents on deck and much more. From a severe burn to permanent paralysis caused by a spinal cord injury, any type of injury may be covered.

Filing a Claim under the Jones Act

In order to qualify to receive benefits under the Jones Act, you must qualify as a "seaman." You must have been a paid worker on a vessel at the time of the incident. You must have performed some duty to contribute to the vessel's function, and the vessel must have been in operation offshore or on an inland waterway in the U.S. You may qualify for Jones Act benefits as a sailor, deckhand, cook, engineer, roughneck, housekeeping steward, roustabout, mate or other crew member aboard a vessel.

The best way to find out whether you may qualify to receive benefits is by discussing your unique case with an attorney. A Texas Jones Act lawyer at Arnold & Itkin LLP can answer any questions you may have and can address your concerns in order to determine whether you should move forward with a Jones Act claim, a claim of unseaworthiness, or if a different maritime law may apply in your case.

Ready to find out more about your rights as a seaman? Contact a Texas Jones Act lawyer at our firm for a free case review.