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What Our Clients Say

I hired Brian after I was hurt on an offshore oil platform. I would recommend Brian and his law firm to anyone who needed a good injury lawyer, and especially any offshore worker. . ..

Jackie R

Houston, Texas
Brian and his staff are courteous and professional, and they work diligently to make sure the client transitions through the process as easily and comfortably as possible.

Your sincere and satisfied client,

Steve T.

Houston, Texas
I was hurt on a boat offshore. Brian and
his law firm worked hard on my case. The settlement he got for me will
take care of my financial needs for the rest of my life. If you are
looking for someone to take your interests at heart Brian and his law
firm can give you the attention your case deserves.

Tim M.

Austin,
Texas
There are only a small number of attorneys who could handle such a complex case as mine, and Brian was at the top of the list. His response time is unsurpassed, replying within minutes to my initial enquiry. He has an instinctive understanding of the legal issues, and consummate people skills, an essential attribute in the negotiation phase of any litigation. Thanks to Brian the case was settled favorably within a year.

Steven S.,

Wales, U.K.
Brian, your book was a real eye-opener. If I had read your book sooner, I would have avoided a lot of costly mistakes.

Captain Jim Vickers
I was hurt on an offshore oil rig. I was unable to work or get proper medical care from the company. I was referred to Brian by another law firm because that firm knew Brian specialized in Jones Act cases. Brian settled my case in less than 12 months. The settlement will enable me to take care of my family financially for a long time. I would highly recommend Brian and his firm to any injured worker.

Freddy N.,

Lufkin, Texas

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Disclaimer

We designed this website to provide information to consumers, injured people, and their families. Our goal is to level the playing field between consumers and insurance companies and expose the tricks, traps, and techniques they use to cheat injured people out of their legal rights. We also let consumers know about legal news, including verdicts and settlements and other interesting legal information.

But please understand that nothing on this website is meant to provide legal information about your specific case, create an attorney-client relationship, or imply that the results of your legal case will be the same as some other case.

Jones Act Seaman Status and Legal Protection

An injury that occurs from a maritime accident on a ship, tug, tow or other vessel can be traumatic. Often, maritime injuries force hardworking individuals to take time away from work, which in turn takes a toll financially. If you work in the maritime industry and have been injured, you may be entitled to compensation.

A federal law, known as the Jones Act, allows injured seamen to obtain compensation for their injuries. A Jones Act lawsuit can be filed against the vessel owner when negligence caused the accident. However, for protection under this law, you must be considered a Jones Act seaman.

One of the first things that will have to be proven in a Jones Act case is that you were in fact a seaman at the time of the injury. A seaman is defined as someone who is a member of the crew of a vessel or someone who has been assigned to a fleet of vessels. For the most part, if you work on the water for long periods of time on vessels, such as oil rigs, ships, movable platforms and so forth, you will probably be considered a Jones Act seaman. Also, if you go out to sea, you should also fall under this classification.

The Jones Act provides better compensation than other laws, such as the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act. Under the Jones Act, an injured seaman can pursue compensation for damages caused by negligence, such as pain and suffering, past and future medical expenses, past and future lost wages, disfigurement, mental anguish, impairment and other costs associated with the maritime injury. The amount of compensation can be substantial and is often life changing for the injured maritime worker.

There are various exceptions regarding Jones Act seaman status, which is why you should consult with an experienced Jones Act lawyer immediately following a maritime accident. Contact the experienced Jones Act attorneys at the law office of Vujasinovic & Beckcom P.L.L.C. at 713.224.7800 for legal advice.