Corpus Christi Jones Act Attorneys

Are you in Corpus Christi? Were you injured in a Marine or Maritime accident? Give Carabin Shaw a call. We can help. Call us at 800-862-1260

The Federal Jones Act covers a large range of people into the legal definition of a “seaman.” On top of full-time members of the crew, other employees connected to the vessel, and even the master of the vessel will probably be entitled to monetary compensation for any injuries sustained while on the job. A good general rule states that any employee who spends more than 30% of his or her working time on a “vessel in navigation” (or multiple vessels which have a common owner) will be entitled to legal seaman status. Getting a recovery in such a situation requires that the employee/seaman also has to be working on a vessel which both operates on legally navigable waterways and makes its money engaging in interstate commerce. However, if an employee/seaman spends their work time on many different vessels or is moved between different vessels which are not owned in common, then instead, the employee may be covered by either the Longshoreman and Harbor Workers Compensation Act (LHWCA) or the General Maritime Law. Despite these limitations, courts have usually interpreted a person’s having seaman status under the Jones Act in a broad way, to have the law include a variety of employee/workers on board vessels, including cooks, chefs, card dealers, waiters, and other staff and entertainers.

The Federal Jones Act covers all kinds of maritime workers across levels of command, including, but not limited to, Tanker men, Engineers, Wiremen, Lead men, Deckhands, Relief Captains, Chief, Second and Third Mates and even Captains.

A veteran, experienced Corpus Christi Admiralty attorney will be highly familiar with all of these laws and statutes and will be able to advise you or your loved one of their status as either a longshoreman, seaman or otherwise, and will help you navigate through the legal system to your best advantage regardless of whether or not you are legally treated as a Jones Act seaman.

Both the General Maritime Law and the Jones Act are extremely complex legal constructs. Many, many legal and fact questions need to be answered to discover exactly what claims to file. Also, complicated and difficult tests govern jurisdiction, the status of a vessel as a legal “vessel in navigation,” in addition to legal seaman status as defined by the law. Also, the exact amount of monetary recovery any injured potential seaman is entitled to can, and will, change based upon the exact, specific facts surrounding each case.

Not many lawyers really specialize in admiralty and maritime law. Texas is, however, lucky enough to have many groups of the most veteran, experienced admiralty and maritime lawyers in this country practicing law here. Their expertise can be of huge help to you in obtaining the monetary judgment you deserve. Please contact one of our expert Corpus Christi maritime attorneys at Carabin Shaw for a totally free consultation regarding your rights.

Are you in Corpus Christi? Were you injured in a Marine or Maritime accident? Give Carabin Shaw a call. We can help. Call us at 800-862-1260.