When you’re injured on a vessel in navigable waters, then you might qualify for benefits under the Jones Act. However, unless you can prove negligence, the compensation that you recover pursuant to this law are limited in scope. Practically speaking, you’ll only be able to recover money for maintenance and cure, which only help cover your medical expenses and your day-to-day living expenses.
If you can prove that your employer was negligent, though, then you open the possibility of recovering additional damages. In those instances, you need to think about taking additional maritime personal injury actionhttps://www.rumlaw.com/admiralty-and-maritime-law/maritime-personal-injury/.
How to build your maritime personal injury case
Whether you qualify as a “seaman” under the Jones Act or not, you should seek compensation for injuries suffered while on a vessel. To build the strongest case possible, you should consider doing the following:
- Taking photographs of the workplace accident scene.
- Securing witness statements that help paint a picture of the accident and any negligent procedures that your employer or a negligent third-party failed to correct.
- Obtaining maintenance records for the vessel in question to see if it was improperly kept in a way that created the dangerous situation that led to your injuries.
- Track your damages so that you know what to ask for out of your claim.
- Follow your doctor’s treatment recommendations.
- Report your injuries to your employer in a timely fashion.
Don’t leave opportunity on the table with your maritime injury claim
Your injuries can wreak havoc on your life. Fortunately, you can dampen the blow by presenting a well thought out and competent personal injury case. That’s going to take some foresight and legal knowledge to prepare, though, which is why now is the time to get to work on your case.
