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Offshore
Accidents
•
Admiralty Law •
Jones Act
• Unseaworthiness
Admiralty
law generally governs injuries and deaths caused by
offshore accidents and negligence. Offshore is defined
as within three miles of shore.
The
Jones Act: provides protection for a "seaman"
against the negligent acts of an employer or coworker
that results in personal injury while working on a vessel.
"Seaman" is a broad term that includes sailors
and workers on offshore oilrigs, jack-up oil rigs, semi-submersible
rigs and drill ships. Workers can be drillers, roughnecks,
engineers, oilrig tool pushers, cooks and others. Claims
must generally be brought within three years of the
injury.
Unseaworthiness
claims offer another avenue to address personal injury.
A vessel owner owes a seaman a strict and absolute duty
to provide a seaworthy vessel and competent crew. The
vessel must be reasonably fit for its intended use and
a safe place to work and live. Claims for compensation
due to unseaworthiness must generally be brought within
three years of the injury and combined with a Jones
Act claim against the owner.
The
attorneys at Thurlow & Associates, P.C. are highly experienced
in admiralty law and the Jones Act and how they impact
offshore accident personal injury lawsuits. As
in all personal injury cases, time is of the essence.
Call us toll-free at 1-866-685-8326 or click here to contact us
now.
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