Were You Injured on a Jack-Up Rig?

Depending on the type of jack-up rig you were injured on, you could be covered under the Jones Act. As this act applies to seaman, it could depend on whether the jack-up rig was a fixed oil platform or a mobile rig. In the past, the act only included ships, tugboats, barges, and shipping vessels, but now it includes semi-submersible rigs and jack-up rigs. In order to see if you qualify for compensation, contact an offshore injury lawyer. They could review the specific aspects of your case to see and choose what is best for you.

The Jones Act was created in 1920 for the sole purpose of helping seaman who were injured at sea and unable to continue working. In order to determine if you could be counted as a seaman, there is a three-part test. The first part is that you must be a worker on a vessel or fleet of vessels. Second, they must be operating on a navigable waterway. Third, the worker's duties must directly further the ship's mission or function. Again, an attorney could help you determine whether or not you could make a claim as a seaman.

Being covered by the Jones Act is advisable as it allows workers to file a lawsuit against their employer. Unfortunately, many employers are reluctant to give victims of injury the compensation they need to recover. Insurance companies try to push them into accepting the minimum settlement, which may not be enough to cover hospital expenses and lost wages. Jones act claims can give employees compensation if they were injured because of negligence or unseaworthiness. Ship owners are responsible for maintaining health and safety on ships as well as providing adequate training to crew members.