How Much Is the Average Jones Act Lawsuit Settlement?

The average Jones Act lawsuit settlement will vary depending on case factors, and many have confidentiality clauses. However, some of these cases result in amounts ranging from $100,000 for an arm injury to $10 million for a head injury. Jones Act claims are higher than other personal injury cases because they have unique factors. 

Some cases result in higher settlements, and others in lower ones. Before calculating your damage award, you must establish a legal basis for your claim. Let High Rise Financial guide you through the process of a Jones Act lawsuit.

What Is Unseaworthiness?

Among the ways you can prove negligence, unseaworthiness is one. Vessel owners owe a duty of care to provide a seaworthy and safe vessel. 

When a dangerous condition is present, the vessel is unseaworthy, and that is enough to entitle you to damages for an injury. You will obtain similar benefits as a Jones Act lawsuit settlement.  

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How do You Calculate Damages?

Damages will include various factors, unlike workers’ compensation or personal injury claims. Maritime workers have a particular skill set and take on risks that are unseen in other industries. To evaluate a Jones Act claim accurately, lawyers will consider lost wages, medical expenses, fringe benefits, pain, and suffering. 

Damages are higher in Jones Act claims than others, and you need an attorney well-versed in these legal matters. 

How do Wage and Fringe Benefits Factor into a Lawsuit?

Wages are straightforward to calculate since you have your standard wages and can calculate how much you lost during your time away from work. Your future wages or loss of earning capacity are challenging to calculate. Future wages must consider your inability to perform the same job for the same hours. 

Calculations will consider lost promotion or raise potential and your working life expectancy. Lawyers will also use present value for these calculations. Fringe benefits are non-wage perks you receive. 

Fringe benefits are part of wage loss but in a different category. If you lose them because of your injury, you can recover compensation. Fringe benefits include pensions, health insurance, disability insurance, and retirement benefits. Maritime jobs have exceptional fringe benefits, and it is critical to consider these in a claim. 

Do Jones Act Lawsuits Include Pain and Suffering Damages?

Pain and suffering include physical and emotional pain and are challenging to calculate. However, it is a crucial factor in calculating your Jones Act claim. You need someone with experience to quantify these damages and consider the injury, scarring, disfigurement, and permanency of the injury. 

Mental pain and suffering calculations will include anguish, emotional distress, fear, anger, anxiety, sexual dysfunction, mood swings, and loss of enjoyment. 

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What Medical Expenses Are Included?

Your Jones Act claim includes all medical expenses related to your maritime injury. The calculation will consist of past, ongoing, and future medical needs for your damage and reasonable expenditure for anticipated medical procedures. Some reasonable costs include imaging, diagnostics, testing, hospitalizations, emergency services, full-time nursing, occupational therapy, counseling, and transportation. 

Follow-up surgeries and additional physical therapy can also come up in the future.

How does a Contingency Fee Work?

Your Jones Act lawyer will take a percentage of your settlement at claim resolution. Typically these percentages are between 25 and 33% but will vary by firm and length of the case. Contingent means you only pay if your lawyer wins your case and you have no out-of-pocket legal expenses. 

The contingency fee breakdown is communicated when you hire the firm. The fee structure is similar to how lawsuit loans work. 

Are Jones Act Lawsuit Loans Safe?

Yes, lawsuit loans are not conventional loans. They are cash advances on the money you will likely receive from your lawsuit. There has been a lot of scrutiny surrounding lawsuit loans. 

Jones Act lawsuit loans are non-recourse debts, so you are not personally liable for repayment. No monthly payments, impact on personal finances, or potential wage garnishments exist. Since these legal funding options depend on the result of your Jones Act lawsuit, there is no repayment if you lose. 

Will My Credit Score Hurt My Chances of a Lawsuit Loan? 

No, your credit score has no impact on your eligibility for a Jones Act lawsuit loan. Many injuries result in victims being unable to work, which can impact their credit. 

Credit scores can hurt your chances of getting a home, car, or conventional loan. They do not affect your lawsuit loan. We do not ask for or run your credit when reviewing your application. 

How does a Jones Act Lawsuit Loan Work? 

The process for obtaining a lawsuit loan for a Jones Act case is simple. You contact High Rise Financial and answer questions about yourself, your injuries, and your lawyer. 

Your representative will speak to your lawyer about your case and make a decision. Crunching the data and approving the loan is next. You get a funding agreement, sign it, and we send you money. 

When your case is over, your lawyer pays back your loan, along with other expenses, and you move on. 

How Much Pre-Settlement Funding Can I Get?

Legal funding helps clients cover expenses while waiting for lawsuits to resolve. You can obtain anywhere from $500 to almost $1 million in a lawsuit loan, depending on how much compensation you are expected to recover. 

Depending on your potential settlement, we will determine a fair percentage for you and High Rise Financial. We will also consider the value of your damages, the expected length of your case, and any liability issues for your injury.

Does High Rise Financial Offer Jones Act Lawsuit Loans? 

High Rise Financial offers lawsuit loan options for all personal injury claims, including those under the Jones Act. These lawsuits take time and are some of the most challenging. During this extended waiting period, your expenses don’t stop, and you need money now. 

Pre-settlement financing from High Rise Financial gives you the financial freedom you need while your lawyer fights for you. Speak to a representative and get a Jones Act lawsuit loan when you need it most.

Call or text (877) 735-0016 or fill out our form to apply today for free.