Seamen, injured on a vessel? Know your rights under the Jones Act

I’ve represented injured people for a long time—and there’s one group that’s constantly getting shortchanged: people who work on or around the water.

I’m talking to the deckhands, tugboat crew, barge workers, ferry operators, and commercial fishers. The people loading cargo in the rain at the Port of Oakland. The folks who work 14-hour shifts on rough seas, then come home with a busted back and a pink slip. Maybe you’re on a tugboat, a ferry, or a commercial fishing vessel.

If that’s you and you get hurt on the job, you’re not just dealing with pain—you’re up against companies that will do everything they can to avoid paying you what you’re owed. You’re also dealing with a different kind of law that most lawyers don’t fully understand, and seamen don’t even know it’s there to help them. 

That law is called the Jones Act, and using it on your behalf could be the difference between scraping by or getting the full compensation you deserve.

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So What Is the Jones Act?

The Jones Act is a federal law that gives seamen – people who spend a significant part of their job working on a vessel in navigation (that includes deckhands, engineers, cooks, and plenty of others) – the right to sue their employer if they’re injured due to unsafe conditions, poor training, negligence, or a mistake by another crew member. 

That’s right. You can take them to court.

And you can recover real compensation—much more than just your medical bills.

Unlike most injured workers, seamen covered by the Jones Act can sue their employer directly for negligence

Real Example: A Deckhand’s Story

Let me give you an example.

A few years back, a deckhand working on a Mississippi River barge suffered a serious back injury when he slipped on a greasy deck. The company hadn’t cleaned up an earlier spill and hadn’t warned anyone. He fell hard, herniated two discs, and couldn’t return to physical work.

Instead of helping him, the company blamed him—saying he should’ve been more careful.

But under the Jones Act, he had the right to sue for employer negligence. His attorneys proved that the company failed to maintain a safe working environment—something they were legally required to do. The court agreed, and he was awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages to cover his lost income, medical care, and pain and suffering.

That’s the power of the Jones Act. Without it, he might’ve received basic “maintenance and cure”—just enough to cover bare essentials while he healed. But nothing close to what he truly needed to rebuild his life.

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How Do You Know If You’re Covered?

Here’s a quick test. If you:

• Work on a boat, barge, ferry, or other vessel that operates in navigable waters

• Spend at least 30% of your time aboard that vessel

• Were injured while in service of the vessel

Then you probably qualify as a seaman under the Jones Act.

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What if you’re not a “seaman”?

The terms “vessel” and “navigable waters” are legal terms with nuance, so don’t guess whether you qualify or not— just ask. Ask me. I’ll tell you straight up whether you qualify.

And if you don’t spend most of your time on a vessel—say, you work on the docks or in the port—you might be covered under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act). That’s a different law, but it still gives you important rights.

I handle those cases too—and I know how to push back when the insurance company tries to lowball you.

What Can You Recover?

A Jones Act claim may allow you to recover damages for:

• Lost wages and lost future earnings

• Medical expenses (including long-term care)

• Pain and suffering

• Disability or disfigurement

• Emotional distress

• Loss of life enjoyment

Compare that to a basic workers’ comp claim, which usually doesn’t cover pain and suffering—and you’ll see why this matters.

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Why this matters now

Here’s what I see all the time:

• Injured guys told to “tough it out.”

• Companies rushing to settle before you call a lawyer.

• Insurance adjusters pretending they’re your buddy while setting you up to get pennies on the dollar.

Don’t fall for it.

Call me, and I’ll tell you straight up whether you’ve got a case. I’ll listen. I’ll explain what you’re entitled to. And if we work together, I’ll go after everything you’re owed like it was my own paycheck on the line.

Why You Need the Right Lawyer

Let me say this plainly: most personal injury lawyers don’t handle maritime law. It’s complex. It’s federal. And the companies you’re up against know how to exploit every legal technicality to avoid paying you a dime.

I’ve handled these cases. I’ve gone toe-to-toe with marine employers and their insurers. And I don’t back down.

I don’t hand your file off to a junior. 

I don’t outsource your case to a robot.

I do the work myself—because you’ve done your job, and now it’s my turn to do mine. 

Read more about my Oakland maritime attorney services.

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What You Should Do Right Now

If you were injured on a vessel, or even near the water while working, you don’t have time to wait.

Call me. Even if you’re not sure you have a case. Even if another lawyer turned you down. You deserve a real conversation with someone who knows this area of law and who actually gives a damn.

I’ll listen. I’ll dig in. And if I take your case, I’ll fight like hell to win it.

And share this with your crew. You never know who needs to hear it.

Oh yes, and be sure to bookmark this. If you ever need a maritime lawyer, and let’s hope you never do, you’ll know how to find me.