How Much Can You Recover In A Jones Act Settlement?

The aftermath following a serious offshore injury is extremely stressful. You may be wondering if you’ll ever recover from your injuries, how long it might take, if you’ll be able to work again, and how much financial compensation you may be entitled to. It’s especially frustrating when you injured yourself due to no fault of your own, but because of the negligence of a co-worker, employer, or the owner of your work vessel.

Fortunately, the Jones Act protects offshore workers who find themselves in this situation. Victims of serious and preventable injuries are permitted to file lawsuits against their employers when their injuries occurred due to negligence. The amount of compensation you may recover in a Jones Act settlement varies depending on the circumstances of your accident and the severity of your injuries. To get a better idea of how much you could recover, it’s usually best to speak with an experienced Jones Act lawyer.

About Jones Act Settlements

If you’re looking for a concrete answer to how much financial compensation you could recover, you’re unlikely to find one. Some law firms may attempt to give you an estimate by adding up your costs and multiplying by an arbitrary number, but this is little more than an educated guess. However, looking at previous  settlements involving similar accidents and injuries can help give you a rough idea of how much you may be able to recover.

High-Profile Jones Act Settlements

Over the years, there have been many high-profile Jones Act settlements involving multi-million dollar payouts for injured maritime workers.

Staten Island Ferry Worker With $600k In Settlements Files New $45 Million Lawsuit

A Staten Island Ferry deck worker has recovered over $600,000 in work injury settlements over the years. In a new lawsuit, he’s suing the city for $45 million after suffering undisclosed injuries due to an alleged failure to provide a safe work place.

Other settlements won by this employee include:

• $225,000 after suffering a knee injury in an assault by a ferry passenger
• $375,000 after his hand was crushed by a defective ferry door

Louisiana Oil Rig Worker Recovers Over $7 Million

A Louisiana oil rig worker received a settlement of $7.15 million after developing a bleeding blood vessel which was not treated in a timely manner. This condition eventually left the worker permanently disabled and unable to work. Medical experts determined that the condition could have been prevented if the employer had provided treatment sooner.

Jones Act Seaman Recovers $3.5 Million in Louisiana

There are limited details on this case, by a Jones Act worker recovered $3.5 million in a settlement after suffering a stroke on an offshore work site.

New Orleans Seaman Awarded Over $2.5 Million After Crane Accident

A New Orleans maritime worker was awarded $2,560,000 in a jury trial after suffering serious injuries in a crane accident. The worker was flung from the crane after it collapsed from faulty welding.

Houston Law Firm Recovers $29 Million For Family Of Fatal Offshore Accident Victim

The details of this settlement are undisclosed, but the family of an offshore worker who died in a fatal offshore accident recovered over $29 million in damages.

Inland Barge Worker Settles For $14 Million After Serious Head Injury

A worker on the Hercules 15 inland barge suffered a serious head injury while the barge was offshore in Louisiana. An unsecured pipe came loose from a derrick and struck the plaintiff in the head. The pipe was supposed to be removed from the derrick before drilling began, but employees forgot to do so.

Legal Guidance For Jones Act Claims

Without the assistance of highly skilled and experienced maritime lawyers, none of these settlements would have been possible. Maritime employers and their insurance companies are often extremely powerful and well-funded. When facing liability, they have teams of lawyers who specialize in finding reasons to avoid payout out financial compensation, even when they were at fault for the accident.

If you or a loved one suffered a serious or fatal injury while working offshore, it’s important to speak with your own experienced maritime injury lawyer. A resourceful lawyer can help you gather all of the evidence you need for court and represent you through all aspects of the process, including settlement negotiations.

To begin fighting for the financial compensation your family deserves, contact one of our experienced maritime injury lawyers today for a free consultation.

Related Reading: Legal Rights Of Injured Commercial Fishermen