How Much Can I Recover in My Maritime Injury Claim?

Every maritime injury case involves different facts and legal issues that combine to determine the value of the case, so it's impossible to make any general statements of how much a claim will be worth to the victim and his or her family. It is best not to rely on your own calculations, but seek the help of a legal professional if you wish to make a maritime claim.

However, the basic types of damages available in maritime personal injury and Jones Act claims include:

• Medical costs, including emergency treatment, surgeries, rehabilitation and medications
• Lost past and future earnings
• The victim's pain and suffering
• Wrongful death benefits for survivors

If you were injured in an offshore accident and you had to undergo necessary medical treatment to be rehabilitated, then these medical bills will be covered under the Jones Act if you carry the title of seaman. Especially if your employer is found to have been negligence in the matter, which led to your injury, you are liable to compensation for surgeries, pharmaceuticals, and any other type of necessary rehabilitation it took to get you back to health.

If you were injured on the job and it caused you to miss work for an extended period of time, under the Jones Act, you are entitled to receiving compensation for your lost wages. If you find that you are not covered under the Jones Act, there are other maritime laws that will likely cover at least partially your lost wages for the period it took to recover.

In the worst case scenarios, the offshore worker was killed as a result of an offshore accident. Under the Jones Act, the family of the victim is entitled to compensation if the worker died as a result of negligence on behalf of their employer. These provisions are included also in the Death on the High Seas Act.