The Jones Act

Have you suffered from an offshore injury?

If you have suffered an offshore injury, then you are automatically entitled to recover compensation for maintenance and cure. Cure is considered compensation for medical bills.  While maintenance is a small daily allowance that provides some compensation for lost wages.

There are additional claims allowed under the Jones Act.

The Jones Act is a federal statute that addresses the liability of the employer when an offshore worker is injured or killed. Workers' compensation is different from the Jones Act because when a personal injury or wrongful death claim is filed under the Jones Act the injured worker (or employee) must show that the employer exhibited negligence. Once the employee has proven that the employer was negligent then the injured worker may recover damages incurred as a result of the injury-including past and future medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

The Jones Act provides more compensation for injuried workers.  When workers' compensation only allows the employee to 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 the ship or barge was unseaworthy due to a defect or condition which in turn makes your employer guilty of negligence. 

If you involve an experienced Jones Act lawyer early in the process it 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 The Moschetta Law Firm, P.C. immediately to discuss your offshore injury. We have handled all types of cases, from dockside workers hurt while unloading a barge to deckhands seriously injured in a boating collision.

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.

Our maritime & personal injury lawyers represent clients in:
Pennsylvania: Washington, Pittsburgh and Beaver
Ohio: East Liverpool, Gallipolis, Marietta and Steubenville
West Virginia: Ashland, Charleston, Huntington, Marietta, Marshall, Mason, Morgantown, Parkersburg, Point Pleasant, Weirton and Wheeling.