Maritime Injury Lawyer Helpline Launched for Injured Seamen

Jan. 29, 2013 - PRLog -- A Florida Jones Act Helpline has been launched to help injured seamen  " navigate" the red tap of the Jones Act injury law and get them the benefits they deserve. http//:www.Floridamaritimeinjurylawcenter.com
"Jones Act is an on the job injury that occurs on a vessel t sea . To be crew (a seaman) you must be attached to a vessel or fleet of vessels under the same ownership while performing approximately thirty (30) percent of your work, and that work must aid in the mission (job) of the vessel." Says a helpline lawyer.  The new helpline aims to help Florida injured seamen.  "Miami is the largest port for cruise ship activity in the country" Says Lisa Spitzer who runs the helpline. According to one of the Help line lawyers, Paul Ansel of Fort Lauderdale Florida

"The owner of the vessel must keep It in seaworthy condition"

"The burden of proof is preponderance of the evidence (more than 50% percent). Seaworthiness is an interesting concept. It requires the vessel owner to put his vessel in a seaworthy (able to properly go to sea and fully perform the mission of the vessel) condition before the voyage. If he fails to live up to that responsibility and you are injured the owner of the vessel is liable for that un-seaworthiness. " Says Ansel who also covers Miami.
Ansel, who has been an admiralty lawyer for over three decades says

"What you Need to Know About Jones Act injury Jone Act is part of general admiralty law and applies to all crew. If you are injured or fall ill during your course and scope of employment on a vessel; the vessel owner must pay you your living expenses (maintenance) and your medical expenses (cure) until you have reached what is called "maximum medical improvement" (MMI). Failure on the part of a seaman's employer to supply maintenance and cure may subject the employer to severe penalties "


The helpline  offers just the kind of help necessary  because according to the helpline staff
"When you are a seaman the Jones Act gives you a special type of protection. " Ansel agrees and adds "You are considered to be the "Ward of the Admiralty Court". Proving negligence is quite easily done as it takes only a small amount of proof to prove your injury. You actually have the right, by Jones Act Law, to seize the property of the vessel to protect your legal rights."

Ansel continues: "as an experienced Jones Act Lawyer I will fight for your rights".

"The ship owners will attempt to attack you, the plaintiff to defeat your Jones Act claim. It is not in their interest to have you succeed. That is why an experienced Jones Act lawyer is necessary."

We asked the helpline who is covered under the Jones Act Law?

"The Jones Act only covers seamen who are injured on the job", we are told.

The helpline offers a complete list of injuries that their lawyers can help with:

Slipping on deck
Getting caught in a moving line and pulled
Tripping over a hose
becoming tangled in a net
Falling from a ladder
Drowning
Being hit by heavy equipment
Getting caught in machinery
Hearing Loss
Carbon Monoxide
Back Injuries
Fingers and wrists
heavy lifting injuries
Jones Act Slip and Fall Injuries
Sea Workers Hazard: Fatigue
Repetitive Strain Injuries
Jones Act Head Injuries
Asbestos Dangers at Sea
Dangers from wind, sea and sun
Seamen Exposed to Toxic Substances
Tendonitis
heavy lifting
Being hit by a moving object
malfunctioning equipment
Eye Injuries

They continue to explain some of the details of Jones Act law. Regarding Jones Act Injuries On Offshore Rigs  a lawyer tells us

"Offshore common injuries were from the release of hydrocarbons, objects being dropped, having extreme weather conditions and lifting-operations gone poorly on offshore rigs, fires, defective equipment, falls from heights or accidents with machinery, jack-up rig injuries and crane injuries.

To be covered under the Jones Act, 46 U.S.C.S. 10101(3). you must be a worker on a vessel. The Jones Act is part of the Federal Employees Liability Act.

The Jones Act protects workers on cargo ships, oil drilling rigs, crew boats, barges, transportation boats and dredges. The Jones Act, not only protects the members of a crew, but the masters of that crew as well. That is, anyone who has a connection that is both substantial in nature and duration to a specific vessel, or to a fleet of vessels, and whose duties contribute to the function or mission of that vessel or fleet. The Jones Act covers injuries that occurred at sea as well as injuries which occurred while in transport to a vessel or while a vessel was docked."

Ansel , who covers the entire state of Florida continues: "To be covered under Jones Act you must have:

Worked at sea more or less permanently
Been assigned to a vessel or fleet of vessels
Worked on a vessel that is still in navigation
More or Less Permanently
The lawyers remind "If the vessel was docked you may still be able to file a claim under the Jones Act injury law".
"You must have spent at least 30% of your time on a vessel at the time the injury occurred."  

For the Injured Seaman Helpline and Maritime lawyers understand the hazards of the sea. They believe that  "Injured Seamen are an important part of the economy of this country. Their hard work on the high seas goes back to the beginning of America and before". The Jones Act  Helpline appears to be behind their mission to protect your rights under the Jones Act law. call 1 877 522-2123 for an experienced Jones Act lawyer for MIami, Florida Keys, Jacksonville, Tampa, Pensacola, Panama City, and all of Florida. The helpline also assists with cruise ship injuries and all injuries on the high seas. We like the fact that they are available 24 hrs, 7 days.