The Maritime Law Group is passionately committed to seeking justice and compensation for injured crew members and seafarers through high quality legal representation. Under the Jones Act and General Maritime Law, injured crew members and seafarers who meet certain requirements are provided heightened legal remedies and protections. A key requirement for legal remedies under the Jones Act and General Maritime Law is to establish “seaman” status. Generally, in order for a crew member and seafarer to establish seaman status, he or she must spend at least 30% of his or her time on a vessel in navigation and contribute to the function of the vessel or accomplishment of its mission.
The term “seaman” does not apply only to masters, mates, deckhands, engineers and others performing traditional seaman functions, but includes anyone who contributes to the function of the vessel. For example, courts have ruled that entertainers, musicians, bartenders, waiters, busboys, and numerous other individuals performing nontraditional seaman functions on vessels can establish seaman status.
We seek to inform crew members and seafarers, who are exposed to unique risks and dangers on vessels (such as cruise ships, tugboats, moving barges, supply boats, yachts etc.) regarding the extensive protections and remedies available under the Jones Act and General Maritime Law. Moreover, we are driven to utilize – to the fullest extent possible – the remedies available under the law to obtain medical treatment and compensation for injured crew members and seafarers.
The Jones Act is a key federal statute providing remedies and substantial protections for injured crew members and seafarers whose employer’s negligence caused or contributed to his or her injury.
