Every seaman who is covered under the Jones Act has the basic right of maintenance and cure.
Maintenance and cure is just a technical term for general living expenses (maintenance) and medical expenses (cure). The Jones Act requires employers to pay maintenance and cure benefits to injured workers. These benefits are in addition to the any other compensation that is paid out from a separate negligence claim.
Hundreds of years ago, the government recognized that seaman faced extreme dangers on the job—and employers should be willing and ready to provide the support a seaman needs if injured while working.
Any worker who suffers a serious injury or illness offshore legally deserves paid medical treatment and time to recover. Maintenance and cure is intended to provide an injured offshore worker with the medical expenses and finances needed to support themselves until they are able to return to work or have reached maximum medical improvement (MMI). The lawful obligation of a maritime employer to pay maintenance and cure benefits to injured or ill crew is a well-established part of general maritime law. The law is clear about the rights of injured or sick seamen to maintenance and cure benefits—regardless of who or what caused their injury. Still, some maritime employers think they can pick and choose which benefits to pay for injured or sick offshore workers.
It is important to note that even if you hire an attorney to pursue legal action, you are still eligible to recover maintenance and cure benefits. Our law firm can help ensure you receive it.
Maintenance benefits are provided to help cover basic daily expenses you may incur while recovering. In some cases, an employer may refuse to pay a seaman regular wages while they are injured; however, they legally cannot refuse to pay maintenance. Daily maintenance can help cover rent, food costs, transportation to and from a doctor, and other regular bills such as utilities or daily expenses. There is no set amount of maintenance required by the law, which is why many companies try to limit the amount they pay out to injured seaman. Arnold & Itkin can help you gather the necessary evidence to demonstrate your need for fair maintenance to cover your daily living costs.
As it sounds, cure is intended to cover any medical expenses that may be incurred while a seaman is recovering or seeking treatment for any injuries, such as medical bills, medicine costs, and expenses for any medical tests or procedures needed. From a broken leg to a lung disease, this obligation can apply to any injury or illness a seaman suffers while they are working for a vessel. Cure benefits should be provided from the time of the injury up until the worker has recovered as much as possible (maximum medical improvement). A seaman also has every right to select their own medical provider to ensure they are getting a fair, honest evaluation of their condition.
Yes. Benefits are not just for workers who are injured offshore; workers who get sick are entitled to benefits as well.
No, there is no set limit on how long you can receive benefits. Workers can receive maintenance and cure until the point they they have fully recovered from their injury or illness.
If you have been injured or become ill while working offshore and your employer refuses to pay benefits, you should consult with an attorney that is well-versed in the Jones Act and maritime law. Often, employers will attempt to use legal loopholes to avoid paying maintenance and cure benefits. However, if they are found to have improperly denied a worker from his or her maintenance and cure benefits, they could be subjected to additional penalties. An experienced maritime attorney will review the facts of your case and fight for every penny you are entitled to.
Maritime workers are entitled to maintenance and cure benefits regardless of who is at fault for the accident. The law is on the side of injured maritime workers. The U.S. Supreme Court has said maintenance and cure benefits should be full and inclusive—a concept some maritime employers have trouble grasping.
Courts have found that maintenance benefits include reasonable expenses for rent, room, electricity, phone, food, and transportation. Some employers try to nickel and dime an injured seaman and pay outdated maintenance rates of $15 to $35 per day, claiming that is the cost of a bunk and meals aboard ship. Similarly some employers may try to pick and choose which medical services they will cover for injured or ill workers.
At our firm, we hold maritime employers accountable for providing full and inclusive maintenance and cure benefits. If you are interested in finding out more about what an attorney at our law office can do to assist you in seeking and recovering full benefits for your claim, feel free to call us for a free and confidential consultation.
Contact Arnold & Itkin to discuss maintenance and cure benefits for your claim.
Arnold & Itkin represented nearly a third of the crewmembers injured in the Deepwater Horizon explosion.
Because maritime law is so complex and so complicated, it is crucial that you work with an attorney who has an in-depth understanding of how it works and who has proven themselves in similar cases before.
