The Law Governing Riverboat Accidents and Injuries
Posted on
While most people know that personal injuries are often eligible for compensation, some may not know that certain circumstances change the laws applicable to these claims. When an injury occurs on water, it can fall under the jurisdiction of the Jones Act and other maritime laws. Crewmen of tug boats, riverboats, barges, and tankers, as well as passengers, can be injured in a number of ways while traveling at sea.
Accidents on riverboats can include:
- Slipping and falling
- Drowning
- Head injuries
- Back injuries
- Hand injuries
- Burns
- Exposure to dangerous fumes or chemicals
Riverboat Casino Injuries
Employees of riverboat casinos may not be covered by workers' compensation, but they may be considered "seamen" if they work aboard a vessel in navigable waters. Therefore, many riverboat casino employees who are injured on the job have the potential to have their cases fall under federal maritime law and/or the Jones Act.
Maritime laws were created to give special protections to offshore workers because of their often perilous working conditions. These workers do include dealers or waitresses on riverboat casinos. If a riverboat casino employee can show negligence on the part of the casino owner, the casino operator, the management, or another riverboat casino employee, he or she may be entitled to recover Jones Act damages and to receive maintenance and cure payments.
Workers injured on the river can suffer both short- and long-term damages that often come with heavy financial burdens. The Jones Act ensures that those aboard vessels can seek out compensation if they are injured; they are often eligible for better financial damages under this law than they would be under workers' compensation. In addition, families of victims can seek out compensation in the event of a death on a maritime vessel.
If you have been injured while working on a riverboat casino or other offshore vessel, contact our Jones Act attorneys today for a free consultation.