Jones Act legal claim

Injuries on the Job

It is hard for anyone who has not worked off the coast to understand how difficult the working conditions can sometimes be. Many jobs off the coast call for sea workers to stay overnight or even longer. That's not to say that they work 24-hour shifts, but if possible, many workers will opt to put as many hours in as possible (or as much as their employer approves) instead of resting. This is because on many of these vessels, there are a limited number of recreational facilities. Workers also would rather work for the extra pay then just sit around. As a result, you sometimes will have poor working conditions and extremely fatigued workers. This is a poor mix that is bound to cause accidents. Injuries can be minor but some injuries can be quite severe.

Slips and falls can happen since workers are often on a wet deck. More severe accidents occur, especially when there is faulty machinery in play. Even worse are those workers that are exposed to asbestos at high enough levels that it causes an asbestos-related disease like mesothelioma, a disease that a worker may not even know he has until five, ten or even thirty years after he or she retires.

Getting Legal Help

If you fall under the category of injured sea worker, your best next step would be to contact Jones Act attorneys. Jones Act attorneys are most familiar with regulations that pertain to injured sea workers. They also have the knowledge of how the maritime law system works.

There are many excellent Jones Act attorneys to choose from. Therefore, we have provided a checklist to follow in order to select the best attorney for you.

• Meet with a firm that offers free consultations.
• Ask for references of the specific attorney that may be handling your case.
• Contact the state bar association to verify the attorney has never had any disciplinary action taken against him or her.
• Ask what percent of the attorneys' practice is made up of maritime or admiralty law.
• Ask the attorney what interests him or her about maritime or admiralty law.
• Ask the attorney if your case goes to trial, which attorney will be trying the case. In some cases, the attorney you have been working with may not be the one to show up in court.
• Discuss attorney fees up front so there are no surprises.

Contact Williams Kherkher today to schedule a free consultation with one of our Jones Act attorneys.