How long does it take the average Jones Act lawsuit to be filed?

A: There is a three year statute of limitations to file a Jones Act case but there really is no typical amount of time that passes after the accident before the injured worker goes to court. In a lot of the Jones Act case stories you read on our blog, many cases are being filed between 18 and 24 months after the fact. This demonstrates that most seamen are not the frivolous-filing slip and fall actors that employers make them out to be. Offshore workers value their careers and unfortunately often don't seek out monetary compensation or even necessary medical treatment because they don't want to "rock the boat."

Are there any seamen filing nuisance suits just for a quick buck? Of course. We at Vujasinovic & Beckcom recognize that no industry is exempt from unsavory characters. And if we determine that a potential client's claim is without merit, we won't represent them. That's a fact. The price we pay is that in the short term it may cost us clients who will move on until they do find a law firm that will agree to represent them. But in the long run our client acceptance standards pay off in establishing our reputation as an offshore firm that operates with integrity.