The Jones Act was enacted in 1915 and amended in 1920 to allow seaman to bring a personal injury claim against their employer if the employer (or any agent, officer or crew member) was at fault in causing or contributing to an accident and injury. The Jones Act covers all crew members working on a ship, rig, barge, crew boat, recreational boat, floating crane, tanker, tug boat, commercial fishing vessel, dredge, ferry or just about any other type of watercraft used, or capable of being used, as a means of transportation on water.
Kalfus & Nachman has been representing Jones Act seaman for many years and is able to analyze your particular situation and advise you of your rights. Under the Jones Act and general maritime law, you are entitled to maintenance and cure (medical treatment and payment of living expenses) and unearned wages as well as payment for the injuries suffered, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, pain and suffering, disability, disfigurement and other losses when the employer was negligent.
The Roanoke maritime lawyers at Kalfus & Nachman have successfully represented clients whose injuries were caused by the negligence of their employer including:
- Improper operation of the vessel
- Failure to provide and maintain reasonably safe equipment
- Failing to exercise due care in selecting a competent crew
- Failing to prevent physical assaults by crew members
- Negligent hiring of crew members
- Failure to provide proper training
- Dangerous or unsafe work and the dangerous manner of work
- Negligent orders or instructions by supervisors
- Requiring excessive duty
- Operating in heavy weather
- Failure to correct known dangerous conditions and obstructions
- Failure to make inspections of the vessel, equipment and work
- Failure to provide adequate medical treatment
- Failure to give warnings of a known hazard
- Allowing an inexperienced crew member to operate machinery
- Failure to consider a client’s physical limitations in assigning duties
- Failure to require the use of safety gear
- Failure to comply with industry customs and practices
For help with your maritime injury case, please contact the attorneys at Kalfus & Nachman by calling (800) 361-0430. We proudly serve clients in Norfolk, Roanoke, Newport News, and the surrounding areas of Virginia.
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