Alaska Personal Injury Lawyers

Jones Act Lawyers Alaska, Helping Clients Injured at Sea

Alaska Jones Act Lawyers
Helping Clients Injured at Sea

Alaska is a state with a unique economy, and many of the industries that keep the state humming along are those that involve the sea.  As such, people who work on ships or help to prepare them for sea voyages often engage in dangerous activities.  Fortunately, there are laws that protect the legal rights of people who have been harmed while working at sea, and one of the most prominent laws is known as the Jones Act.  This law has been in place for decades, and anyone who has been injured in this manner should seek the help of Alaska Jones Act lawyers as soon as possible.  Below is a brief introduction to this issue.

What Is The Jones Act?

The Jones Act was originally passed by Congress in 1920, and then updated in 1970, as an attempt to protect people who work at sea.  It was also meant to provide Jones Act lawyers around the country with some uniform legal standards to apply to situations when a worker is injured.  Until then, states held their own jurisdiction and legal standards for recovery of damages for injuries varied from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.  In general, the Jones Act requires employers to provide a reasonably safe working environment for their workers.

Whom Does The Jones Act Protect?

The Jones Act was enacted to protect almost any employee and some independent contractors who work on vessels that spend some time at sea.  This can include ships, barges, fishing boats, commercial vessels and even some recreational vessels where a worker is injured while engaging in employment-related activities.

What Damages Can Be Recovered Under The Jones Act?

When someone is injured while working on a vessel at sea or docked near the sea, that worker is basically entitled to two different forms of recovery.  Initially, when someone is injured, that worker is entitled to the recovery of payment for transportation, maintenance and cure.  This basically means that the worker will recover payment for expenses incurred by traveling to and from medical appointments as well as his or her wages until the voyage that led to the injury is complete.

In addition, an injured worker can recover damages that result from a finding of negligence by the employer.  These damages are largely related to the same types of damages that one would recover in a personal injury lawsuit, and many of the same standards as those that exist in general personal injury law apply.

Overall, if you have been injured while working at sea, you need to seek the help of Alaska Jones Act lawyers who understand this complicated piece of legislation and who can make sure that your legal rights are protected.  Contact Barber & Banker today to schedule a free initial consultation.