Were you injured while working on a vessel in the Tampa, Florida, area? You may have the right to file a Jones Act claim and recover compensation from your employer. Garvin Injury Law can help you understand your legal options and fight for the damages you deserve.
Our Tampa Jones Act claims lawyers have over 50 years of service and have recovered tens of millions of dollars for our clients since our founding. We’ll work just as hard on your case if you decide to hire us, so call (239) 277-0005 today to schedule a free consultation.
Injured Working On A Vessel In Tampa?
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How Garvin Injury Law Can Help With Your Jones Act Claim in Tampa, Florida
Jones Act claims are more complex than standard workplace injury cases, considering they involve federal maritime law and potentially multiple avenues through which you can recover compensation. Hiring an attorney for help is a practical necessity when the stakes are this high.
Garvin Injury Law is one of Florida’s most trusted personal injury firms and is qualified to help you throughout every step of the legal process. Our Tampa personal injury attorneys can get to work and:
- Investigate the circumstances of your maritime accident
- Determine whether you qualify as a seaman under federal law
- Identify all responsible parties and available insurance coverage
- Gather evidence, including vessel maintenance logs and safety records
- Pursue all available claims on your behalf
- Negotiate aggressively with your employer’s insurers
- Take your case to trial if a fair settlement can’t be reached
Call us today to schedule your free case review. Our Jones Act lawyers in Tampa work on contingency, so you won’t owe us anything in terms of attorney’s fees unless we win compensation for you.
What Is the Jones Act?
The Jones Act, codified in relevant part at 46 U.S.C. § 30104, is a federal law that allows injured maritime workers to sue their employers for negligence. To qualify, you generally need to spend at least 30% of your working time on a vessel in navigable waters and perform duties that contribute to the vessel’s function or mission. This includes workers such as deckhands, tugboat operators, fishing crew members, and barge workers.
One of the biggest advantages of the Jones Act is its “featherweight” causation standard. You only need to show that your employer’s negligence played any part in causing your injury, no matter how small. The Act also uses a pure comparative negligence system, meaning you can still recover damages even if you were partially at fault.
How Much Time Do I Have To File a Jones Act Claim in Florida?
The statute of limitations for a Jones Act negligence claim is generally three years from the date of your injury under federal law. If you miss that deadline, you will likely lose the right to file a lawsuit and recover compensation entirely.
While three years may sound like a long window to take action within, evidence in maritime cases can disappear quickly. The sooner you reach out to an attorney with our legal team for help, the better positioned your case will be.
Contact Our Tampa Jones Act Claims Lawyers for a Free Consultation
If you were injured while working on a vessel in Tampa, Florida, don’t wait to explore your legal rights. The Jones Act provides powerful protections for maritime workers, but navigating the claims process almost always requires experienced legal help.
Our Tampa Jones Act claims attorneys with Garvin Injury Law have over 50 years of service and have already recovered tens of millions for our clients.
Contact us today to learn more and to set up a free initial consultation.