Metairie Jones Act Attorney
We Represent Injured Seamen Throughout Louisiana
The Jones Act is a federal statute that allows seamen who are injured on the job to sue for damages.
To ensure that you get maximum monetary damages for a serious injury at sea, contact Schwartz Law Firm LLC. With offices in Baton Rouge and Metairie, our attorneys have handled hundreds of seaman claims over the years.
Our lawyers know your rights under the Jones Act. Call us today at 504-837-2263 for a free consultation.
Compensation Under A Jones Act Claim
A Jones Act action allows for a wider range of recovery than an LHWCA case (Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act) where relief is limited to lost wages and medical benefits. Additional damages recoverable under the Jones Act include:
Pain and suffering
Future pain and suffering
Future wages
Future medical costs
Other forms of special damages, including “maintenance,” a per diem in the amount that would be required to cover room and board expenses while an injured seaman recovers.
Who Is Eligible For Jones Act Relief?
The Jones Act was designed to protect seafaring captains and crew members who spend significant time on ships, barges, and commercial boats. A 1995 decision by the United States Supreme Court established a presumption that a worker who spends less than 30 percent of his or her time on navigable waters is not a seaman for Jones Act purposes. Our knowledgeable attorneys can determine if you qualify.
Pursuing Maintenance And Cure And All Damages
Maintenance (food, rent, utilities) and cure (reasonable and necessary medical care) are provided to an injured worker under the Jones Act without regard to fault. Since employers frequently do not pay these benefits, an injured worker needs skilled counsel such as the attorneys at Schwartz Law Firm.
We know how to build the damages in a Jones Act case. Combining damages can often get the case into federal court, where we have a wealth of experience. The burden of proof in a Jones Act case is also more favorable to the plaintiff than in an LHWCA case. It is “featherweight,” which is much lower than the “preponderance of the evidence” standard typical in civil cases.
Contact Schwartz Law Firm LLC Today
Severe injury cases brought under the Jones Act require attorneys with the experience and skill to obtain all the compensation you are legally entitled to for all your harms and losses. Our New Orleans Jones Act lawyers are deeply practiced in fighting personally for clients in these cases. If you have been injured on the water, contact them online or call 504-837-2263 to set up a free initial consultation. You pay nothing unless we win a recovery for you.
