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Maritime workers who are covered by the Jones Act

by | Jan 4, 2019 | Maritime Injuries |

Hawaii has many businesses that operate on or around the ocean. These different business do many different types of work, but one major one is the shipping industry. There are many products that are transported over the ocean and many people work on the ships in the ship yards. These jobs are very important for the people who work the as they rely on them to earn their income and provide for them and their families. So, it is important that these people are healthy enough to actually work.

However, there are many dangers that can be associated with this industry and when maritime accidents occur the workers can suffer significant injuries. These injuries can force the injured workers to miss time at work and therefore lose income. They also can force the workers to incur significant medical bills, making their situation even worse financially. These injured works may be able to receive compensation for their injuries though.

One way that these workers can be compensated is through the Jones Act. This law allows the injured workers to sue their employers if the employer’s negligence caused the worker’s injuries. However, only certain workers in the shipping industry are covered by the law. In order to be covered by the law, the workers must spend at least 30% of their time at work on a ship that is in navigation. This means that the ship is on navigable waters, is operational and capable of moving.

Many people work on ships in Hawaii and unfortunately many of these workers are injured on the job each year. This can make things very difficult for the worker both physically and financially. The worker may be entitled to compensation for their injuries though, which can at least ease the financial burden on the worker. The worker can then just focus on healing and not on their financial hardships. Experienced attorneys understand how important this compensation is for workers and may be able to guide one through the process.

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