What is the Jones Act?

The Jones Act, also known as the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, is a federal law that provides sailors and maritime workers with a path through which they can obtain justice and compensation, for any injuries or fatalities sustained as a result of negligence or carelessness exercised by the ship’s owner, captain, fellow sailors, or other crew members. This is a freedom which was not afforded to seamen before the Jones Act came into law. The act itself clearly delineates the rights of seamen to sue those liable for their injuries, and the rights of loved ones to sue on behalf of seamen who have been fatality injured while performing their assigned duties, providing their injuries or wrongful death took place as a result of another’s neglectful actions.

If you have been seriously injured during the performance of your maritime duties, you may have a right to seek compensation under the Jones Act. An Alaskan personal injury lawyer at Johnson & Associates, PC will be able to review the circumstances leading up to your injuries, determine who is liable for the injuries you sustained, assist in gathering the needed evidence, and work aggressively to help you recover the compensation you are legitimately owed. In cases where a loved one has been fatality injured while working as a sailor, or in a maritime occupation, our firm will work closely with the family to obtain all necessary documentation so as to prove liability and recover damages.

The attorneys at our firm have more than four decades combined experience in personal injury law and we are known for being aggressive advocates for sailors, maritime workers, and other personal injury accident victims throughout Alaska. Our commitment, dedication, and refusal to back down in the face of adversity, as well as the millions of dollars we have been able to recover for our clients, is also what brought us to be listed as one of National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers. Contact our firm now to find out what we can do for you.