The largest maritime labor union in the U.S., the Seafarers International Union (SIU), currently represents approximately 35,500 members. This includes mariners and boatmen working on US- and Canadian-flagged vessels on the deep seas, the Great Lakes, and inland waterways.
Work at sea can be truly dangerous. This is the reason why seamen have special rights if they get hurt on the job. One of the most important laws that protects them is the Jones Act. If unsafe conditions or negligence caused their injury, this law enables injured seamen to seek compensation.
But according to Jones Act lawyer John Stevenson Jr., while many employees injured aboard a vessel may have a claim under the Jones Act, others may need experienced legal help to find other sources of compensation and benefits.
Continue reading “How Lawyers Handle Claims Under the Jones Act”