Savannah and Charleston Jones Act Lawyers
Dredge Workers: Are You a Jones Act Seaman?"
Do you have the considerable remedies allowed by the Jones Act at your disposal if you are injured? The United States Supreme Court has, over the past several years, ruled several times on the issue of seaman status.
To qualify as a Jones Act seaman:
- The worker must contribute to the mission and function of the vessel; he or she must do the ship’s work.
- The worker need not aid in navigation of the vessel.
- The Jones Act and the LHWCA are not necessarily mutually exclusive remedies.
- The worker’s connection to the vessel must be substantial in duration and nature; to be “substantial,” 30% is a good rule of thumb, although not conclusive.
- A land-based worker’s connection to a vessel or an identifiable fleet of vessels cannot be substantial if based upon a series of casual, sporadic assignments for non-seagoing work aboard a general pool of vessels owned by different companies.
Do you qualify as a Jones Act seaman?
Is arguing that your claim is a Jones Act claim the best way to protect your interests?
We can help you find the answers to your questions.
Contact Raley & Raley, PC's Savannah office today for more information on the Jones Act and whether or not you qualify. Our attorneys work with clients throughout the coastal area of Georgia and South Carolina.
