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Working on a maritime vessel is unlike any other career. There are many regulations regarding vessels, sailing routes, cargo, and much more. Anyone who works on a vessel must be safe from harm due to negligence.
Unfortunately, vessel owners are negligent and cause harm to their workers. That negligence leads to Jones Act lawsuits. The legal process can take a long time, and you will need a financial foundation while you await your settlement.
High Rise Financial offers Jones Act and Maritime legal funding for eligible victims awaiting case resolution.
The Jones Act Explained
The Jones Act covers a range of concerns regarding maritime vessels and operations. The Jones Act focuses on foreign shipping regulations, but it also addresses the responsibilities of the marine industry to keep their crews safe. Sailors are protected from exploitation and offered routes of compensation for any injuries suffered on a vessel resulting from negligence.
The Jones Act also has standards for vessel maintenance, crew qualifications, training, safety equipment, and licensing. U.S. ships also have to meet EPA regulations.
Jones Act Lawsuits
Sailors, mariners, and others who work in or around a maritime vessel are ineligible for workers’ compensation claims. When they suffer an injury on the job, they must have a way to get money for medical treatment and other losses. Instead of workers’ compensation, maritime workers can seek compensation through a Jones Act lawsuit.
The law was enacted in 1920 and has helped injury victims pay for their losses for over a century. While getting money for your losses is a viable route, it can take some time, and you might need to consider legal funding.
Eligibility for a Jones Act Lawsuit
Determining eligibility for a Jones Act lawsuit is essential to the recovery process. First, addressing the term “seaman” is crucial, which includes mariners or workers who perform a significant amount of work on any vessel. That includes captains, crew members, bartenders, carpenters, and others working on a ship.
Other parties that qualify for protection under the Jones Act include:
- Shipbuilders
- Boat repair workers
- Merchant Marines
- Chambermaids
- Fishermen
- Clerks
- Cooks
- Engineers
- Harpooners
- Musicians
- Stewards
- Waiters
- Etc
This is not an exhaustive list, as a vessel has many different positions, and there is no indication within the Jones Act that a person must aid in navigating the ship. Additionally, the boat doesn’t need to be in motion or at sea for the protections to apply. The vessel must be capable of moving.
Protection Under the Jones Act
Employers must provide safe working environments for all those involved in the vessel’s operation. If a safety violation or negligence from the employer results in an injury, victims have the right to seek compensation by filing a lawsuit.
Maritime workers can sue the employer. The protection provided by the Jones Act applies to these and other situations:
- Insufficient training
- Failure to provide safety equipment
- Failure to maintain equipment
- Assault by another crew member
- Not providing a seaworthy vessel
You can work with a Jones Act attorney to determine your legibility and take the next steps to get compensation for your injuries and losses. Along with medical expenses, there are many other losses you can claim.
Damages Under the Jones Act
The Jones Act offers general and special damages from the negligent employer. General damages involve loss of enjoyment of life, future medical expenses, disfigurement, future lost earnings and earning capacity, and more. Special damages are well known and have receipts attached to calculate.
Special damages include out-of-pocket expenses, medical care, lost income, and room and board. Damages are often higher in Jones Act lawsuits than in traditional workers’ compensation claims. Having a Jones Act lawyer handling the claim is more advantageous than having a workers’ compensation attorney.
Jones Act Lawsuit Funding
Across the board, the hardest challenge plaguing injury victims is the delays that come with the legal process. Justice is rarely swift, and opposing counsel always tries to wear down victims so they will take any offer they present. The defense lawyers will employ many tactics to lower claim amounts, and one tactic they use is delaying negotiations so victims become overwhelmed by the process.
However, defense attorneys fail to realize that victims can use Jones Act and Maritime legal funding to help cover expenses and combat delay tactics. Many injury victims do not have the financial resources to withstand an arduous legal claim, especially if they cannot return to work. Legal funding can level the playing field.
Using Lawsuit Funding
Legal funding can help pay your bills and make purchases while awaiting the results of your lawsuit. You can pay for rent, mortgage, and childcare costs. It can also give you the upper hand because your Jones Act lawyer can focus on your case, and you can focus on your healing without the added pressure of financial burdens.
Maritime legal funding is not contingent on your credit score, employment history, or finances. You don’t pay out of pocket and only repay your lawsuit loan when you obtain a settlement. An often overlooked benefit is that you can wait longer for a settlement and get a higher payment, and you can receive a settlement loan within a day of reviewing your application.
Legal funding is not a loan but a cash advance. It is a non-recourse debt, which means the person who receives the funds does not repay with their assets. You take out legal funding with your settlement being collateral, so you do not have to pay anything back if you lose your case or get a lower payment than expected.
Apply for Legal Funding Today with High Rise Financial
High Rise Financial offers Jones Act and Maritime legal funding so you can continue to fight for maximum compensation. Lawsuits can take months or years. You need a foundation to overcome this difficult time.
Your bills and expenses will continue to rise, and legal funding can provide the buffer you need to get through the process. High Rise Financial can offer a substantial amount depending on your case details. You can have money in your account within 24 hours of approval.
Contact High Rise Financial today and find out if you qualify for Jones Act and Maritime legal funding.