Frequently Asked Questions

The Jones Act is a federal law that allows a qualifying seaman injured in the course of employment to bring a negligence claim against the employer. Unlike a conventional workers’ compensation claim, a Jones Act case may permit recovery for losses such as medical expenses, lost earnings, pain, disability, and other damages caused by the employer’s negligence.

A worker may qualify as a seaman when the worker contributes to the function or mission of a vessel and has a substantial connection—in both duration and nature—to a vessel in navigation or an identifiable fleet of vessels. The analysis depends on the worker’s actual duties and relationship to the vessel, not merely the worker’s job title or the location of the accident.

The Jones Act may apply to nearly any work-related injury caused in whole or in part by an employer’s negligence. Examples include falls, lifting injuries, equipment accidents, crane incidents, fires, explosions, collisions, exposure to hazardous substances, inadequate training, unsafe work methods, and injuries caused by another crew member.

The Jones Act is a fault-based claim. An injured seaman generally must show that the employer’s negligence played some part in causing the injury. A successful claimant may recover broader damages than are typically available under workers’ compensation. Maritime workers who do not qualify as seamen may instead be covered by another law, such as the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act.

Jones Act and many other maritime personal-injury claims generally must be filed within three years of the injury. Some circumstances can shorten or affect the deadline, so an injured worker should speak with counsel promptly rather than assume the full three-year period will apply.

Depending on the facts, recoverable damages may include past and future medical expenses, past and future lost wages, diminished earning capacity, physical pain, mental anguish, physical impairment, disfigurement, and other losses resulting from the injury.

No. An employer does not have to be the only cause of the accident. A Jones Act claim may exist when the employer’s negligence contributed to the injury, even if another person, company, unsafe condition, or the injured worker also played a role.

Maintenance and cure are separate maritime benefits that may be owed to an injured seaman regardless of who caused the accident. “Maintenance” generally refers to reasonable living expenses while the seaman is recovering, and “cure” refers to necessary medical treatment until the worker reaches maximum medical improvement.

A vessel owner has a duty to provide a vessel, crew, equipment, and appurtenances that are reasonably fit for their intended purposes. An injured seaman may have an unseaworthiness claim when an unsafe vessel condition—such as defective equipment, an inadequately trained crew, or an unsafe work method—causes an injury.

Most civil cases resolve before trial, but every serious maritime case should be prepared as though a trial will occur. Thorough investigation, expert analysis, witness preparation, and a willingness to try the case can affect both the settlement process and the final result.

Report the incident immediately, request medical attention, photograph the dangerous condition and surrounding area, obtain the names and contact information of witnesses, preserve your clothing and footwear, and keep copies of the incident report, medical records, receipts, and cruise documents. Avoid signing releases or giving detailed recorded statements before obtaining legal advice.

Cruise claims may involve slips and falls, unsafe stairs or walkways, falling objects, defective equipment, swimming-pool incidents, excursion accidents, negligent security, sexual assault, inadequate medical care, foodborne illness, collisions, and other injuries caused by unsafe conditions or negligent conduct.

A passenger who is sexually assaulted aboard a cruise ship may have claims against the perpetrator and, depending on the circumstances, the cruise line. Potential issues include negligent security, inadequate supervision, improper hiring or retention, failure to respond to known risks, and the cruise line’s responsibility for the conduct of crew members. These cases should be reported and investigated as quickly as possible.

Possibly. Liability may depend on who operated the excursion, how it was marketed and sold, what the cruise line knew about the excursion provider, and what caused the accident. Potential defendants may include the cruise line, the excursion operator, transportation companies, property owners, or equipment providers.

Cruise lines frequently argue that a passenger should have seen and avoided the condition. That defense does not automatically defeat a claim. The outcome may depend on the visibility of the hazard, lighting, crowding, distractions, prior incidents, warnings, and whether the cruise line created or knew about the dangerous condition.

Cruise tickets often contain strict notice and filing provisions that may require written notice within months and the filing of a lawsuit within one year. The contract may also require suit in a particular court or state. These deadlines can be much shorter than the ordinary maritime limitations period, so the ticket should be reviewed immediately.

The passenger ticket often contains a forum-selection clause identifying the court or location where a lawsuit must be filed. Many major cruise lines require passengers to bring claims in Florida, even when the passenger lives elsewhere or the cruise departed from another state.

Depending on the circumstances, damages may include medical expenses, lost income, diminished earning capacity, pain, mental anguish, impairment, disfigurement, and other losses. A wrongful-death claim may involve additional legal limitations depending on where the death occurred and which maritime law applies.

You should be cautious. The cruise line and its insurer may use the statement to evaluate or defend the claim. You should provide required basic information honestly, but consider consulting an attorney before giving a detailed recorded statement, signing authorizations, or accepting a settlement.

Possibly. Cruise cases often involve federal maritime law, foreign ports, international waters, foreign-flagged vessels, and contractual forum provisions. The location of the accident does not necessarily prevent a claim, but it can affect which laws and deadlines apply.

The initial consultation is free. There is no charge to describe what happened and learn whether the matter warrants further investigation.

No. Injury cases are generally handled on a contingency-fee basis. That means there is no upfront attorneys’ fee, and the lawyers are paid only if money is recovered for the client. The written fee agreement will explain the percentage, expenses, and other terms.

As soon as reasonably possible. Evidence can disappear, witnesses can become difficult to locate, surveillance footage may be erased, and companies may begin investigating immediately. Cruise-ticket notice provisions and other legal deadlines can also expire quickly.

Provide whatever you know, even if the information is incomplete. Helpful items include the date and location of the incident, employer or cruise line, vessel or ship name, photographs, witness information, medical records, incident reports, ticket documents, and communications from the company or insurer.

An attorney or member of the legal team will review the information and contact you by the phone number or email address you provided. Submitting the form does not require you to hire the firm and does not, by itself, create an attorney-client relationship.

Information submitted for the purpose of seeking legal advice will be treated with care. However, you should avoid sending highly sensitive documents or detailed confidential information until the firm confirms that it can evaluate or accept the matter.

Yes. Maritime injuries frequently involve workers and passengers who live in one state, were injured in another location, and must file suit elsewhere. The lawyers can evaluate claims involving incidents throughout the Gulf Coast and, where appropriate, elsewhere in the United States.

The timeline depends on the seriousness of the injury, length of medical treatment, number of parties, complexity of the investigation, court schedule, and whether the case settles or proceeds to trial. Some claims resolve within months, while heavily contested cases may take considerably longer.

Not necessarily. Many meetings, document exchanges, and portions of the case can be handled remotely. Travel may be required for a medical examination, deposition, mediation, hearing, or trial, depending on where the case must be filed.

No. The attorneys must first investigate the facts, identify the responsible parties, review applicable deadlines, evaluate conflicts, and determine whether representation is appropriate. No attorney-client relationship exists until both the client and the lawyers sign a written agreement.