The Jones Act

Pennsylvania Jones Act Lawyer

Employers are required by law to provide workers with a safe working environment. This is true of maritime-related industries too. Offshore workers are exposed to many hazards that inland employees are not. Should a worker be injured or killed due to negligence of the employer, the employer may be liable and may be required to compensate a worker or family for damages.

At the Moschetta Law Firm, P.C. in Washington, Pennsylvania, we represent offshore and inland river workers who have been seriously injured while working on a barge, tow boat, ship, pleasure boat, recreational watercraft or any other floating vessel. We have represented clients suffering crush injuries, slip and fall injuries and toxic chemical exposure, among others.

The Jones Act

If you have suffered an offshore injury, you are automatically entitled to recover compensation for maintenance and cure. Cure refers to compensation for medical bills. Maintenance is a small daily allowance that provides some compensation for lost wages. However, you may wish to file an additional claim under the Jones Act.

The Jones Act is a federal statute that addresses an employer's liability when an offshore worker is injured or killed. Unlike workers' compensation, which has a "no fault" rule, a personal injury or wrongful death claim filed under the Jones Act must show that the employer exhibited negligence. Also, the injured worker may sue the employer for all damages incurred as a result of the injury-including past and future medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Under workers' compensation, you only recover medical payments and 2/3 (66.6%) of your wages over a period of time.

If you would like to file a claim under the Jones Act, a lawyer from the Moschetta Law Firm, P.C. can help. We will thoroughly examine your claim to determine whether a defect or condition rendered the ship or barge unseaworthy and whether your employer may have been negligent. We frequently consult with safety experts, who aid in our investigation tremendously.

Involving an experienced Jones Act lawyer early in the process can dramatically increase your chance of recovering a favorable settlement. There are time limitations for filing Jones Act claims, so it is important that you contact our Jones Act claims attorneys immediately to discuss your offshore injury. We handle all types of cases, from dockside workers hurt while unloading a barge to deckhands seriously injured in a boating collision. Call 1-877-472-1578 for more information.

Let Us Help You…

At the Moschetta Law Firm, P.C., our maritime lawyers understand all facets of offshore accident and injury law and personal injury law due to boating accidents and personal injurites on the water. Learn more about how we will aggressively assert your rights. Contact our maritime lawyers today. Call 1-877-472-1578 for a free initial consultation. For your convenience, evening and weekend appointments are available by request.

The Moschetta Law Firm, P.C. in Washington, Pennsylvania handles cases along the major rivers in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky, including the Ohio River, Kanawha River, Allegheny River and Monongahela River. We represent clients in Washington, Pittsburgh and Beaver in Pennsylvania; East Liverpool, Gallipolis, Marietta and Steubenville in Ohio; and Ashland, Charleston, Huntington, Marietta, Marshall, Mason, Morgantown, Parkersburg, Point Pleasant, Weirton and Wheeling in West Virginia.