What is the Jones Act? It Helps Those Injured on Ocean-Going Vessels.

Maritime Law Handles Accidents At Sea Or Coastal Waters

Originally passed as the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, this piece of law often causes people to be confused about their rights while at sea, and to continue to wonder, “What is the Jones Act?” The bill comes from a long, even ancient tradition of sea and admiralty law, which are the regulations pertaining to employment and rights of individuals at sea. In fact, the benefits and rights of seamen and passengers have been established, studied, and improved for centuries.

The very first mentions of international maritime law come to us from Islamic traditions dating from the times of ancient Rome. Traditionally, the Romans paid sailors according to their rank and profit of that ship’s ventures. This meant that an injured sailor, or a seaman that left for any other reason, would receive absolutely no payment. Islamic clerics, pushing for more rights under admiralty and maritime law , established traditions, such as paying sailors a set rate, so they received compensation for their time and efforts. But, you may be asking, how does this pertain to modern law, and what is the Jones Act?

Originally passed in 1920, the act was passed by congress in order to extend the rights of railroad workers to seamen and other professional sailors. It dealt with two specific issues pertaining to shipping and passage. Here is a brief explanation of two issues needed to understand the law:

1. Cabotage – This is defined as shipping goods or people from one U.S. port to another. In the United States, any boat travelling in this manner must be American, and must be crewed by American workers.

2. Personal injury – There are several regulations in the Jones Act that protect individuals from dishonest or ill-intentioned boat owners, operators, and employers.

For employees (including sailors, seamen, oil rig workers, and more), there are two vital pieces of information that a qualified lawyer can help you discern.

1. Full-time employment status – Full-time employees are due compensation and other rewards similar, or sometimes identical, to typical worker’s compensation.

2. Where the injury occurred – Employees of boats and rigs are often due recompense, even if the accident that led to the injury took place on the land.

However, if you’re an injured passenger, or a cruise ship ticket holder, issues and regulations are slightly different. Your rights depend on the nationality of the boat that you were on, the waters you were in, and the laws governing the country in which the injury occurred.

For both employees and passengers, American law stipulates that you have only three years to bring a suit against the owner of the vessel that caused your injury. People injured on cruises, especially those in international seas and waterways, should pay extra attention to the contracts and paperwork they receive when buying their tickets. In many cases, companies reduce this time frame to only one year. While this may not seem important now, it is important to know that some injuries do not present painful side effects for quite some time.

If you or someone you know is looking for information about legal rights after an injury sustained on a boat, platform, or other sea vessel, contact a qualified attorney immediately.