Maritime Injuries
The Jones Act is a federal maritime law that provides for benefits to workers who are injured on sea going vessels
on navigable waters and offshore oil rigs which can be towed and are not permanently affixed to the ocean floor. Whether you
are a seaman, an officer, a harbor pilot, an oil worker, a technician, a helicopter pilot, work on a tugboat, barge, ship,
supply boat, semi-submersible drilling rig, jack-up drilling rig or if you become injured on or near the water.
Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act
The Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA) is a federal law that
was enacted to provide for those employees injured while loading or unloading vessels, or those involved in the construction
or repair of ships. Any worker who is injured on a pier, dry dock, wharf or shipping terminal may be compensated under the
Act. Workers injured near these facilities may also be compensated if their normal occupation involves loading, unloading,
building or repairing ships.
Jones Act - FELA
When the U.S. Congress passed the Jones Act, they extended statutory protection
to seamen who previously were protected under common law only. The Jones Act allows qualifying seamen the same protections
afforded to U.S. railroad employees under the F.E.L.A. (Federal Employees' Liabilities Act). The Jones Act canonized many
common law maritime principles, such as maintenance and cure. The following excerpt from the Jones Act illustrates the connection
between injured seamen and FELA law.
46 USCS Appx § 688
Title 46.
Appendix. Shipping Chapter 18.
§ 688. Recovery for injury to or death of seaman
(a) Application of railway employee statutes; jurisdiction. Any seaman who shall suffer personal injury in the course
of his employment may, at his election, maintain an action for damages at law, with the right of trial by jury, and in such
action all statutes of the United States modifying or extending the common-law right or remedy in cases of personal injury
to railway employees shall apply; and in case of the death of any seaman as a result of any such personal injury the personal
representative of such seaman may maintain an action for damages at law with the right of trial by jury, and in such action
all statutes of the United States conferring or regulating the right of action for death in the case of railway employees
shall be applicable. Jurisdiction in such actions shall be under the court of the district in which the defendant employer
resides or in which his principal office is located.
[The Jones
Act provides statutory protection of injured seamen. Prior to the enactment of the Jones Act, injured offshore workers were
protected by common law only. The Jones Act allows qualifying seamen the same protections afforded to U.S. railroad employees
under the F.E.L.A. (Federal Employees' Liabilities Act). The Jones Act canonized many common law maritime principles, such
as maintenance and cure.]
Federal Employees Liability
Act (F.E.L.A.)
45 USCS § 51 (2002)
§
51. Liability of common carriers by railroad, in interstate or foreign commerce, for injuries to employees from negligence;
definition of employees
Every common carrier by railroad while
engaging in commerce between any of the several States or Territories, or between any of the States and Territories, or between
the District of Columbia and any of the States or Territories, or between the District of Columbia or any of the States or
Territories and any foreign nation or nations, shall be liable in damages to any person suffering injury while he is employed
by such carrier in such commerce, or, in case of the death of such employee, to his or her personal representative, for the
benefit of the surviving widow or husband and children of such employee; and, if none, then of such employee's parents; and,
if none, then of the next of kin dependent upon such employee, for such injury or death resulting in whole or in part from
the negligence of any of the officers, agents, or employees of such carrier, or by reason of any defect or insufficiency,
due to its negligence, in its cars, engines, appliances, machinery, track, roadbed, works, boats, wharves, or other equipment.
Any employee of a carrier, any part of whose duties as such employee shall be the
furtherance of interstate or foreign commerce; or shall, in any way directly or closely and substantially, affect such commerce
as above set forth shall, for the purposes of this Act be considered as being employed by such carrier in such commerce and
shall be considered as entitled to the benefits of this Act and of an Act entitled "An Act relating to the liability
of common carriers by railroad to their employees in certain cases" (approved April 22, 1908) [45 USCS § §
51 et seq.] as the same has been or may hereafter be amended.
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